Our brand new retreat for 2025 welcomes Zest Life chef Aimee to centre stage. Over the years so many of you have asked for a cooking retreat and now we present you with the finest one – Nourish. You can finally get curious and learn the foundations of wholesome plant-based cooking. This interactive retreat is a brilliant chance for beginners to experienced cooks to be inspired with natural, additive-free ingredients such as pulses, grains and vegetables. With step-by-step support from Aimee herself, you will have an opportunity to get creative with plant-based, gluten free, whole foods that’ll enrich your life and those around you.
Highlights
- Interactive cooking experiences in a relaxed, welcoming kitchen.
- Explore new techniques and learn the foundations of wholesome plant-based cooking for quick and easy healthy meals.
- Discover superfoods, wild herbs, mushrooms, seaweed and more.
- Walk away with confidence and knowledge so that you cook plant-based, gluten free at home.
- Preparing together a plant-based 3 course feast.
- Access to Aimee to ask her all your questions.
Chef – Aimee Walker
A former restaurant Head Chef and practicing artist, Aimee’s delivery is rooted in local produce and wild food that grounds you in deep nourishment. Working closely with the intentions of the retreat, Aimee is able to create a culinary experience that is wholesome and enlivening to your senses. Since a young age she’s been fascinated with gathering herbs and produce from the areas we live and how meals made with love and affection can bring people together. It is this act of alchemy that enriches her curious nature to explore land, flavours, and storytelling through food.
Yoga Teacher – Laura Bell
Laura is a yoga teacher and founder of The Zest Life. Growing up at Plas Ashpool, her family home, Laura’s passion for nature and wellness grew, and it is here her inspiration for The Zest Life retreats began. She teaches vinyasa flow based yoga, a style that has come from her 20 years of yoga practice, focuses on movement with breath and alignment. Classes are set to rejuvenate the body and focus the chattering mind. Through continued meditation her practise follows a spiritual path which she incorporates into her teachings both on and off the mat.
Plant Based Cookery
Our exclusive workshops will awaken your curiosity and provide the foundations of wholesome winter food. With step-by-step support, you will get creative with plant-based, gluten free, whole foods that’ll enrich your life and those around you. These fun cooking classes are for both beginners and the more experienced. We explore natural, additive-free ingredients such as pulses, grains and vegetables, and how to use them to make delicious plant-based meals in a welcoming kitchen.
The Location
Escape to the breathtaking beauty of North Wales where our brand new retreat venue sits quietly in the the Vale of Clwyd, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and one of the most picturesque rural locations of the UK. A charming and serene location, find market towns, medieval castles, miles of coastline, rugged hills and majestic mountains including Snowdon, cool rivers and crisp waterfalls, breathtaking views and wide open spaces, there is just so much natural beauty to explore. All this only a 3 hours train journey from central London.“Like minded people coming together in a shared experience that positively affected us all. A great team dynamic. Led by inspirational but real leaders who love what they do. It’s infectious!”
Claire, Saddleworth
“From the moment you arrive until you leave it’s so relaxing and a lovely escape from everyday life... The yoga is the best I’ve been to and the walks are also very good… I can’t recommend highly enough!”
Barbara, Liverpool
The Venue
Plas Ashpool is a newly renovated barn which offers an interior that is warm and welcoming. Traditional barn features and wooden floors can be found throughout, making it feel light and homely. Doors open out from the 4 ground floor bedrooms onto the terrace. There are quiet outside spaces where you are free to sit or stroll peacefully at any time. Or enjoy exploring the 20 acres of land including fields, a woodland with private swimming pond and tennis court. These wide open spaces of nature make this the optimal environment for regeneration and wellbeing.
The Accommodation
Finished to a high standard, the decor is crisp and fresh with warm tones and pops of colour in the bedrooms soft furnishings. The oak frame barn sleeps 12 in 6 twin/king double rooms, 4 of which are ensuite. All bathrooms have showers and baths. Sink into large soft sofas by day and cosy up in beds with fresh, white linen by night. An open plan living/ dining space on the first floor is a light and airy calming space to relax. It is perfect for convivial dining, and is complete with log burner and far reaching views across the valley and up to the hills.
Yoga Room
The yoga room is a light and spacious oak framed room with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a quiet, flower filled courtyard. The yoga room lying adjacent to the barn, allows you to walk straight from your bedroom, down the hall and into the yoga space. With an array of indoor plants and a sound system, you can tune in to relaxing music, drifting off into a world of calm, enjoying this tranquil space anytime day or night.
Food
Our chef is constantly adjusting the menu, based on what’s in season. Inspired by nature, our lovingly prepared, predominantly plant based cuisine is a highlight for our guests and a key component of our approach to health and wellbeing. The Zest Life team has been cooking with plant proteins for more than 12 years and is passionate about offering complete, nutrient-dense meals with an element of surprise. With organic seasonal vegetables drawn from the Zest Life onsite kitchen gardens, these plant powered meals and snacks will fuel your active days.
Holistic Treatments
There will be plenty of time to indulge in a body treatment or two with one on our superb in house therapists. Enjoy the healing benefits of taking time out and indulging in a holistic therapy amidst the retreats stunning grounds. We offer a range of massage treatments, from Indian head and Swedish full body, to Acupuncture and Tui Na (a Chinese massage similar to Shiatsu). Our therapists use organic therapeutic oils to ease away your stresses and strains. Each treatment is £65 for 45 minutes. Go to your team for further information on the therapists.
Getting There
Plas Ashpool, Llandyrnog, Denbighshire, LL16 4HP, North Wales, UK.
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Our retreat is easily accessible by both train and car.
By Car
Chester 40 Minutes
Manchester/Liverpool/Wilmslow/Knutsford 1 Hour
The A55 expressway is an easy 12 minute drive away. You drop down from this expressway and drive along the B5429 through small villages before arriving at Plas Ashpool.
By Rail
National Rail will release train ticket availability around three months before travel.
The nearest station is Prestatyn, 25 minutes from the venue and with direct train links to Central London taking just 3 hours.
Chester station is the next closest station, 45 minutes from the venue, with direct links from Central London and Manchester.
Local taxi firms: Prestatyn Taxi 0174588811 – Robert’s Taxi 01745 888444
By Air
Manchester International airport is the nearest airport to the venue, with a car journey time of 1 1/2 hours.
The retreat price includes 2 Nights / 3 Days (Friday-Sunday) of:
- Accommodation with ensuite and shared bathrooms
- Daily yoga and meditation sessions
- Yoga equipment – mats/blocks/props
- Creative cooking classes to learn the foundations of wholesome winter food
- Plant-based, nutritionally dense meals and snacks
- Unlimited fruit, tea, herbal teas, coffee and flavoured water
- Private access to the 20 acres of fields and woodland
- Linen, towels and toiletries are provided
- Plas Ashpool is extremely comfortable and all rooms are finished to a very high standard.
- The friendly host service of the team at the retreat throughout your stay
| Room | 3 day |
|---|---|
| King Double Ensuite – Single Occupancy | from £988 |
| King Double/twin Ensuite – Shared Occupancy | from £844 |
| King Double/twin (shared bathroom) – Shared Occupancy | from £799 |
The deposit of 20% is required on booking and the final payment due 60 days before the retreat start date. Please read our terms and conditions before booking.
Places are limited to 12 guests so please book early to avoid disappointment. An intimate number of guests ensures everybody achieves their goals from their time at The Zest Life Signature retreat.
If you have any further queries about the retreat please see our FAQ’S page or contact Laura on 07989 512859 / email info@thezestlife.co.uk
