All the ways we’re celebrating 25 years of Babington House

At Soho House, we love a good party. And as we continue to toast 25 years of Babington House, our rural retreat that opened its doors back in 1998, we have plenty more celebrations up our sleeves. 

We’ve already relaxed at a wellness-boosting retreat, got the inside scoop on the House’s history from Soho House Founder Nick Jones, and indulged in all things Cowshed, which was born at Babington. But the summer isn’t over yet. For the rest of the year, we’ll be bringing the spirit of Glastonbury to Babington, paying homage to the garden to table ethos of the House, hosting a tennis weekender with Lacoste, and bringing together Somerset’s buzzing art scene. Let the festivities continue…

The Glastonbury celebrations

Glastonbury at Babington House, Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 June
So, you missed out on those elusive Glastonbury tickets? Fret not – we’ll be bringing all the fun of the festival to Babington with a three-day celebration (minus the mud). Grab a drink from our specially curated drinks menu, find a spot on the lawn and watch all the musical highlights on our big screens. If you get peckish, we’ll be firing up the barbecue each day – no wellies required. And we’ll even be setting up 25 Bell Tents, complete with our signature Soho House comforts – create your own festival-style getaway or sleep easy between each day at Glastonbury itself (Babington House is just 30 minutes away from the festival site). 

Bell Tent accommodation is available from Thursday 22 to Tuesday 27 June. It can only be booked for the five-night run in total for £2,300 per tent.

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Glastonbury Wind-Down, Monday 26 June
Our infamous post-Glastonbury wind-down returns, offering weary festivalgoers the chance to relax and recuperate (or simply enjoy one more day of partying) before they head home. Take a dip in the pool, relax at our Cowshed spa or simply kick back, Picante in hand. We’ll be hosting some exciting artists and DJs that you won’t want to miss, too; watch this space for the full line-up to be announced soon. 

The supper clubs
 
One Night Only: Ana Ortiz, Monday 31st July
A Somerset local, chef Ana Ortiz will be joining the Babington team for a night of asado feasting in the Walled Garden. Growing up on the Galapagos Islands, some of Ortiz’s earliest culinary memories were spent around her grandfather’s fire kitchen. She soon discovered the joys of Argentinian asado cooking – beautiful cuts of meat grilled to perfection over a flame – as her father began travelling to the country for work. Bringing this passion to Babington House, Ortiz will be preparing a four-course dinner (plus an arrival drink). One for the barbecue lovers.

One Night Only: Lyle’s, Tuesday 8 August
Michelin-starred chef James Lowe – who founded Lyle’s in east London with John Ogier back in 2014 – will be joining us to prepare a four-course meal celebrating the possibilities of cooking with British ingredients. Just like the team at Babington House, Lowe is passionate about supporting small, local producers – it was this that inspired him to start the Young Turks collective with Isaac McHale and Ben Greeno in 2011. With Lowe’s restaurant Lyle’s placing among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2018, this will be a unique night of culinary feasting that’s not to be missed.

The tennis tournament

Soho Grand Slam in partnership with Lacoste, Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 July
Is there anything more quintessentially ‘British summer’ than a game of tennis followed by strawberries and cream on a sun-soaked lawn? This year, we’re partnering with Lacoste for our very first tennis weekender at Babington House. Enjoy two days of talks, including sessions led by Black Girls Tennis Club, plenty of tennis masterclasses and coaching, plus games for all levels and abilities. We’ll also be hosting the Soho House Tennis Tournament, with members competing to win the first-ever Soho Grand Slam Cup. Time to brush up on your serve…


The art weekender

The Babington Fayre, Saturday 9 September
Rounding out our celebrations, the Babington Fayre will mark everything that makes the House such a creative hub for the local art community. Bringing together a mix of emerging and high-profile artists, members will be able to peruse the fair to find their next favourite piece, purchased directly from the artists themselves. Alongside this, the day will also include hands-on workshops and classes from artists, as well as conversations with leading figures in the art world. Don’t forget to get your one-of-a-kind portrait painted, too. 

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