Autumn Food writing RETREAT
11 October – 18 October 2025
Join Bland Badger host, Charlotte Bland, and guest host, Lucy Brazier, for an immersive yet informal food writing retreat. Charlotte and Lucy have worked in the cookbook industry for many years, as a photographer and writer respectively, before collaborating on the bestselling cookbook Christmas at River Cottage five years ago. Now, inspired by the beauty of Villa Pia, the landscape and the incredible local produce, they have joined forces again to bring their knowledge and passion for food writing to the renowned Bland Badger retreat programme. They are thrilled to invite three very special tutors to lead the week. Felicity Cloake, Mark Diacono and Molly Wizenberg to encourage, guide and develop your food writing skills, whether you are an enthusiastic beginner or a seasoned writer.
THE Programme
Small group workshops with each tutor
Free afternoons for writing
One to one sessions with tutors
A day trip to a fantastic local smallholding
A culinary curated brocante in the Villa Pia courtyard
A wine tasting evening with local expert
Aperitif with local author Christobel Kent
A day off from the retreat schedule and an opportunity to explore your surroundings, or write uninterrupted.
Gala night of readings before the final feast
Please note, the exact programme for the week is provided to booked guests before arrival.
Highlights
Individually tutored morning workshops with Felicity, Mark and Molly, focused on food writing, recipes, memoir, cookbooks and blogs, including practical exercises and the option to share your work with the group.
One to one sessions with the tutors scheduled throughout the week to give each writer the chance to discuss their work privately.
Self-guided writing afternoons in different beautiful locations at Villa Pia whether this is by the pool, under the shade of the pergola, tucked away in the herb filled courtyard or at the kitchen table near the coffee machine.
Aperitif and a visitor talk or activity each evening before a four-course feast.
Day trip to a magical local produce destination which will fuel the imagination and the pen.
Legendary Bland Badger Brocante will return with a foodie theme focused on linens, crockery and antiques.
Optional Extras
Cooking classes with the Villa Pia chefs.
Massage and treatments with Villa Pia’s beauty therapist.
Local visits including Piero della Francesca’s most famous work “The Madonna del Parto” and other local museums.
PRICES for 2025
THE MAIN HOUSE
£2195 per person Twin room, ensuite bathroom (to be booked as a group of two friends)
£2250 per person Single room, shared bathroom with one other room
£2425 per person Single room, ensuite bathroom
THE ANNEXE
£2095 per person Twin room, ensuite bathroom (to be booked as a group of two friends)
£2150 per person Single room, shared bathroom with one other room
£2325 per person Single room, ensuite bathroom
Rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis. Full payment is required upon booking the Spring Creative Retreat. The full payment is made up of a non-refundable £800 deposit and the remaining balance.
Please read the Bland Badger Terms &Conditions carefully before booking.
MEET THE TUTORS
Felicity Cloake
Mark Diacono
Molly Wizenberg
Christobel Kent
Christobel was born in London in 1962 and educated at Cambridge University. Several years of her childhood were spent living on a Thames sailing barge in Maldon, Essex, with her father, stepmother, three siblings, and four step-siblings. She has published seventeen novels, starting with four standalone thrillers set in Italy, followed by her six novels in the Sandro Cellini Florentine detective series. She has since written seven psychological thrillers, including the Sunday Times bestseller, The Loving Husband.
Christobel is always an inspiration to our guests, not just with her literary style, but also with her unique personal flair. Having split her time between Florence and the UK for twenty years, Christobel’s engaging talks offer exclusive insights into Florence, and provide a perspective that only a true insider can share.
What’s Included
Room prices include all workshops and materials, activities and all food and drink (except lunch and dinner on the excursion day). The meals (including 24 hour access to snacks, fruit, aperitivos, wine, beer and soft drinks) at the villa are provided for and prepared expertly by the local cooks.
You also have full use of Villa Pia’s facilities, which include a swimming pool and a tennis court.
EXCURSION Day
Bland Badger provides return coach travel from Villa Pia to xxxxxxxx
What’s Not Included
Air fares and the cost of transfers to and from the villa
Travel insurance
Optional extra activities
Lunch and dinner on the excursion day
ARRIVING AT THE VILLA
Flights to Perugia, Florence and Pisa are well-located for Lippiano.
If flying to Florence, you can take the train to Arezzo, and then a taxi or hire car from there to Villa Pia. Direct trains run between Florence and Arezzo. If enough people arrive on the Perugia flight, Villa Pia can arrange a group transfer.
Hiring a car at the airport or in Arezzo is a great way to get to Villa Pia and gives you freedom to explore the area. Lippiano is a beautiful hamlet but most local attractions, shops and restaurants are a short drive away.
Arezzo train station is approximately 30 minutes from Villa Pia and taxis are available between Arezzo and the villa at a cost of around €70.
Arrival time at Villa Pia is from 3pm on Saturday. On your first night we have welcome drinks before dinner, which is at 8pm. Checkout time is by 10am on Saturday.
Bland Badger bears no responsibility for flight cancellations or schedule changes.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is a condition of accepting your booking that you have personal travel insurance arranged in advance, including cancellation insurance for Covid and other medical reasons, redundancy, jury service etc. for all members of your party. Please note that the use of Villa Pia, its facilities, grounds and swimming pool are entirely at the user’s risk. Bland Badger and Villa Pia SRL, its directors, staff and agents are not liable for any loss, injury or claim of any kind arising out of, or in connection with, staying at, or traveling to and from Villa Pia for you or any member of your party.