Retreat moves forward
Ribble Valley entrepreneur Lousie Monk was walking the family dog in fields near her home when she had a vision.
That was in 2018. Today that vision is Everything Retreat, an adult-only, luxury micro-resort located in the Mellor countryside that is going from strength to strength.
The retreat she has created is just that – a popular destination for romantic getaways, dog-friendly breaks, and wellness stays.
Its stunning, high-end, uniquely themed self-accommodation lodges are equipped with a private hot tub, wood-burning stove, and kitchen—alongside the on-site ‘Balance Bar & Kitchen’ which offers guests a cozy space for lunch, tapas, and drinks.
Louise explains the concept behind Everything Retreat and what it offers its guests. She says: “When you wake each morning and open your doors to see nothing but the green countryside and sheep grazing on the dew-covered fields you can’t help but relax.
“We’re here to give people permission to stop, sleep, disconnect, reconnect, hibernate, take it slow – whatever you need to do at that time.
“As soon as I start to see green fields and breathe the fresh air from this part of the world, I can feel the stress begin to melt away.
“That’s something I wanted to bring to as many people as possible, so when the opportunity arose to create a retreat in these stunning surroundings, a place where it’s okay to just ‘be’, I knew this is what I had to do.
“It has been so exciting to see the business grow and the reaction we have had to what we have built here from guests.”
The business, which attracts those visitors from across the UK, continues to grow. Louise is working to expand the wellness side of the operation.
She has applied for planning permission to create a treatment room and Pilates studio as well as a cold plunge pool.
Lousie says: “Wellness is big business and it is growing. Today people want an ‘experience’ when they go away.”
She is also proud of her contribution to the local economy and stresses the importance of rural tourism to the area. She says: “I absolutely love what I do. I feel like I’m building a mini-village.”
WNJ has been Louise’s accountancy firm for two years and, as she stresses, its value to her goes beyond the numbers. Its team continues to be an important part of her team as she works to develop Everything Retreat further.
Louise says: “Business support is more and more important to me as I work to grow the business and I get great business advice from WNJ.
“That advice and having someone you can go to with your questions and to talk through and thought-test your ideas is just so valuable.”
To discover more about Everything Retreat visit www.everything-retreat.com
• To talk about how WNJ can help you on your business journey please contact me on 01772 430000
