Meet The Team
We’re delighted to introduce the dedicated in-house team who are at the heart of the retreat experience. Each member brings their own unique energy, expertise, and commitment to your stay.
Candida Meyrick
Creative Director and Founder
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Candida Meyrick was inspired to launch The Retreat New Forest in 2019 after a profound personal health crisis, which set her on a mission to make transformative holistic practices available to all.
The Retreat building had at one time been the Meyrick family's Dower House and so had a personal resonance which she wanted to see flourish again, by creating a friendly, supportive space, welcoming and restorative.
She is endlessly inspired and moved by the people who have been drawn to The Retreat – as part of their deeper healing journey or simply for a heart-warming connection over an excellent plant-based power ball and cappuccino...
When not at the Retreat, Candida is kept busy as an author, artist, falconer and founder of the botanical drinks business, Positive Potions.
Alice Summer Francis
Practitioner Liaison
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As the Practitioner Liaison and Duty Manager, I serve as the bridge between retreat facilitators and the hotel, helping to bring your vision to life - from coordinating the What’s On, retreats and comfort of our guest rooms and grounds.
I found The Retreat through my deep-rooted passion for bodywork, breathwork, and Yoga, I also offer treatments and classes on-site.
My practice is grounded in presence and embodied connection, and I bring this same ethos to my work behind the scenes—holding space for both practitioners and guests to feel supported, seen, and nourished throughout their stay.