Retreat into wellness
WHAT’S your way to wellness – a gong healing vibrations bath and a tantric energy massage or perhaps a spot of spoon carving followed by some foraging and dancing in the moonlight to Toploader?
For the 3,000 visitors seeking an adventure for their five senses this week at The Big Retreat Festival, set in Wales’ spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the only dilemma is what to go for among the 400 experiences.
Although the four-day getaway is billed as a retreat for space, nature and human connection, for solos, couples and families, it is also about revelations. Here, discovery has never been more relaxed. That is the captivating crowd puller that Amber and Adrian Lort-Phillips grew out of her wellbeing gym business.
Today their events, glamping and hospitality group includes the annual Big Retreat festival, an accommodation side and The Little Retreat.
Here a luxury glamping operation for small parties offers geodomes and hot tubs and was the stepping stone for its big sister launched in 2019.
Now the large crowds are returning post-pandemic and the Lort-Phillipses are forecasting an overall £2.5million turnover for their businesses in 2025. Fortunate to have scenic land perfect for hosting events, “it hit me that the true frontier of wellness was in such places,” explains Amber. “People from all walks of life come here to celebrate. Guests know us as safe, inclusive and non-judgmental. We centre most on connecting people. Lockdown increased appreciation of that.
“We have guests from the US and Europe too. They all leave more positive and ready to make a difference. “We include 95 per cent of activities in the ticket and that’s important for our predominantly female and familyskewed audience.” And size matters. “Too big and it doesn’t work for festival-goers.Too small and it is not viable,” she adds. “Managing growth is about delivering a more valuable experience in the spaces we have.”
The couple are now looking for other sites to host more Big Retreats in Scotland and England, while increasing bespoke ones in Pembrokeshire.
A team of 100 is employed in the festival period and the trade generates £1m for the Welsh economy.
After £800,000 of backing from personal investment, funding from specialist investor Station12 and support from the Welsh Government, Amber says: “We are going through a period of sustained growth.”
The year sees the introduction of a map app to ensure pleasure seekers do not miss a thing.
The new Spicy Wellness, where guests are led by experienced Tantra teachers for initiation into Conscious Touch and Energy Orgasms sessions could prove to be very popular!