Writers Retreat UK Reviews 

I have now been on several all-inclusive retreats with Writers Retreat UK. The other retreats were at 'party houses/wedding venues' in manor houses or similar hired by Jan, who runs the retreats, and it has always been the venue that was the let down.

They have been in some beautiful houses in lovely parts of the country but some have heating/water issues while others were less than suitable for me as I have mobility issues. One had steep stone steps into the dining room with no handrail and one had parking on packed earth which was muddy, rutted and hard to walk on.

Writers Retreat UK now have their own seven bedroom premises in Beal near Goole and I was lucky enough to get a place on the first retreat held there. The property is very different from what I had become used to. It is not set in acres of land with fantastic gardens and views. It is not manor house or something similar with a grand history. Instead it is a converted pub with ample proper tarmac car parking, and countryside and riverside walks almost from the door.

Beal is small and pretty but doesn't have much to recommend it except the Writers Retreat and the local pub, the Jenny Wren, which is very friendly and does amazing food at a good price almost on the retreat doorstep. I don't know how such a small village managed to keep two such large pubs in business, but I guess the conversion from King's Arms to another business was inevitable. At least a Writers Retreat shouldn't affect the locals too much apart from bringing custom to the pub.

I stayed with Jan and her family for a 5 day retreat and then added a few informal retreat days to the end to increase the length of my stay. I chose the downstairs 'Retreat Suite' which has been thoughtfully converted to allow someone with limited mobility to be comfortable. It has a comfortable king size bed, a full size desk and a two seater sofa along with an ensuite toilet and step in shower.

The food is freshly cooked by Shane, varied and plentiful. Breakfast is your choice from a full English, yoghurt, fruit, cereals and toast. Lunch is a buffet. Afternoon tea is scones and cream or cake. Evening meal is dinner and a sweet served with wine if you wish. Coffee/Tea/Water/Juice and biscuits are always available (even overnight) on the refreshments table.

On Shane's night off Jan took us all to the Jenny Wren for our choice from the menu, which was also very nice.

Shane catered for food intolerances, vegetarian and meat eaters on my retreat, but there is no choice for the evening meal, so it may not suit you if you are a fussy eater.

The retreat is all inclusive from more than just the food point of view. Jan and her family are very welcoming and nothing is too much trouble for them. All writing styles and genres are respected and encouraged from poetry and novels; blogs and short stories through memoir and academic writing.

There are only seven rooms which allows for a more intimate experience with ample opportunity to access Ian's 1-2-1 sessions on official retreats. But you can use your time however you wish: walking, writing, reading, relaxing or talking in the refreshment lounge.

If you have any interest in writing at all I would even recommend this retreat as a holiday with people who have similar interests. If you need some quiet time to write with no background distractions that is also available or you can get support and feedback from both the writer in residence, Ian, or Jan or other attendees. I personally can't wait for the opportunity to go again.

Leaving a review as someone who has actually stayed at the retreat.
This is a family run business and what a lovely family they are. We were met by Ian from Doncaster station, to then be met by Jan at the venue with a cream tea.
The rooms are all beautiful, they are warm and en-suite with toiletries provided.
Throughout the week there was a relaxed and happy atmosphere, the food cooked by chef Shane was homely and plentiful and he accommodated various dietary needs.
Ian Gouge was the in-house writer offering workshops and one to one sessions, he has a knack of getting the point across in a succinct and helpful way.
Jan’s mother Ann saw to it that our every need was provided for. The other guests on the writing retreat were very interesting and the evenings were spent in each others company with a lot of fun.

Well after weeks of being told by the local council to remove a fence which blocked a public footpath, they have proceeded to block off more of the public right of way on purpose again! I have lived in this village for 24 years and used this route almost daily, until the current owners have decided to move in and show complete disregard to the locals and the councils instructions to remove the obstruction.

