Perhaps our most loved retreat
The Guitar Social has been all over the world, from the Jungles of Cambodia to the dive bars of Berlin, but no retreat is adored quite as much as this humble weekend in a countryside paradise in Kent.
We’re doing two band camps in 2025. You can decide to one, or both.
Dates 1 Arriving 1pm on Wednesday 18th of June and leaving midday Friday 20th of June
Prices Bring your own tent £195, a shared bell ten 230, cabin and glamping accommodation start at £300. Email for details.
Date 2 Arriving midday Friday 20th of June and leaving 6pm Sunday 22nd of June
Prices Bring your own tent £250, a shared bell tent £300, cabin and clamping options start at £350. Email for details.
Date 3 Arriving midday Wednesday 18th of June and leaving 6pm Sunday 22nd of June.
Prices Bring your own tent £395, a shared bell tent £450, cabin and glamping options start at £550. Email for details.
The weekend
Our location is a private hidden jewel in the rolling hills of Kent. Spread across a woodland, a meadow and open fields and with luxury toilet and washing facilities, and yes, the water is hot. The site has quickly become a home away from home in the summer months for the guitar social. We went and visited the site four times in 2020 and the site owners have become quick friends of The Guitar Social, going above and beyond to support out unusual needs.
Food is prepared in teams and the servings are generous. There’s a bottomless bar and a never ending wood supply to keep the fires burning.
The days are spent in idle conversation, joining in on the workshops led by Thomas and playing guitar alone or in groups in preparation for the evenings jam where we play together and sit in silence, eyes on the fire, as some people play songs on their own.
It is a magical weekend. We did our first one in 2015 and we still have the same people from that first band camp turning up every year.
In 2021 we had a record number of people coming to bandcamp who had never been to a Guitar Social event or class before. Many arrived nervous about not knowing anyone; all left with new friends.
Some performed in-front of people for the first time. Some wrote a song for the first time, some played an E chord for the first time. This really is a magical weekend that suits all levels of guitar player from all over.
Prices:
We have different sleeping options which all come with a different price tag and bell and cabin options are limited and sell out very fast.
Date 1
Bring your own tent: £240. With this option you can sleep I the meadow, down in the woods or in one of the open fields
Shared bell tent: £250 The bell tents are huge. You can stand up in them. You’ll have your own bed, with bedding and plenty of space.
Cabin in the woods: All cabins have sold out except the newly built Ivy. The Ivy contains a double bed and a sofa and is priced at £450
What’s included in the price?
– Your accommodation – varying prices for varying types of accommodation
– All food and drink including bottomless alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, meat and vegan options and endless snacks
– Firewood
– Four Guitar Workshops a day for all levels plus facilitated jams all weekend. Email for more information.
How many people will be attending: usually about 50 players of every level.
Do I need to be able to play guitar: No, some people attend to just to take in the unique, magical atmosphere and we’ve had plenty of beginners come and join us too, many of which, by the end of the weekend, are playing their first songs.
Where is it: A beautiful woodland campsite in Kent – near Harrietsham
What will I be eating and drinking?
Food is generous and inventing. You won’t just be eating baked potatoes left to burn in the fire. You can look forward to creative solutions to outdoor eating. All our food caters to all dietary requirements. What you can, and can’t eat, will be gathered from you after booking.
To book, just email thomas@theguitarsocial.com
View our holiday Ts&Cs here
