Charlotte Church's Wellness Retreat Pauses Operations After Three Years

Singer Charlotte Church's "healing retreat," The Dreaming, located at Rhydoldog House in Wales, will temporarily cease operations in December, according to a statement released by the retreat's team. The closure comes after three years of operation, with the team citing a "different world today than the one we started off in" and a need to "reassess what it is we should be offering."

The retreat, which opened in 2023, was established at Rhydoldog House, a property Church purchased for approximately £1.5 million two years prior. The historic house, formerly owned by fashion designer Laura Ashley, was transformed by Church into a wellness center. The business model struggled to adapt to the current economic climate.

In their social media announcement, the retreat team stated, "After five years of unfaltering practice, tending with diligence to the dreams of the land and our guests, we announce with hearts-a-brim that The Dreaming will be pausing its work at Rhydoldog from December 2026." They likened the pause to a natural process, explaining, "Through the harvest season, it is important to discern what requires attention from that which is falling away, what needs to be put to compost. We need the chance to compost, mulch, go fallow, listen deeply to the earth, so that we can germinate new dreams for the future."

During its operation, The Dreaming welcomed approximately 3,000 guests. The retreat offered a pay-what-you-can scheme, allowing visitors to stay for as little as £1 per night, and provided free retreats for NHS workers. The property, set on 47 acres in the Elan Valley, featured unique elements such as a "womb room" and showers described as "vagina-shaped." It also incorporated sustainable features, including power from a hydro mill and hot water from a water source heat pump.

Church purchased Rhydoldog House with her husband, Jonathan Powell, in 2021. The transformation of the property, including overcoming building issues and planning disputes, was documented in a series for the Discovery Channel. Despite receiving positive reviews from publications like Conde Nast Traveller and The Times, the economic pressures proved too significant for the business model.

The retreat team expressed their commitment to returning, stating, "We cannot say when exactly we will be returning from the dream realm, but return we shall." They emphasized the need to "stare clear-eyed at the exponentially complexifying crises" and reassess their service offerings with "candour and courage."