Charlotte Church's wellness retreat, The Dreaming, near Rhayader in Powys, has announced it will close temporarily from December, citing an unsustainable drop in bookings and rising costs. The retreat, which opened in February 2023 at Rhydoldog House, said it cannot say when it will reopen.
Economic pressures blamed for closure
The retreat said it has been "at the mercy of the economy" like many other small businesses. In a statement, organisers explained that bookings have tracked the deepening cost of living crisis, and most recently the war in Iran and subsequent economic shocks have corresponded with a severe drop in bookings. They described the retreat as "a casualty of the massive cut in people's discretionary spending" reported since those events.
Since opening, The Dreaming has welcomed over 3,000 guests and earned five stars in Condé Nast Traveller, as well as 9/10 and Spa of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times. The retreat currently offers a pay-what-you-can scheme, with stays from £1 per night, and free stays for NHS workers.
Retreat to reassess offerings
On Thursday, the retreat said it needed to "reassess" what it was offering, as its current situation had become unsustainable. The closure was described as a "hibernation," allowing time to rethink its services. "We cannot say when exactly we will be returning from the dream realm, but return we shall," the statement read.
Charlotte Church, who opened the retreat after first visiting the property in November 2020 and feeling "awestruck," had tied her life savings to the period house, which previously belonged to Laura Ashley's family. The retreat said it had helped people in grief, those at a crossroads, exhausted people, and people disenchanted with life, expressing "deep gratitude" for everyone who had visited.