I've been on two Writers Retreat UK retreats and I'm on my way to a third. Jan is an excellent host and Ann is lovely too. Both are welcoming and nice. They go to any length to make you comfortable. The retreat was very good. Got a lot of work done. Met some nice writers and we did an evening of readings. Jan gave very good feedback. She was insightful and intuitive. There are plenty of spaces to write or read. It's quiet, but you can talk as well. I'd recommend these retreats to any writers who want to get away and give themselves time to write in a beautiful environment. Well looked after and tea/coffee on tap. Home-made scones too. I'd never been on a retreat before and wasn't sure what I'd get out of it or how I'd be received. All of these things went well. Well worth it.

Update after my third stay with Writers Retreat.

Writers Retreat has a new venue, a converted pub. Very comfortable, with plenty of space to sit about and write in the common areas. As above, all was the same, very welcoming, friendly and nothing was too much, in addition to Jan and Ann, Shane was cooking and looking after us too. Nice food, tea/coffee on tap, well looked after. On this retreat was a mix of PhD thesis writers, and fiction writers. All very friendly. On these retreats, some write in their bedrooms, there's a table to write at and room enough to stay in there. Others write in the common areas, there are plenty of sofas and chairs around the place. I like to sit in common areas to write on my laptop. I like to stop for a break and chat to whoever passes by. You don't have to though, people will leave you to it if you're busy and focused. Excellent retreat, got a lot done. Very productive and relaxing break. No responsibility, no obligation, no chores, no distraction, just write as much as you like.

I was nervous beforehand having never attended a Writers Retreat ever. Writing has been an on/off venture for me over several years without expert support. I was touched by the kindness and support from Jan and her Team. Nothing was too much. From the beautiful accommodation and food - I was suitably looked after from start to finish. Ian's expertise in looking at work I had written and his precise appraisal left me feeling somewhat more confident in trying to attain future goals. The fellow writers input and sensitivity were welcomed (thank you Sharon) Well done I would highly recommend this retreat.

Jan thought of everything! This retreat allowed me to relax, forget about the outside world, and work on writing. The food was fantastic. Lovely tea breaks encouraged me to pace my work. Ian provided great training, encouragement, and guidance. I felt supported. The other participants at the retreat were wonderful also, and it was fun to hear about their lives and their writing. We had very different projects and were at different places in the writing process, but each of us accomplished our goals during the retreat. It was a true success.

Super venue! Lovely group, really gelled well. Mentoring and ‘teaching’ sessions were easy to follow and so helpful. It was well organised and the food delicious. I’ve come home feeling that I’m ok to continue writing, but with better ideas for moving on with it.
Thankyou all!

This weekend is one of the best times away I've ever had. Superbly looked after, beautiful location and most importantly, absolutely fantastic people. I got lots of writing done and completed some crucial book planning with incredible help from Ian. I'll definitely be booking another one!

Absolutely perfect weekend in a lovely location. The team really look after you and keep you in a luxurious, supportive environment. I received excellent coaching on my writing and made a lot of progress on my project, and made some lovely like-minded people too.

The accommodation was perfect for a writers' retreat—extremely comfortable, with plenty of space for getting together or working alone. I was made immediately welcome by Jan and the atmosphere remained relaxed and easy throughout. The constant supply of tea and coffee and snacks as well as regular meals meant that I had nothing to think about except writing.

Still on a high after the inspiring Writers' Retreat at Middleham! The welcome was warm, the care from Jan and her team was faultless and unobtrusive, the accommodation perfect, and the opportunity to write was enanced by a supportive and interesting group of fellow-retreatants. I was very comfortable in The Red Room with its fabulous views over the church and the racing stables, but there were so many other places to choose to write - the library, the squashy sofas in the drawing-room, and the extensive garden. I didn't have time to play snooker! Steven was a supportive and helpful mentor but my only reservation would be to suggest that more specific help with the creative process would have been possible if he had known more about each person's writing before the first session. Altogether the Writers' Retreat was a hugely positive experience which I would strongly recommed to any aspiring, struggling or already successful writer.

Not knowing what to expect from my first retreat I left there with definite improvement in my writing and having thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Jan and the team could not have been more helpful while letting their guests enjoy special own time. Great location and only reason it’s not 5 stars were some logistical issues with the house that were not the fault of the team. Thanks.

