As summer transitions into autumn, we take a moment to reflect on the wonderful events we’ve hosted over recent months to celebrate 21 years of life at Whatley.
One lasting legacy of our celebrations is the fabulous mural created by artist Matt Willey as part of his Good of the Hive project. Matt dedicated a month at Whatley to this beautiful mural, featuring 16 bees as part of his ambitious goal of painting 50,000 honeybees in murals around the world. Members of the local community, including Malmesbury School and local scout and guide groups, joined Matt in this creative endeavor. Many of our guests had the chance to participate, adding a little paint to the flowers on the wall. If you visit Whatley, you’ll find the mural in the main car park—be sure to take a look.
In September, we were honoured to host our first two-day Yoga Shaking and Meditation Retreat with international yoga practitioner, Parvati Devi. Parvati brought warmth, laughter, and deep wisdom to an intimate group of six participants. Despite her modesty in calling herself a YogaShaking practitioner, Parvati embodies the qualities of a healer, guide, and sage. The weekend fostered deep connections, leaving everyone feeling renewed and equipped with valuable lessons to improve their daily lives.
We are thrilled to welcome Parvati back to Whatley in March 2025 for a Bio Energy Retreat.
Read a review of the weekend with Parvati featured in Wellbeing Magazine
Also in September, Ricki Weston and his team delivered a Michelin Dining experience over five nights in the unique ambiance of the Green Room. Guests were seated around an open horseshoe kitchen, where the chefs engaged in an interactive experience, creating dishes while explaining the ingredients and methods. This event was so popular that we’ve introduced a Chef’s Kitchen Counter Experience in the Green Room, showcasing new dishes still in the development stage.
Our final celebratory event will welcome DJ Besford to Whatley in November. Guests staying or dining with us over the weekend will enjoy his unique signature sounds, incorporating primal percussion and deep spiritual vocals. To mark the occasion, guests can sip on a special anniversary cocktail created especially for this event.
As we reflect on these enriching experiences, we are filled with gratitude for everyone that has supported us over the past 21 years. Here’s to many more years of creating lasting memories together at Whatley.
