A culinary escape awaits at our Babington House Retreat

From in-season asparagus to crisp apple cider, the Somerset countryside is a haven for food lovers in the spring. Add the garden-to-table menu at Babington House, our home in Frome, into the mix and you have the perfect spot for our next food-focused escape.

Taking place from 19 to 21 March, you can look forward to special meals, tastings and other culinary-related activities in and around the House over three food-focused days. Highlights include dinner at 17th-century English pub The Three Horseshoes (headed up by Margot Henderson, founder of Shoreditch’s Rochelle Canteen), an intimate chat with three-Michelin-star chef Marco Pierre White, and a pastry demonstration by chef, author, activist and TV presenter, Ravneet Gill. 

Once you settle into your bedroom, the retreat begins with a light lunch at the House Deli, followed by a local cider tasting in the afternoon. Then it’s out to try your hand at foraging, guided by experts from local cookery school, Vale House Kitchen, followed by Babington House’s signature afternoon tea – including pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and savoury treats – on your return. 

Soho House members book the Babington Food Retreat here

Soho Friends book the Babington Food Retreat here

Babington House is the ultimate destination to rest, relax and unwind, so a few hours to yourself to explore its acres of rural grounds, heated outdoor pool and our original Cowshed spa is next up on your schedule before a group dinner at 17th-century English pub, the Three Horseshoes. Reopened in 2023, its kitchen – headed up by Henderson – champions a farm-to-fork ethos, with a daily set menu inspired by local, seasonal produce, served alongside local ciders, real ales, and craft beer. All of which are there for you to enjoy. 

A brunch with guest chef and member of the River Cottage team, Gill Meller, kicks off our next food-filled day. Expect classic British flavours, humble ingredients and simple cooking techniques. Following brunch, pastry chef Ravneet Gill hosts a pastry- and tart-making demonstration. Learn how to make two different types of pastry – and two different ways to line a tart case – along with expert tips on blind baking and techniques for different types of fillings. 

That afternoon, Westcombe Dairy hosts a cheese tasting featuring a handpicked selection of its unpasteurised offerings – all locally made in Somerset – such as traditional clothbound Westcombe Cheddar, Duckett’s Aged Caerphilly, and Ricotta, complemented by wine pairings selected and hosted by Babington House Membership and Events Manager, Andy Fisher.
 
Dinner that night is in the Log Room, for a very special, one-night -only feast created by local Michelin-starred chef, Merlin Labron-Johnson, of Somerset restaurant Osip, awaits. Labron-Johnson’s farm-to-table ethos focuses on vegetables grown by the chef on a nearby farm, which he pairs with wild herbs and local game. The evening comes to a close in the Library, with an intimate fireside chat with three Michelin-Starred chef Marco Pierre White.

The retreat’s final morning begins with a healthy breakfast focused on positive nutrition and gut health, hosted by Dr Federica Amati, head nutritionist at nutrition science company ZOE and author of Every Body Should Know This. A pasta masterclass follows, as Babington House Head Chef, Dionas Frank, teaches all you need to know about the basics – from making the dough, to creating a variety of shapes, and a sauce to finish. And when it’s time to check out, a picnic hamper filled with locally sourced produce awaits – so you can take a taste of the retreat from our Somerset House back home with you. 
 
Retreat price per bedroom, including full board and all activities, starts from £845 per person (for two people sharing) and £1,165 (for one person).
 
The retreat includes:
• Light lunch at the Deli
• Foraging with Vale House Kitchen
• Babington House signature afternoon tea
• Dinner at the Three Horseshoes with Margot Henderson
• Brunch with Gill Meller
• Pastry and tart demonstration with Ravneet Gill
• Cheese tasting and wine pairing with Westcombe Dairy
• Dinner with Michelin-starred chef Merlin Labron-Johnson
• Fireside chat in the Library with Marco Pierre White
• Healthy breakfast and talk about nutrition by Dr Federica Amati 
• Pasta masterclass by Dionas Frank
• Gift picnic hamper

Soho House members book the Babington Food Retreat here

Soho Friends book the Babington Food Retreat here