If you want to get unblocked and be inspired then this is the place to go. During my stay, I didn't have to worry about anything except my writing. The food was amazing and Jan and Ann were always there if i needed anything. The rooms were clean and spacious with a desk if I needed some alone writing time.
The mentoring sessions were also really helpful and the other writers in the retreat made me feel welcomed and we had some great conversations.
If you are a new writer do not hesitate, thinking this is for established authors. You will find people from different stages in their author path that will inspire your journey too. Definitely will do it again!

Spent three days at this historic house at my first Writer's Retreat.
I was met by Jan and warmly welcomed, had a tour of the beautiful house, then afternoon tea and scones. What a fabulous start and the remaining three days carried on in the same vein. Ann was also a lovely host, serving honest home cooked meals.
Our group of ten proved delightful to be with. We shared a common love of books and enthusiasm for writing. Everyone was very supportive of each other's work and projects.
I will definitely book again in the future.

I had a fantastic 3 days with Jan and Ann and met some truly amazing people. The venue was perfect and the hospitality was faultless. I will be going again next year.

The Writers Retreat was incredible.
The venue was full of character and the rooms were squeaky clean and the beds super comfy.
It was wonderful to have a chance to rest and write. The meals were delicious and I enjoyed meeting and bonding with fellow writers.
I will book again soon!
Thank you to Jan and team!

I had a wonderful time at Middleham House. The house is beautiful, clean and comfortable. It was motivational to be in such a charming place and I loved the period features in the house. It is filled with beautiful art and comfortable writing spaces. The weather was lovely during this retreat, so we even got to sit outside and do some writing in the garden too. I also wandered up to the castle, where writing retreaters got free entry. A nice break from writing and a chance to get some steps in. The village is very picturesque with many pretty cottages. During the retreat, we had mentor sessions and a relaxation session where we did meditation. It was useful to discuss my work with a professional and I enjoyed the meditation too, it was so relaxing I wanted to sleep after. We were so well looked after during our stay. All meals were lovely and wine was plentiful too. I didn’t expect for Jan to be doing all the cooking herself! Jan and Ann went out of their way to make sure we were all comfortable. Everyone had a ball. I would love to go on another retreat, however I think next time I would be keen to stay a little bit longer! I’d say what seperates this retreat from the others is that writers aren’t expected to contribute to chores like cooking, making it a relaxing time away. Exactly what I had been longing for. A holiday where I could also write at my own pace with no pressure. We received welcome packs upon arrival and now my writers retreat tote bag and notebook will be cherished souvenirs.

I would have given 5 stars if it wasn’t for the wasps in the room (there was a nest outside) but I don’t think this is any reflection on the people running the course. Jan and Ann were amazing. The owners should have dealt with the wasp nest at the property and the price reflected to Jan and Ann as that room should have been unusable.
Fantastic retreat excellent food and hospitality and a great writers retreat.

I had a fantastic retreat! I was a little anxious as I had never been on a retreat before having some academic writing to complete, so I was not sure if a creative writing retreat was the best place for me to go. I wanted to escape the pressures of work and life to give myself time to focus and so after talking to Jan the lady who runs the retreat I who was really helpfuI thought I would try it. I was so glad I went! I planned to lock myself away and had explained this and they were happy to do as much as they could to support me with this and how I wanted it to work for me. What I actually found was that I achieved not only what I had hoped for but also had a lovely experience with the other people who were there and looked forward to the mealtime gatherings to share ideas and experiences about all sorts of things.

I came home feeling inspired, refreshed and well looked after! The Principus ladies were so caring and helpful - the food was lovely and the mentoring and relaxation gave me a new experience that was really great and I also found that the different perspectives and sharing helped me to shake off some of my anxieties about my writing with some great advice and ideas. I met a great bunch of people who all were there with different types of writing to do and everyone got on so well - it was a very cathartic experience and surprised me. The house we stayed in was beautiful comfy beds, and with a fantastic bag of useful things that I wasn't expecting waiting in my room. I really cannot recommend the experience highly enough. I have already booked onto another retreat with them in a different venue in a couple of months and am looking forward to being looked after by the lovely ladies who run it and enjoying the beautiful countryside setting too.

Great experience. Lovely location, excellent catering, interesting and entertaining company and lots of time to write. Will definitely do this again.