Cocktails
Cocktail Masterclass
Monday to Thursday
A lively, fun filled activity to enjoy with your friends. Soak up the atmosphere at the bar while you learn to make speciality cocktails with the knowledgeable bar team as your tutors.
There's always something happening at The Retreat: family events, wine tastings, live music, creative retreats, dining experiences with special guests... a fabulous programme of events for West Berkshire locals and hotel guests alike.
On this page you'll find details of all of our forthcoming events, and at the bottom you can sign up to our newsletter so you'll be the first to hear about new "happenings".
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Cocktails
Monday to Thursday
A lively, fun filled activity to enjoy with your friends. Soak up the atmosphere at the bar while you learn to make speciality cocktails with the knowledgeable bar team as your tutors.
Dining Experiences
Wednesday 25th January, 7pm
Join us for a traditional Scottish celebration, with a fabulous four-course supper and more...
Wine
Friday 27th January, 6-7:30pm
A tasting journey from the origins of wine to the modern day.
Live Music
Saturday 28th January, 5:30-7:30pm
Beautiful vocals, perfect guitar and the occasional burst of funky flute make for a unique take on classic songs. Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
Wine
Sunday 29th January, 10-5pm
The perfect beginners course for anyone with an interest in wine, be it for pleasure or a career in the service industry.
Valentines
Throughout February
Celebrate Valentines with an intimate dinner for two or a romantic night away.
Live Music
Saturday 4th February, 5:30 - 7:30pm
A fantastic local duo, with a mellow set of covers spanning the genres and decades. Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
Live Music
Saturday 11th February, 5:30-7:30pm
A wonderful set of blues, country and Americana. Liza’s beautiful amber voice will leave you spellbound. Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
Live Music
Saturday 18th February, 5:30 - 7:30pm
The ever-popular Mike Hawthorne returns to The Retreat with an acoustic set of covers and his own compositions. Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
Weddings
Sunday 19th February
Pop into The Retreat and meet the team to start planning your big day! Enjoy a tour of our beautiful hotel and meet selected local suppliers.
Wine
Friday 24th February, 6-7:30pm
Hit the road with a wine trip along Route 101!
Creative Weekends
Enjoy a weekend of wonderful watercolour with artist Nicola Watters. Create your own beautiful floral artwork to keep for yourself or perhaps give to a loved one as an Easter gift.
Wine
Friday 24th March, 6-7:30pm
Is food and wine pairing really a thing? Can it really make or break your dining experience?
Creative Weekends
Date To Be Confirmed
Unwind with writing at our weekend creative writing retreat for budding authors, with tutor Peter Govey and guest author Claire Fuller. Residential and non-residential options available.
Monday to Thursday
A lively, fun filled activity to enjoy with your friends. Soak up the atmosphere at the bar in our 1772 brasserie and learn to make speciality cocktails with the knowledgeable bar team as your tutors. A great way to start your evening - why not book a table for dinner too?
Available between Monday and Thursday @6pm
£35 per person, includes two cocktails and a welcome drink
Please book in advance
Book or Enquire >>Wednesday 25th January, 7pm
Join us for a traditional Scottish celebration, with a fabulous four-course supper, a tot of whisky and carafe of Cabernet Sauvignon… and of course, we’ll have a bagpiper too!
Supper begins with Pearl Barley and Truffle Scotch Broth, followed by the traditional haggis, then a main course of Highland Game and Venison Stew, neeps and tatties, finishing with Cranachan and Wild Heather Honey.
A tot of Berry Bros & Rudd Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and a carafe of Domaine de Saissac, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is included, and of course we'll have a bagpiper to treat us to some traditional tunes and pipe in the haggis.
£65
With Member Discount £52
Book a table >>Friday 27th January, 6-7:30pm
A tasting journey from the origins of wine to the modern day.
Wine holds a truly fascinating place in our cultural history. Before even the Greeks and the Romans, the Georgians were making wine, over 8,000 years ago.
This evening gives a potted history of how wine evolved through the ages, from ancient grape varieties and vineyards dating back millennia, to their modern incarnations.
6-7.30pm
Tickets £10
Complimentary for members
Limited Places
Why not stay for dinner?
Book or Enquire >>Saturday 28th January, 5:30-7:30pm
Beautiful vocals, perfect guitar and the occasional burst of funky flute make for a unique take on classic songs.
Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
There’s no need to book, but if you would like to stay for dinner please book your table in advance.
