Wowsers what a rollercoaster of excitement this has been!
Reading retreats in the UK for women who crave stillness, stories, and soul-deep rest.
I’ve been working in this from the initial concept all the way through to today’s roll out alongside the fabulous Librarian and Bibliotherapist Claire Gardner of The Authors Lounge.
The behind the scenes brand strategy and branding work. The recces for the first location and the interiors imagery. The written content for the entire website and the imagery too.
Its been a labour of love and boy have I loved it!
We started this work in April of this year and haven’t stopped. I think its all too easy to assume that businesses appear overnight but what you don’t see is the long hours behind the scenes. The hours spent over and above the standard nine to five. The mileage racked up and the long Teams calls to ensure that every little detail is done.
From concept to creation, this new business has worked every professional skill set and qualification I have! From brand strategy to branding and the creation of the logo. The selection of brand colours and the font. Hours spent getting this absolutely spot on. To ensure that it does what it says on the tin so to speak.
Creating all of the visual and content for the website. Hours spent pouring over details and the crafting of sentences. Ensuring that the tone and the words we have used hit the right note. Luckily for me, Claire built the website as this is not something I have the skills to do. It has been total team work.
The first retreat is being held at White Birch Manor in Gloucestershire and runs from the 21st-23rd April 2026.
Nestled away in the English countryside lies a reading retreat unlike any other.
White Birch Manor has been known locally throughout history as Fieldhouse, and there are historical records that date the property back to the 13th century. However, local history talks of this Grade 2* listed manor house having been on this site since at least the 11th century, as this is when King Henry II is said to have visited for secret liaisons with his mistress, the ‘Fair Rosamund’. The house was already in existence and the family home of Rosamund’s family for many decades pre-dating this.
The copse of silver birches planted in a perfect circle after the Wood Between Worlds in the Narnia books sparked the change of name to White Birch Manor only recently as each owner puts their own stamp on its history.
Set in seven acres of private formal gardens with its own orchards and meadows to explore on the banks of the River Severn in the enchanting Forest of Dean, White Birch Manor is a haven of peace and tranquillity.
The manor house itself retains much of the original fabric of the building. Original doors, floors, windows and the huge exposed cruck beams in the kitchen. It’s a cosy and welcoming house packed with character and history. With hidden bookcase doors and books everywhere! Its the perfect reading retreat.
There are ten comfortable and unique bedrooms to choose from, and three lounges for reading and lots of nooks to curl up in!
And our guest author at White Birch Manor is none other than a true titan of the fiction world. Having published over twenty novels that have been translated into twenty-five languages over thirty territories, Veronica Henry is coming to the retreat!
You can read more and also book your place on this retreat by heading over to the Read Rest Retreat website. Don’t forget to check out the FAQs page for extra info. And of course please do follow on social media!