The Sing out Strong Residential Retreat: 22-25 Aug 2025

We've got a new home for our project in 2025, and are planning an entire weekend of activities in the style of a "retreat" - a home away from home, where everything happens on one site.  The accommodation, food, rehearsals and performance will all take place at the historic Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel in Usk, South Wales. 

This year we will be rehearsing (and performing) in the Crystal Suite of the hotel so no moving venues is required.

Yes, there is free, readily-available parking for all our participants. The WI-FI is strong and free too (but we'd encourage you to ignore that!).

Of course! We know that many of our singers will travel with partners, family and friends, after all, it’s a great excuse for a holiday!  We have a special rate for rooms when only one of you is singing.  Your plus ones will also be able to take part in all of the social activities with you.  We like to make them feel included and welcome.

Nope! You can pick single or double occupancy and to have double or twin beds. Just let us know, when booking, what you’d prefer. 

All rooms have ensuite bathrooms and free WIFI, but the size varies, as does the proximity to the reception areas of the hotel.  The cheapest rooms will sell out fast so book TODAY!

Take a look at all the rooms here: https://cwrtbleddyn.co.uk/accommodation/

We pride ourselves on being completely SINGCLUSIVE.  That means, we welcome EVERYONE to our friendly choir family.  For singers with mobility issues, including wheelchairs and walkers, then the hotel has ground floor bedrooms, ramps, hand rails and disabled parking.  

For singers with mental health conditions, our staff is mental health trained and can offer signposting, quiet spaces and support.  After all, Sing out Strong only exists because of the lived mental health experience of our Founder!

We can provide large-print music for those with vision difficulties and chairs on stage for singers that can't stand.  We also have experience working with singers with Fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, Dementia, Autism, MS, ADHD, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Epilepsy.

The Cwrt Bleddyn is an award-winning hotel and restaurant and can cater for ALL dietary needs.  Their gourmet cuisine is sure to have you drooling!

We'll be there from lunchtime Friday until check-out time on Monday, but the various packages have different start/end times, depending on how many nights you stay.  

Day Participants should arrive between 8.30-9.00am both Saturday and Sunday.

You can check into your room from 3pm and check out is 11am.  Again, we're also offering singers the chance to stay over on the Sunday night so that they you don't need to travel after the concert.  Monday is a bank holiday, after all.

Not at all - we have welcomed singers of all experience levels/abilities to our projects in the past and we will provide full rehearsal tracks and online rehearsals in advance of the weekend, including our new staged-learning tracks, which will guide you through the process of learning. 

By the time you arrive for the residential, you will be really familiar with the material already, and we will be able to spend our rehearsal time polishing the songs all together.

The full address of the hotel is:  Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel & Spa, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1PG, United Kingdom. 

By car: From Cardiff, Swansea and West Wales or London and the South: Travel along the M4 and exit at junction 24 taking the filter lane onto the A449 (M50), heading North. Exit the A449 at Usk and go through the town until you come to a small river bridge, go over the bridge and take a sharp left immediately towards Llangybi/Caerleon. Follow this road for approximately 3 miles passing through the small village of Llangybi, and the Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel & Spa is situated approximately 1 mile along this road on the right hand side. 

From Ross on Wye and the Midlands: take the A40 heading South, then onto the A449 at Raglan.  Exit the A449 at Usk and go through the town until you come to a small river bridge, go over the bridge and take a sharp left immediately towards Llangybi/Caerleon. Follow this road for approximately 3 miles passing through the small village of Llangybi, and the Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel & Spa is situated approximately 1 mile along this road on the right hand side. 

By bus:  The nearest bus stop to the Cwrt Bleddyn Hotel and Spa in Monmouthshire is Toll Bar, Llangybi. It's a short walk away, but be aware that buses aren't the most reliable. 

By train: the nearest station is Newport Gwent, which has direct trains to London Paddington.  Let us know if you are coming by train and need help getting from Newport.

By air: the nearest airport is Bristol, followed by Birmingham.  London airports are easily accessible by train, through Newport Gwent and London Paddington stations.

If you sign up to one of our overnight packages then all of your food will be provided.  All Day Participants will also receive a lunch during rehearsal both Saturday and Sunday, and coffee breaks, too.

About six weeks before the Residential is when you should tell us about any dietary requirements you may have.  Please note that drinks are not included in any package; there is a pay bar in the hotel.

Your plus one will also get dinner and breakfast with you.  About six weeks before the Residential, we will ask them to tell us about any dietary requirements they may have.  Please note that drinks are not included in the DBB rate; there is a pay bar in the hotel.

Plus ones, however, will NOT be able to have the lunch and coffee breaks with you as they will take place in our rehearsal room.  Of course, you're welcome to leave the rehearsal room at lunchtime  - but we cannot refund you if you choose not to eat one of the meals we have provided.

Our venue is close to Usk and Raglan castles and Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths for day trips and our welcome pack will have more information.  Plus ones can also make use of the swimming pool, sauna, gym and jacuzzi on site, perhaps book a spa treatment, walk around the 50 acres of grounds or even play tennis!  The 2025 Residential Retreat has plenty to keep singers and plus ones occupied all weekend long and is a hidden gem we can't wait to share with you. 

Your "plus ones" will need a ticket to come and watch the final performance on the Sunday, singers do not.  Public tickets will also be on sale, closer to the time.

Bookings are now OPEN for 2025!  Click here to book your place!

The quickest way is to email Deputy Conductor Jenn on singoutstrongmembers@gmail.com or to WhatsApp her on 07782 509219.

Once you have signed up, you will be added to the 2025 Residential WhatsApp group where you can also get more information and quick responses to any questions.

ALL TRAVEL ENQUIRIES should be directed to our Event Manager, Jilly, at jillyss@icloud.com.