Sunday 29th January, 10-5pm
The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines is the perfect beginners course for anyone with an interest in wine, be it for pleasure or a career in the service industry. This one-day course is offered 6 times a year on a Sunday or can be booked as a one-off day for groups of 8 or more - a perfect team-building experience!
It also makes a great gift for a wine-curious friend or family member.
Includes refreshments and a light lunch.
Enquire or Book >>Throughout February
A beautiful country house hotel and spa, glorious countryside, beautiful bedrooms, sensational food and plenty of romantic touches - just what you need for an indulgent Valentines treat, whether you're planning a night away or an intimate supper with that special someone.
More Information >>Saturday 4th February, 5:30 - 7:30pm
A fantastic local duo, with a mellow set of covers spanning the genres and decades.
Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
There’s no need to book, but if you would like to stay for dinner please book your table in advance.
Saturday 11th February, 5:30-7:30pm
A wonderful set of blues, country and Americana. Liza’s beautiful amber voice will leave you spellbound. Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
There’s no need to book, but if you would like to stay for dinner please book your table in advance
Saturday 18th February, 5:30 - 7:30pm
The ever-popular Mike Hawthorne returns to The Retreat with an acoustic set of covers and his own compositions. Join us in the Atlas Room from 5:30pm.
There’s no need to book, but if you would like to stay for dinner please book your table in advance.
Sunday 19th February
Pop into The Retreat and start planning your big day! Enjoy a tour of our beautiful hotel and meet selected local suppliers.
Our Events Team will be on hand to welcome you with a tour and to discuss your ideas for your wedding.
11am - 3pm, no booking necessary.
Friday 24th February, 6-7:30pm
The Pacific Coast Highway runs 790 miles from San Diego to the Oregon border and happens to include some of the very best vineyard sites in all of the US.
Think sun-drenched reds noir from Paso Robles and steely cool whites from Sonoma, and that’s just California… We’ll taste the best of the wine en route, plus make a couple of worthwhile detours…
California sunshine in February, who could resist!
6-7.30pm
Tickets £10
Complimentary for members
Limited Places
Why not stay for dinner?
Book or Enquire >>Enjoy a weekend of wonderful watercolour with artist Nicola Watters. Create your own beautiful floral artwork to keep for yourself or perhaps give to a loved one as an Easter gift.
This is a weekend retreat, starting with a hosted dinner on the Friday night, followed by two days of painting with Nicola. Lunch is included on the Saturday and breakfast on both days.
Spring Painting RetreatFriday 24th March, 6-7:30pm
Is food and wine pairing really a thing? Can it really make or break your dining experience?
We’ll explore the principles behind pairing - how to avoid clashes, and how to create successes - and at the same time, you’ll discover your own preferences for flavour combinations. We’ll have plenty of nibbles, and a diverse range of wines, giving great scope to experiment.
With an understanding of the science behind what’s on your plate and what’s in your glass, you will leave equipped to wine-pair with renewed confidence.
6-7.30pm
Tickets £15
Complimentary for members
Limited Places
Why not stay for dinner?
Book or Enquire >>Date To Be Confirmed
A weekend retreat for budding authors, with tutor Peter Govey and a guest talk from award-winning author Claire Fuller.
This is a weekend retreat, starting with a hosted dinner on the Friday night, followed by two days creative writing, and a talk from acclaimed author Claire Fuller. Lunch is included on the Saturday and breakfast on both days.
Non-residential option £150, including the Friday night supper and lunch on the Saturday.
Unwind with Writing!
If you, like so many of us these days, are finding the pressures of modern life increasingly intrusive, this course is designed to help!
And if you have ever tried to clear your mind by writing so much as a to-do list, you have already taken the first step in your journey of writing to unwind.
Using a plethora of accessible and stimulating creative writing ideas, our aim will be to provide you with a way of fighting stress with creativity and enjoyment and to provide exercises and tools to enhance and develop your creative writing skills.
And while we can’t turn you into a best-selling author overnight–only you can do that–we can help you build a bridge between brain and biro to set your imagination free!
Absolutely no previous experience is needed–only a willingness to open your mind, and an eagerness to write.
What's Included
2 night's accommodation (non-residential option available)
Dinner on the Friday evening hosted by course leader Peter Govey
Working buffet lunch on Saturday
A full day and a half of creative writing workshops with extra time on Sunday if required
Guest talk from author Claire Fuller on the Saturday afternoon
Register your Interest >>