THE FOUNDRY RETREAT
A weekend away from the noise, but not from your ambition.
13–15 November 2026 | Tall John’s House | Brecon Beacons LD3 7PX
OPEN TO MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS
Restoration. Ambition. Belonging.
There aren’t many opportunities in everyday life to properly step away from it all.
Life might be full, interesting and successful, with a business or career you care about, people who rely on you and plenty that you still want to do.
But when you’re the person making decisions, holding things together and thinking about what comes next, it can be surprisingly difficult to find the space to hear your own thoughts.
This November, we’re taking The Foundry to a beautiful country house in the Brecon Beacons for a weekend designed to create exactly that space.
We’ll walk in the hills, practise yoga, eat extremely well, sit around the fire, brave some cold water (if we fancy it) and leave enough room in the weekend to read, sleep, talk or do absolutely nothing.
Alongside all of that, the Foundry founders Sara and Becca will facilitate three conversations across the weekend, giving you the chance to think about where you are now, where you might want to think bigger and what you want to take back into everyday life with you.
No relentless schedule.
No awkward networking.
No pressure to have a breakthrough.
Just a very good weekend with interesting women and some proper space to think.
What's Important to us?
This isn’t just a wellness weekend and it’s definitely not a networking weekend.
Sometimes what you actually need is enough distance from everyday life to work out what you think.
Our weekend is built around three things:
RESTORATION
Not switching off from your life, but giving yourself enough breathing room to restore some capacity. Long walks, yoga, time outside, beautiful food, optional cold-water swimming, slow mornings and space in the programme where absolutely nothing is expected of you.
AMBITION
We don’t think taking time for yourself and being ambitious are opposites.
Sometimes stepping away gives you the perspective to reconnect with what excites you, question something you’ve been tolerating or give a half-formed idea enough space to become something more.
Across the weekend, Sara and Becca will facilitate the conversations designed to create the kind of thinking that is difficult to access when you’re rushing between everything else, for everyone else.
BELONGING
There is something different about the conversations that happen when you take away the meeting agenda, job titles and five-minute introductions.
We want to bring together a small group of curious, interesting women and give them the time to get to know one another properly. We all have our own stories, our own perspectives and sharing these with other women in a safe, non-judgemental and supportive environment can feel a little bit like magic.
Come on your own
We really mean this.
You do not need to be a Foundry member. You don’t need to own a business. You don’t need to describe yourself as a leader. And you absolutely don’t need to know anybody before you arrive.
You might be building a business, leading a team, established in your career, changing direction completely, or simply at a point where you’re wondering what you want the next few years to look like.
You can arrive with a big question you’d love to think about, or no question whatsoever. What matters to us is creating a weekend where nobody feels as though they’ve arrived at somebody else’s reunion.
Come with a friend if you’d like to. Come completely on your own if you’d rather. Either way, you will be welcomed into the room, not expected to find your way into it.
Three Days. Three Foundry Conversations
Alongside the walking, yoga, good food and time to simply be, we’ll create space for three carefully facilitated conversations.
ARRIVE. Where am I now?
A chance to properly arrive and take stock. What feels good, what’s taking up too much space, and what haven’t you had enough time to think about?
EXPAND. What if I thought bigger?
Space for the ideas, decisions and ambitions that tend to get pushed aside by the more immediate demands of everyday life. No pressure for big revelations, just better questions and the time to explore them.
RETURN. What changes when I go home?
We’ll bring the weekend together through Clarity, Courage and Contribution, leaving you with a clearer sense of what matters and one meaningful intention to take home.
No endless workshops, no forced vulnerability and no action plan as long as your arm. Just the space, questions and conversations to help you see things a little differently.
This might be for you if...
- Life is good, but very full, and you can’t remember the last time you had uninterrupted space to think.
- You’re excited about what you’re building, but you’re not entirely sure what you want the next chapter to look like.
- There’s an idea, decision or change sitting somewhere in the back of your mind that you haven’t quite had the space to explore.
- You’re craving interesting conversation that goes beyond small talk and swapping business cards.
- You’d love a weekend away that combines beautiful surroundings and proper restoration with something a little more thought-provoking.
- Or perhaps you don’t need a big reason at all.
You just read this and thought:
I’d really like to be there.
That’s a good enough reason.
What's Included?
Two nights at Tall John’s House, Brecon Beacons
Welcome drinks and Friday kitchen supper
Breakfast, lunch and a more formal dinner on Saturday
Sunday breakfast and closing lunch
Guided Saturday hill walk
Optional cold-water swim
Sunday morning yoga
Three expertly facilitated Foundry sessions
Campfire evening
Plenty of tea, coffee, snacks and the good stuff in between
Time deliberately left unscheduled
And, most importantly, a weekend where very little is required of you.
The Details Bit
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Dates: Friday 13 – Sunday 15 November 2026
Location: Tall John’s House, Brecon Beacons, Wales
Places: 16
Price: Starting from ￡725
Accommodation: All ensuite rooms, either single occupancy or twin. In both the main house and converted barns.
Arrival: From approximately 3pm Friday
Departure: After lunch Sunday
Open to: All women. Foundry members and non-members are equally welcome.
FAQs
I don't know anyone, am I welcome?
Yes of course. We promise to make you feel welcome, supported and seen. Our guests often comment on how welcoming we are.
I can't pay in full yet, is that ok?
We want to make this as accessible as possible. We ask for a deposit to save your space then there is the option of a monthly payment plan.
What time do I need to be there on the Friday?
We will be welcoming everyone from 4pm, but we know everyone’s arrival on friday night might be staggered. Drinks and supper will be from 7pm and we would love you to be there for that.
I have limited mobility, does this retreat work for me?
The programme involves a 4 hour walk in the Brecon Beacons. Nothing is compulsory but we can only facilitate one main group. If you are worried about accessibility we would love to have a chat with you and see what we can make work.
Do I have to live in the Cotswolds?
No, of course not. Everyone is more than welcome.
Do I have to share a room?
There are different room options to suit different preferences and budgets. Let us know what you’d prefer, by yourself or sharing a twin room.
I need to leave early on the Sunday morning
We know life is busy, that’s exactly why we have created this weekend. But if you really need to leave early of course this is fine!
Is it only for women?
Yes, we are all about creating a space for women, whether leaders, founders, business owners or not.
Can I have more information?
Please drop us an email. hello@thefoundryltd.co.uk and we would love to have a chat with you.
I have dietary requirements, can they be acommodated?
We will be using a professional chef for the duration of the retreat, in a semi-domestic kitchen setting. Dietary requirements must be disclosed in advance and we will absolutely do our best to accommodate them. Delicious food for all is important to us!
I have more questions, how do I get in touch with you?
We would love to chat this through with you. Please drop us an email on hello@thefoundryltd.co.uk