Charlotte Church's wellness retreat, The Dreaming, has announced it will close permanently after five years in operation. The singer, songwriter and activist purchased Rhydoldog House near Rhayader in 2021, a property once known as the family home of Laura Ashley.
With the help of a team of builders and craftspeople, Church transformed the estate into a retreat where guests could escape modern pressures, immerse themselves in the landscape, and find healing through workshops. Each en-suite bedroom was redesigned around a unique theme, from The Mystic to The Moon, The Wanderer to Forest Spirits. Food and drink drew inspiration from the land, focusing on wholesome, plant-based, zero-waste cuisine.
Five years of operation and accolades
Since opening, The Dreaming welcomed more than 3,000 guests and earned five stars from Condé Nast Traveller, as well as Spa of the Year from The Times and Sunday Times. The retreat also ran a "pay what you can" scheme starting at £1 per night and offered complimentary stays to NHS workers. The renovation was documented in a two-series programme on Discovery+ titled Charlotte Church's Dream Build.
In October 2026, The Dreaming revealed it would "go into hibernation," citing an unsustainable decline in bookings alongside soaring operational costs. Management acknowledged the business had found itself "at the mercy of the economy" due to cost-of-living pressures and reduced discretionary spending.
Farewell message confirms the end
An Instagram post has now confirmed the closure. The farewell message said: "After five beautiful years, it is time to say goodbye to The Dreaming. As the year draws to a close, and the land settles into its winter slumber, we find ourselves at the end of a very special chapter. When we last wrote to you, we shared our plans for The Dreaming to pause, to go fallow, to rest and make space for whatever might come next. At that time, we had hoped this would be a period of hibernation, rather than an ending. Sadly, we've come to realise that this is not simply a time of hibernation, but the end of our journey with The Dreaming. What a beautiful, wild and wonderful few years it has been."
The message thanked the retreat team, facilitators, volunteers, artists, makers, gardeners, housekeepers, cooks and healers, and noted that chef Zac will be available for private cheffing. Rhydoldog House will remain available for private hire through Host Your Home.
Supporters share their memories
Supporters and former guests responded with sorrow on Instagram. One person wrote, "I came to The Dreaming in February this year deep in grief and seeking comfort. I found peace, kindness, tranquillity and a renewed hope. Thank you so much for a memorable weekend retreat. I'll forever hold the memories and lessons in my heart." Another said, "I feel very lucky and grateful to have stayed twice at the beautiful Dreaming. It's a magical place for sure, AND half of that magic was the people I met there."
One previous visitor shared, "So sorry to hear this - this place changed my life it helped me to find my singing voice that has been shut down for 15 years thank you team and special mention to @kerry.sanson who was hugely instrumental to be gaining so much confidence." Another simply stated, "Heart broken, what a beautiful place."
