Need some ideas of things to do during your wonderful weekend retreat at Bethnal&Bec? Fear not – we have put together a useful itinerary jam-packed full of fun activities to enjoy during your luxury weekend break in the heart of Hertfordshire, so you can spend less time researching and more time relaxing!
Friday Evening
Upmarket Option – Dine-In Meal
Begin by pre-ordering one of our delicious dine-in meals to tuck into on your Friday evening. You can choose from the following locally sourced meal packs that will be ready and waiting in your retreat upon your arrival:
● Pimp My Pizza Box – meat/veggie/vegan
● Bethnal&Bec Gourmet Burger Box – meat/veggie/vegan
● Local Grass-Fed Angus Steak Box – fillet/ribeye
● Popcorn Partaaaaaay!
We provide the BBQ or pizza oven and have indoor solutions for the winter months. Simply arrive, unpack, and enjoy a delicious dinner with minimal effort!
Budget-Friendly Option – Self-Catering
If your budget is a little more restrictive, don’t worry! You are welcome to bring your own food along and rustle up your favourite meal. All our luxury self-catering retreats feature their very own kitchen with fridge/freezer, dishwasher, toaster, kettle, oven, and hob.
We also offer our Bethnal&Bec staples pantry as standard, so you can help yourself to a wide selection of staple ingredients at no additional cost! Our staples pantry includes:
An extensive range of teas and coffees
Selection of condiments including ketchup, olive oil, salt, pepper, herbs etc.
Rice, pasta, gluten-free pasta, and noodles
Cornflakes and Shreddies
Hot chocolate, sugar, and sweetener
Jams, marmalade, and Nutella
Butter
A tipple of gin and whiskey
…and more!
Tuck into your meal at the kitchen table, or if the weather allows, you can dine alfresco from your patio table and admire the rolling Hertfordshire views. Ahhh, bliss!
Saturday Morning
R&R
I don’t know about you, but my favourite thing about being on holiday is embracing sloooow mornings with long lie-ins! Enjoy breakfast in bed from the cocoon of your cosy king-sized bed, complete with luxury Egyptian cotton sheets and sumptuous bedding.
All our guests are provided with a complimentary breakfast box which can be customised upon booking. Choose from:
Local smoked back bacon or veggie/vegan sausages
Local eggs
Tomatoes & mushrooms
Local bread
Granola
Milk / oat milk / almond milk
Heinz beans
Selection of jams, honey, marmalade, Marmite, and Nutella
Butter
Saturday Afternoon
Upmarket Option – Cocktail Making
Always wanted to learn how to make your own gourmet cocktails? Well, now you can! Introducing the Armstrong Shaw X Bethan&Bec bespoke mixology session…
Muddle, squeeze, mix and shake premium spirits and fresh ingredients to create well-balanced and flavoursome drinks, whilst learning some fun facts and great techniques to help level up your cocktail making game. You will learn how to craft 3 cocktails during the hour-long session, choosing from a popular selection including Cosmopolitan, Espresso Martini, Sidecar, Lost Boy, Vesper Martini and more.
All ingredients will be provided for the session. This course is held virtually via Zoom at the cost of £75 for 2 people.
Upmarket Option - Wellbeing Treatments
If you’d rather sit back and be pampered to your heart’s content, why not book one of our incredible local mobile therapists? Our amazingly talented therapists can offer luxury facials, massages, sports massages, reflexology, yoga, manicures, and pedicures to be enjoyed from the comfort of your very own retreat. What could be better?!
Our recommended local therapists include:
Tiny House Retreats - quality spa treatments including 2 special packages created exclusively for Bethnal&Bec guests
Emma (Beauty Therapist) - massages, manicures, pedicures, and more
Sunrise Holistic Therapies - reflexology
ProRehab Therapy - soft tissue massages
Yoga You - one-on-one yoga sessions
The Hay Barn - Ayurvedic massages
Please enquire with the therapists directly to arrange your wonderful wellbeing experience.
Upmarket Option – Private Chef
If fine dining is more your cup of tea and you have some extra cash to splurge, why not take your luxury break to the next level and hire one of our private chefs to cook for you in your very own retreat? From just £100 per person, you can choose from our fantastic selection of recommended chefs and cuisines. Simply agree the menu choice with your chosen chef and relax!
