What's New

The Newt in Somerset presents Live Well, a new series of three restorative retreats launching in 2026, designed to support physical vitality, mental clarity and seasonal wellbeing. Set within the estate’s gardens, spa and landscapes, each two-day retreat focuses on a distinct theme, Nourish, Move and Balance, bringing together leading practitioners, practical learning and time to reset at a considered winter pace.

Drawing on The Newt’s productive gardens, spa facilities and expansive grounds, Live Well will offer an immersive approach to wellbeing that connects food, movement and restorative practices with the rhythms of the season. Each retreat will combine expert-led sessions with estate dining, spa access and space to slow down.

NOURISH – 28 – 30 JANUARY 2026

The first retreat in the series holds nourishment at its core, offering a food-led approach to winter wellbeing shaped by expert insight, hands-on learning and seasonal cooking. Throughout the retreat, guests will be introduced to a slower pace of life across restorative spaces, wellness sessions and the spa to compliment the programme’s focus on nourishment and winter care.

Wellbeing advocate and author Jasmine Hemsley will open the retreat with a nutritional session focused on mindful nourishment and seasonal eating, exploring how simple, balanced food choices can support energy, digestion and resilience during the winter months. The emphasis will be on practical habits that can be carried beyond the retreat, rooted in both traditional wisdom and modern understanding.

Guests will then join Cultjar, specialists in fermentation and gut health, for a hands-on workshop introducing fermenting and pickling techniques. Designed to be accessible and adaptable, the session will explore how preserved foods can support digestion and become part of everyday cooking routines.

The connection between land and nourishment will be brought into focus by The Newt’s Head of Productive Gardens, David Rowley, who will lead a guided garden walk examining soil health, regenerative growing methods and ingredient-led cultivation. The retreat will culminate in a hosted seasonal lunch at The Garden Café with The Newt’s Head of Food, Gelf Anderson, showcasing estate-grown produce through a menu shaped by seasonality, simplicity and flavour.

MOVE – 11 – 13 FEBRUARY 2026

The second retreat will focus on movement as a tool for building rhythm, strength and reconnection with the body during the winter months. Across the two days, a structured programme of training, breath and recovery will be balanced with time to unwind, with spa access, the wider wellness schedule and restorative spaces across the estate supporting both physical effort and mental clarity.

Arron Collins-Thomas, movement practitioner specialising in Qigong and embodied training, will lead grounding and breath-led sessions designed to develop coordination, balance and physical awareness, establishing a steady foundation for winter movement. Tracksmith, the performance running brand known for its emphasis on craft, endurance and training culture, will guide guests through estate-based movement sessions, an introduction to running and personalised 1:1 coaching, with a focus on building confidence, consistency and sustainable training habits.

Daily yoga led by Loren Barclay will support strength, flexibility and functional mobility, helping the body recover and adapt between sessions. Breathwork with The Newt’s movement and wellbeing coach, Chris Giles, will provide a focused counterpoint to physical training, while an optional cold-water dip will introduce contrast and recovery, encouraging guests to explore resilience as part of a balanced fitness approach.

BALANCE – 11 – 13 MARCH 2026

The final retreat in the series will centre on balance of mind, body and spirit, guided by practitioners whose work supports resilience, awareness and long-term wellbeing. Across the two days, the programme will combine structured sessions with time to pause, with access to the spa, wellness schedule and quiet spaces across the estate reinforcing a sense of calm and restoration.

Valentina Marzola, founder of Airena and specialist in modern breathwork, will lead sessions introducing breath as a practical tool for focus, emotional regulation and nervous system support. Her work will offer techniques designed to be integrated into daily life, supporting clarity and steadiness beyond the retreat. Chris Giles will return to guide a structured cold immersion and sauna session, exploring the interplay between heat, cold and recovery, and how contrast therapy can support both balance and mental resilience.

The theme of balance will continue through a practical workshop hosted by Gaz Oakley, author and advocate for plant-based living and self-sufficiency, who will share his journey into growing, cooking and sustainable food systems. His session will highlight the relationship between food choices, independence and personal wellbeing. Ayurvedic principles will be introduced by Sarah Stocker-Harding, an Ayurvedic practitioner and wellness educator, through her Three Pillars of Health talk, offering a clear and accessible framework for understanding balance across diet, routine and lifestyle.

A two-night Live Well Retreat starts from £1,250 including all scheduled activities, meals listed, wellness access and membership thenewtinsomerset.com.