The girls in the office recognised a worn out City Guinea when they saw one. Over worked, over partied from 2010 and in some desperate need of some rest and relaxation. This called for more than a day ticket to the Champney’s or the Sanctuary, this girl needed to get away from it all and refocus.
On the teams travels they had come across an amazing little place in the heart of Kent called Witherden Hall. In fact the connection came from attending one of the fantastic lunches at the Professional Women’s Network hosted by the wonderful Lady Val Corbett. Its all who you know and what they recommend that counts!
Anyway, to cut a long story short they booked me in for a 2 day stay. My brief to lovely Louise Cox Chester, was that I needed to get away from it all, I needed to give up smoking and I wouldn’t mind a few treatments during my stay. Above all I wanted to be alone and away from the corporate world, my blackberry and the ever increasingly demands of life.
An amazing hypnotherapist finally managed to rid me of my most disgusting habit, smoking.
My first stay at Witherdens (and there has been more since) was just what I dreamed it would be. Marilyn who lives in on-site provided some much needed Reiki, then the amazing Steph visited with her hot stones, and Betty George, an amazing hypnotherapist finally managed to rid me of my most disgusting habit, smoking. I am pleased to say, 7 weeks on and I haven’t touched one since. So I left The Retreat feeling refreshed and totally at peace with myself because I had addressed a few demons, I had slept, I hadn’t worked and above all, I had time on my own to think.
Named Top Spa in England to ‘Change your Life’ by The Times, Jan 2011
Before I went to Witherdens Hall, I had this vision that it would be this grand country home and I would just stay in a room within it, a bit like a hotel. However, it is not like that at all, you have your own little luxurious cottage set in the small courtyard of the Hall itself, which to be honest, adds to the intimacy of your stay. The fact there is only 1 Retreat Cottage at Witherdens enables the founder, Louise, to give you that extra special attention. Louise is an ex-City Director and practising Buddhist who is passionate about helping enable people to achieve their full potential. She’s also an amazing coach, offering Breakthrough Business Coaching at Witherdens Hall through her company Vector Business Group and What is Your Purpose? One-on-one coaching to guests – which I did and thoroughly recommend. So you can get so much more out of your visit if you work with Louise to plan it. The people at Witherdens are not intrusive, meaning if you want to just be alone you can, however if you want to organise to do some of your favourite things they will happily help you.
It’s around a 15 minutes’ drive to the centre of Canterbury if you want to go and see the amazing Cathedral or shops you can, however for me it was all about walking through the rolling hills of Kent which were 2 minutes from my Retreat.
..it goes without saying I couldn’t recommend Witherden Hall enough.
Having been there twice and just secured my 3rd booking, it almost goes without saying I couldn’t recommend Witherdens Hall enough. For me, it has a special place in my heart as I now know I have a retreat to run to, away from my corporate and hectic City existence. I can honestly say it’s been one of the nicest City Guinea trials the girls have sent me on, so thank you to them, and to Louise and friends for hosting me and making my stay so worthwhile.
If you need to get away from it all and want to book at the retreat, please email Louise to check availability and to discuss what you would like to get out of your visit. Stays and treatments are very reasonably priced. The Retreat Cottage is also available for 4 guests and for corporate days and workshops, as mentioned, Louise can tell you more about what’s on offer.
PS, Look out for Louise’s forthcoming Inspirational Women profile and find out how and why she went from top Fund Manager in the City to Retreat owner in Kent…
Booking & Contacts
Louise & Craig Chester
Witherdens Hall
Popsal Lane
Wingham
Canterbury
Kent. CT3 1AT. UK
Tel: 01227 720543
Mob: 07831 135277
Email: [email protected]