Our recommended chefs and cuisines include:
Ping’s Kitchen – Mediterranean (French, Spanish & Italian)
Stephanie – Plant-Based
Sebastian – British, Asian & International
Amie – Indian
Anne – Vietnamese
Please enquire with the chefs directly to arrange your once-in-a-lifetime fine dining experience.
Budget-Friendly Option – Outdoor Bath
If you’d rather save those pennies, you can spend your afternoon soaking in your private outdoor jacuzzi bath with a glass of something sparkling. Remember, because we are self-catering, you don’t need to purchase drinks from us – you are more than welcome to bring your own booze!
All our luxury retreats feature private outdoor freshwater jacuzzi baths, without the addition of any nasty chemicals like traditional hot tubs. There’s plenty of space for two adults in our Omnitub deep soaking baths, featuring eco-friendly lights and whirlpool jets. You can even use your own bath bombs, salts, oils, or bubbles in our jacuzzi baths! At the end of a long day, immerse yourself in the warm water whilst admiring stunning views over the Hertfordshire countryside, and feel all your worries simply disappear…
Sunday Morning
R&R
After a late night in the outdoor jacuzzi bath, spend your Sunday morning catching up on some much-needed R&R. Snuggle up in bed with your other half and watch your favourite film on the drop-down projector screen (Bec & The Foaling Box) or 43” Smart TV with Netflix & Amazon Prime (Bethnal). Rise slowly and take a luxurious soak in the indoor roll top bath, whilst admiring awe-inspiring views of the surrounding countryside through the unique post-box windows.
Sunday Afternoon
Upmarket Option – Private Chef
Level up your Sunday roast with a private dining experience from one of our expert local chefs. We highly recommend booking Sebastian for your Sunday lunch: a talented and motivated chef who specialises in British, Asian & International cuisine. Sebastian previously worked as a Senior Sous Chef at the Soho House Group in London, with subsequent roles allowing him to deliver quality and memorable dining experiences.
From £160 for 2 people. Please enquire with Sebastian directly.
Upmarket Option - Grazing Brunch Boxes
If you’d rather stay in for lunch but want something a little less extravagant, why not order a delicious Graze Brunch Box from Olive & Ivy to be delivered directly to your luxury retreat? They offer 2 amazing options for tasty grazing boards, with veggie and vegan alternatives available:
Signature Artisan: five types of cheeses, four types of meats (sourced from a local family deli), crackers, Tiptree onion chutney, falafels or pakoras, a mixture of nuts, olives, cornichons & a homemade Mediterranean mix, plus seasonal fruit and beautiful figs = £40
Brunch Artisan: bagels (filled with either smoked salmon & cream cheese or crispy smoky bacon & homemade avocado smash), croissants (filled with either French ham & cheese or Nutella & strawberries), sweet waffles complete with dipping sauces, pancakes, granola pots (with a choice of either lemon, raspberry or plain yoghurt), loaded brownie and seasonal fruit = £40
Click here to pre-order your delicious Grazing Brunch Box today!
Budget-Friendly Option – Countryside Walk with Optional Pub Lunch
There’s nothing quite like taking a slow Sunday stroll in the countryside! We are so lucky to be surrounded by acres upon acres of rolling Hertfordshire countryside here at Bethnal&Bec, with many fantastic walking routes directly from your door. Some of our favourite walks even end at some amazing local pubs – bonus!
Amble across the fields for just 30 minutes to reach The Jolly Waggoner; a traditional 18th Century pub serving up delicious food and drink. Their Sunday lunch offering includes Church Farm topside of beef, Church Farm roast shoulder or pork, and mozzarella, red lentil, mushroom & truffle bake, served with proper gravy and all the trimmings.
Or if you don’t mind jumping in the car, we highly recommend popping to The Sword Inn Hand for your Sunday roast. This 14th Century free house makes for the perfect countryside retreat, boasting delicious fine food and traditional ales. Choose from their rack of pork with stuffing & crackling, breast of turkey, herb roasted leg of lamb, sirloin of roast beef, and mixed nut roast with all the trimmings for your traditional Sunday roast.
Sunday Night
R&R
It’s important to get that last bit of rest and relaxation in before checking out of your luxury retreat and heading home on Monday morning. Enjoy long evening soaks in the outdoor jacuzzi bath, take a relaxing bath, or snuggle up with your other half and watch your favourite film on the cinema projector screen. What could be better?!
