Case Study: A Company Wellness Retreat

10 Feb

A bespoke company retreat designed for relaxation, connection, and well-being

1. Event Overview

Client: Company unnamed (Technology & Gaming Sector)
Event Type: Corporate Wellness Retreat
Date & Duration: 1-night, 2-day retreat in July
Number of Guests: 40
Venue: Chalkney Water Meadows

2. Client Objectives & Vision

Why Browning Bros?

The company wanted a secluded retreat, close to London, that offered overnight stays and a fully supported planning process. The ability to customise every element, from bespoke wellness activities to an immersive outdoor setting, was key to their decision. The venue itself was a huge draw—offering a serene escape from the city, allowing the team to unplug, reset, and reconnect.

Their Vision for the Retreat

"We believe that true wellness encompasses physical health, mental clarity, and emotional balance. That’s why we looked for the perfect getaway—one designed to help our team truly relax and bond. From morning paddleboarding to evening fireside chats under the stars, this retreat was all about unwinding, recharging, and deepening our connections."

The wellness-focused itinerary was designed around:

Mindfulness & Relaxation: Yoga, meditation, gong bath, and Hypno Beats.
Physical Well-being: Paddleboarding, silent walks, and outdoor games.
Holistic Health: Ice bath therapy and one-to-one dietician sessions with personalised health insights.
Team Connection: Shared meals, open-fire gatherings, and relaxed networking spaces.

3. The Experience & Itinerary

💡 Tailored Wellness Workshops – Employees completed blood tests before the retreat, with results analysed by a professional dietitian onsite, offering personalised health recommendations.

💡 Outdoor Adventure & Reflection – Activities ranged from ice baths and yoga to paddleboarding on the lake and silent woodland walks, designed to clear the mind and inspire fresh perspectives.

💡 Immersive Setting – The tipis and stretch tents provided a relaxed, open-air workspace, while evening campfires and stargazing created moments of genuine connection.

Retreat Highlights and itineraries

📍 Dining & Nutrition
The menu was crafted to align with the retreat’s wellness focus—light, nutritious, and energising. Guests enjoyed salmon poke bowls, Thai noodle salads, lemon spatchcock chicken, and fresh fruit platters alongside a smoothie bar and grazing platters for late-night snacking.

Day 1

  
      Time
      Activity
    
      09:30
      Leave office in coach
    
      10:30
      Arrive at venue
    
      10:45
      Welcome Talk
    
      10:50
      Tea, coffee & healthy snacks
    
      11:00
      Dietitian Workshop
    
      13:00
      Lunch (Buffet Style)
    
      14:15
      Yoga 
    
      15:30
      Paddleboarding
    
      16:30
      Snack & Showers
    
      17:30
      Hypno Beats Session
    
      19:00
      Bar Opens
    
      19:30
      Dinner (Buffet Style)
    
      20:30
      Campfire & Garden Games
    
      22:00
      Late Night Snacks

Day 2

  
      Time
      Activity
    
      09:00
      Silent Walk
    
      09:30
      Breakfast
    
      10:30
      CBT Session
    
      11:30
      Team Run or Yoga
    
      12:15
      Ice Baths
    
      13:00
      Lunch (Buffet Style)
    
      14:15
      Intermediate Yoga
    
      15:15
      Gong Bath Relaxation
    
      16:30
      Snack & Pack-Up
    
      17:00
      Depart

📍 Accommodation & Setup

40 individual glamping tents, with luxury bedding and cosy interiors
Tipis for dining and workshops
Stretch tents for yoga, meditation, and breakout sessions
Fire pit gathering space for late-night conversations

4. Overcoming Challenges

🔹 Heatwave Temperatures – The summer sun was in full force, but our shaded tipis and stretch tents, along with the lake’s cooling breeze, provided much-needed relief.

🔹 Dietitian Setup Issues – A last-minute issue with the client’s presentation screen meant it wouldn’t work in the tipis. Our team quickly sourced and set up an alternative, ensuring a smooth session without disruption.

5. The Results: What The Team Thought

Feedback from The Company post-retreat survey showed overwhelmingly positive results.

⭐ Favourite Activities
"Paddleboarding, gong bath meditation, and playing volleyball with the team!"
"Loved the Hypno Beats session—it was such a unique experience."
"Sitting around the campfire chatting was the highlight."

⭐ Food & Catering
"The meals were fresh and healthy—perfect for the retreat."
"Loved the variety! Would have liked a couple more choices, but everything tasted amazing."
"The snack stations were a great touch—having healthy food on hand throughout the day made a real difference."

⭐ Overall Experience
"This was hands down the best company retreat I’ve ever been to. It felt different, thoughtful, and genuinely recharging."
"Such a well-planned trip—the perfect mix of activity and downtime."
"I left feeling refreshed and more connected to my team than ever."

6. Key Takeaways & Future Considerations

✅ The Value of Overnight Retreats – Having an overnight stay encourages deeper connections and a more immersive experience, compared to single-day offsites.

✅ Wellness with a Personal Touch – The one-to-one coaching sessions were a huge success—corporate groups are increasingly seeking customised wellness insights.

✅ Balancing Structure & Free Time – Employees loved the mix of planned activities and unstructured time, allowing them to bond naturally.

✅ Outdoor Adventures Are a Hit – Paddleboarding and ice baths were clear favourites, reinforcing the importance of movement and fresh air in corporate retreats.