Write and Wine with Kate Spicer

Let's Write (and Have a Good Wine/Time)

This is your chance to focus on a specific project in a fantastic, creatively inspiring and supportive environment with advice and encouragement from the inimitable Kate Spicer - sharp-witted journalist, best-selling author, ghostwriter and big fan of good wine. She returns to the château with her dream retreat: a mix of work, support, rest and play. Expect plenty of quiet, focussed co-working and private writing time. Feel supported by confidence-boosting and constructive creative companionship. And reboot and refresh every day with energising, relaxing and resetting activities. If you want to break the back of something, this one’s for you.

Before arrival you will make a writing plan with Kate over Zoom or phone so you can hit the ground running in the week. If wanted, everyone gets one-on-one afternoon time to walk and talk with Kate or do read-throughs, or whatever you want. There'll also be forest walks when we can be reassuringly dysfunctional together in the glorious August sunshine. Our special Sacy 'writer's yoga' is a crucial part of the day; as is dinner at the end of the day with our famous mouth-watering menus from Murphy Williams'  Sacy kitchen, all of which will be carefully paired with a different French region’s wine. 

All bedrooms have a desk and there are other peaceful spaces to work in alone, including the salon and the gardens, or enjoy silent co-working at the studio’s long writing table.

How The Five Full Days Will Be

• 7am Optional writing sprints in your room on waking: a focussed take on 'morning pages' to hack into your flow. Kate will bring you your preference of coffee, tea or lemon with hot water. Have your lap top or notepad by the bed and just go

  
  

• 7.45am Optional cold plunges for dopamine-boosting start to the day

  
  

• 8am (or 5pm) An hour of Sacy’s specially adapted 'Writer's Yoga' in the barn with Vinyasa instructor Megane Thiboust. Writers sitting posture is corrected releasing tension in shoulders, back and hip flexors. All important Pranayama (the original breathwork of India) clears anxiety, calms the mind and raises positivity. The classes end with optional 15 minute meditation for preparing that creative mind to pounce like a panther on the writing day.

• Breakfast Yoghurt, fruit and fresh goodies from the village boulangerie but also lots of fresh eggs and butter for those wanting to get protein and fats on board for optimum concentration

  
  

• 10am Three hours writing in the studio. Set up your spot at the table with all your research and writers' clobber, and work together in silence for an accountable, energising co-working environment with an allocated space that is yours to return to all week. Kate will keep the tea and coffee coming.

  
  

• 1.30pm Lunch prepared by Murphy

  
  

• 2.30pm Writing/free time or one-on-one sessions with Kate. There is a wonderful local masseuse available (extra cost).

  
  

• 5pm Writers group evening amble to the village for a quick drink (or yoga on two days). Or go for a swim, cycle or lie around, or work.

• 6pm Each participant, in pairs, makes one dinner over the week (recipe and ingredients provided, and help at hand if need be).

  
  

• 8pm Dinner, very brief chat about the wine pairing and a chance to discuss the days frustrations and the following day's writing goals

  
  

• Late night Slightly soused private writing sessions, random disco moment, chats and bed

  
  

YOGA

The beautiful old barn makes a perfect space for pre-breakfast Vinyasa Flow yoga classes, run for all levels by popular Sacy regular Megane Thiboust. These will clear your mind and prepare you for the focus of the day ahead. 

FOOD AND DRINK

• Meals will be Ottolenghi-inspired, largely vegetarian, nutricious and locally sourced where possible. We can cater for various diets on request.

• Each participant will pair up with another to prepare one dinner, with ingredients and recipes supplied and help at hand.

  
  

• Coffee, tea, fruit and pastries will be available throughout the day in a separate communal kitchen. 

  
  

• Paired French wines will be served with dinner.

  
  

  
  

  ACCOMMODATION

  We offer a range to suit different budgets - from a furnished bell tent in the orchard that can be shared with a friend, to an en suite with windows giving on to both sides of the garden. All the rooms are private. You can find out more about each option here or by clicking on the images below.

Apartment

Furnished Bell Tent in the Orchard

End Room

Mansarde

Attic Double

OUTINGS

• Thursday To a picturesque local lake for a swim, followed by lunch at Les Étangs de l'Abbaye, an exceptional and decently priced restaurant nearby

• Saturday Optional: to a wonderful local arts centre in Verderonne, as well as a medieval convent where the Poor Clares once lived and worked, and a different swimming lake

FREE TIME

• Walk through the nearby woods to the Chapelle Saint Catherine, a spot visited by Joan of Arc

• Swim in a large, gorgeous lake surrounded by wildlife

• Explore the countryside on our boneshakers, ie bikes

• Learn to walk our tightrope

• Play table tennis or French billiards

• Dive into the theatrical dresses, suits and hats of the Dressing-up Room

• Or just relax and soak up the atmosphere at the château

  
  

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Six nights in your own room or furnished bell tent at the château (sheets, towels and toiletries provided)

• Two 1-2-1 sessions with Kate

• Morning writing sessions with Kate

• Walks and swims with Kate

• Five yoga classes, with equipment provided

• Lifts to and from the station

• Welcome cocktail

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at the château

• Wine (within reason) at dinner

• Coffee, tea, juice, snacks at all times

• Use of the communal kitchen

• Run of (most of) the house, gardens and outdoor buildings

• Use of our boneshakers, ie bicycles

• Wifi

• Parking space

• Outings to local lake and places of interest

• Travel advice

  WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Travel costs

• Airport transfers

• Travel Insurance

• Visa fee if required

• Meals/drinks away from the house

• Entry tickets on excursions

  
  

TESTIMONIALS FROM KATE'S OCTOBER 2024 RETREAT

'Came here with no ideas and nothing on paper and left with a concrete plan and words on paper. Gained many kilos as a result of the great comfort food.' Marieke Heikens

'Great week, help, inspiration and women in an unforgettable setting. Thank you!' Kate Slater

'What a week! What a house! Thank you for an incredible experience and the out of this world food. Loved the dressing-up room. Special.' Emma Louise Gallic

 Find out more about Kate Spicer here. More about each room here.