September 2022 // Retreat East, the luxury rural eco-escape in the heart of Suffolk, is excited to launch four new standout Elements Spa Barns, available to book this autumn. The new barns named The Drey, The Sty, The Lodge and The Rookery are the latest additions to this countryside escape, bringing the total number of barns to 19, including The Nest and The Coop barns which opened in early August.

The new Elements Spa Barns come with their own unique character and chic country interiors. Sleeping up to two guests and their four-legged friends, they offer a versatile space great for couples looking for a romantic escape or groups of friends wanting to spend time together.

The main living space of each barn has a cocktail and drinks bar, and a green velvet L-shaped seating area in front of a beehive chimney wood-burner, great for getting cosy around in the colder months. There is also a built-in Smart TV allowing you to kick back and stream your favourite entertainment, and a kitchen complete with a Smeg fridge for those who want to self-cater. In the adjoining bedroom, the super-sized four-poster bed is draped in natural linen fabrics, while the en-suite bathroom has a spacious walk-in shower. Step outside through French doors onto a private terrace open to the elements, with its own roll-top bath, great for soaking in under the stars. This serene space is a great spot to enjoy in-room spa treatments while listening to the soothing sounds of birdsong and other wildlife passing by.

‘We all benefit from moments of reconnection to ourselves, to one another and to nature,’ says Retreat East founder Dominic Richards. ‘When designing the space, I thought about all the possible experiences that could be enjoyed in a well-designed place of beauty and relaxation. So, I thought of a celebratory cocktail on the terrace, a film in front of the wood-burner, the most peaceful night’s sleep aired by Suffolk breezes sweeping through the barn from its open terrace, an invigorating shower fed from our own natural water supply, reading a book on the sunny terrace surrounded by jasmine or floating in a warm bath under a night sky as rain gently falls on the tin roof above. I hope these will become regular places of sanctuary for years to come.’

Find your inner zen at the retreat’s spa where relaxing treatments are based on Traditional Five Elements, and include vegan-friendly facials and Muscle Melt massages, along with reflexology. There are also Spa Days available, costing from £115 and including a 60-minute massage, one-hour use of the spa, an hour’s use of the hot tub and a two-course lunch. And Retreat East’s restaurant and bar can be found in the Great Barn, where new head chef Adam Spicer – a finalist in Masterchef: The Professionals – creates menus using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. 

Sustainability Constructed from responsibly sourced timber, the new barns have all the luxury of a five-star wellness resort while keeping sustainability at the forefront. The barns have been constructed using energy-efficient SIP panels, which contribute positively to the environment by reducing CO2 levels. Fabrics have been manufactured locally, and beds are handmade in Ipswich by Epocbeds. Sustainability is one of Retreat East’s core values, with water supplied by our on-site borehole, solar panels providing much of our power, along with Ecotricity, and at least 30 per cent of the wood harvested for the barn stoves comes from fallen trees on site. The kitchen garden is one of Retreat East’s key features and provides organically grown fruit and vegetables that are served in The Great Barn and farm shop. 

Prices at Retreat East start from £130 per night. To make a booking visit www.retreateast.co.uk.

To download images of Retreat East see here and images of the new Elemants Spa Barns here.

Follow Retreat East’s journey on Instagram @retreateast.

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Notes to Editor

Retreat East first opened in 2017 by placemaker Dominic Richards, a graduate of The Prince of Wales’ Institute of Architecture, who had been coming to the Suffolk countryside for years as an antidote to urban stress. When a rundown farm close to his home came up for sale, he saw the potential to create an organic, sustainable retreat that would be both an asset to the local community and a pitstop for weary Londoners. Teaming up with an old friend, he bought the farm and set about turning his vision into a reality, restoring, and reimagining the farm buildings as sustainably as possible. Solar panels, responsibly sourced wood, an onsite well for water and its own sewage plant ensure that the project impacts the environment as little as possible. The kitchen garden is organic and fertilised using composted food waste, and a rewilding programme for the former agricultural land is underway. Based around the original, timber-framed farmhouse which dates back to the 16th century, Retreat East offers a versatile range of 17 striking farm buildings and barns that can sleep between two and eight guests and offer an option to self-cater, as well as a small spa and The Great Barn restaurant led by Head Chef, Adam Spicer.

For press enquiries and images please contact Nadia Walford PR.

E: nadia@nadiawalford.com; M: +44 (0) 7951 058 443; IG: @nadiawalfordpr