Spend morning, noon and night at Soho Farmhouse
Whether you’re planning a day full of eating, activities or wellness and relaxation, there’s plenty to do at our countryside escape
Friday 16 August 2024 By Chloe Lawrance
Since opening in 2015, Soho Farmhouse has become a firm favourite with members. Located in the scenic Oxfordshire countryside, it’s a place to relax and recharge in nature, with plenty to see, eat and do from sunrise to sunset (and sometimes beyond).
Whether you’re staying in one of the many Cabins, Huts or bedrooms dotted around the 100 acres, or just heading there for the day, there’s lots to keep you busy throughout your trip. For Soho Farmhouse member Georgina Mullins, a visit means food, work and some time spent in the gym and spa, before an evening winding down with friends. To offer some inspiration for your own visit, here she shares how she makes the most of everything that Soho Farmhouse has to offer.
Mornings spent working
‘I like to head down early to the House,’ explains Mullins, an artist, designer and maker who has been a Local House member at Soho Farmhouse since 2023, gaining her membership through the Soho Mentorship programme. This initiative pairs existing members with young creatives from lower socioeconomic and underrepresented backgrounds to grow their talent, network and experience. ‘Walking over from the car park is always such a treat in itself – there are so many lovely wildflowers growing. It’s a relaxing start to the day.’
Whether you’re staying in one of the many Cabins, Huts or bedrooms dotted around the 100 acres, or just heading there for the day, there’s lots to keep you busy throughout your trip. For Soho Farmhouse member Georgina Mullins, a visit means food, work and some time spent in the gym and spa, before an evening winding down with friends. To offer some inspiration for your own visit, here she shares how she makes the most of everything that Soho Farmhouse has to offer.
Mornings spent working
‘I like to head down early to the House,’ explains Mullins, an artist, designer and maker who has been a Local House member at Soho Farmhouse since 2023, gaining her membership through the Soho Mentorship programme. This initiative pairs existing members with young creatives from lower socioeconomic and underrepresented backgrounds to grow their talent, network and experience. ‘Walking over from the car park is always such a treat in itself – there are so many lovely wildflowers growing. It’s a relaxing start to the day.’
Breakfast is enjoyed at Blake’s Kitchen, which serves coffee, breakfast and lunch to members throughout the day. Menu highlights include sandwiches, sausage rolls and goodness bowls, packed with local, seasonal ingredients – as well as their famous cinnamon buns.
‘I like to sit in the courtyard to eat and catch up on emails while soaking up some sunshine,’ says Mullins. ‘I usually have something hearty, like avocado and poached eggs on toast with an oat latte.
‘After breakfast, I’ll stretch my legs and take a walk around the beautiful gardens. I know the perfect spot to sit and get some drawing done – just outside the Glasshouse under the canopy.’
‘I like to sit in the courtyard to eat and catch up on emails while soaking up some sunshine,’ says Mullins. ‘I usually have something hearty, like avocado and poached eggs on toast with an oat latte.
‘After breakfast, I’ll stretch my legs and take a walk around the beautiful gardens. I know the perfect spot to sit and get some drawing done – just outside the Glasshouse under the canopy.’
A fitness-filled break
The House isn’t just a place to work, but also for wellness – be that fitness or relaxation. ‘I try to fit in a workout whenever I’m at the House,’ Mullins says. ‘I’ll head to the gym or maybe take a swim – always followed by a visit to the sauna.’ The gym is open from 6.30am to 10pm each day, and is fully equipped with TechnoGym machines, a free weights area and rigs, with personal trainers on hand to help members make the most of their workouts. There’s a range of classes available to book via the Soho House app too, including Reformer Pilates in the Wellness Barn. For swimmers, the heated pool is both indoor and outdoor, starting under a barn roof and opening out into the lake.For those looking to wind down, the members-only Cowshed spa offers treatments including massages and facials, as well as a rotating calendar of residencies from expert practitioners across the world of beauty and wellbeing. Elsewhere, the Lazy Lake is the ultimate relaxation experience for members, with an ice room, steam room, three infrared sauna cabins, and four onsen-style baths that are sunken into the water itself.
A light working lunch
After her workout, Mullins heads for lunch at Pen Yen, the Japanese izakaya-style restaurant that arrived at the House in 2015. ‘It’s my incentive to do some commission work,’ she explains. ‘In the summer, the floor to ceiling windows are open – it’s heavenly when you’re sitting on the sofas next to them. I usually order the edamame beans along with the spicy tuna maki. The wasabi at Pen Yen is the best I’ve ever tasted.’Time to unwind
With work out of the way, Mullins uses the House as her base to catch up with friends. In the afternoon, she’ll head over to the Electric Barn screening room to watch a film. Each week, we show new releases as well as revisiting old favourite and classic movies.‘Afterwards, we’ll finish the day with dinner at Little Berenjak,’ she says. ‘My order would typically be the barbari, a clay-baked leavened flatbread, with the black chickpea hummus and kashk e bademjoon (coal-cooked aubergine). For the main course, I like either the chicken or lamb kabab with shirazi, a cucumber and tomato salad, and saffron crispy rice. Little Berenjak has been a really great addition to the House.’
Explore Soho Farmhouse and apply for membership