Wondering if Sing Eat Retreat is for you?
You’re not alone.
Before booking, people often worry about the same things: Am I good enough? What if I come on my own? Will everyone else be more experienced than me? Will I have to perform? And why on earth would a West End professional want to teach me?
So let’s start there.
Am I good enough?
This is probably the question we’re asked more than any other.
And our answer is: that’s what everyone thinks!
Unless a particular retreat specifies an experience level, our guests arrive with a wide range of abilities. We welcome beginners who can pitch a note, choir singers, karaoke singers, enthusiastic shower singers, experienced amateurs and postgraduates looking for a refresher.
Some guests have sung for years. Others haven’t sung properly for decades.
Your week isn’t about comparing yourself with anyone else. It’s about discovering what you can do and helping you become a better, more confident singer at your own pace.
No Divas. No Egos.
That’s an important part of Sing Eat Retreat.
Do people really come on their own?
Yes — around 65% or more of our guests travel solo.
It’s one of the biggest concerns people have before coming and one of the quickest to disappear once they arrive.
Something rather special happens when a group of people who share a love of singing spend a week learning, rehearsing, eating and laughing together.
People bond remarkably quickly. Guests support one another throughout the week, and many leave with friendships that continue long after the retreat is over.
I haven't sung for years. Can I still come?
Absolutely.
You may be rusty, but that’s precisely why our tutors are there.
You don’t need to arrive “retreat ready”. You come to learn, rediscover your voice and improve.
I'm a beginner. Can I come?
Yes, provided you can pitch a note.
You don’t need formal vocal training, stage experience or years of choir singing.
Different retreats have different musical demands, though, so if you’re unsure which one would suit you best, contact us before booking and we’ll happily advise you.
I'm an experienced singer. Will I still be challenged?
Yes.
Our tutors work with the individual in front of them, so experienced singers can work at a higher level on areas such as vocal technique, interpretation, performance and specific aspects of their voice.
We also welcome experienced amateurs and postgraduates looking to refresh and develop their skills.
Everyone can improve. The starting points are simply different.
Do I need to read music?
No.
You don’t need to be able to read sheet music to enjoy most of our retreats.
Our tutors use different ways to help people learn their parts, and you’re welcome to record material during sessions using voice notes on your phone so you can practise afterwards.
Will I have to sing on my own?
Not necessarily.
Some retreats provide opportunities for solo work for those that want to do it, while others are specifically ensemble-based. Our Musical Theatre Choir holidays, for example, require no solo singing.
Do I have to perform?
Our retreats generally build towards something — perhaps a live showcase, recital, recording, film or another shared performance experience.
Participation isn’t compulsory. And After more than 30 retreats, we’ve never had anyone back out of the final performance.
As technique improves, friendships form and people discover what they’re capable of, the thing that seemed terrifying on day one often becomes the thing they’re most excited about by the end.
Why would a West End professional want to teach an amateur like me?
Professional theatre is a job. It’s a business. Our tutors work in highly demanding professional environments with performers at the top of their game.
Sing Eat Retreat gives them something different. Our guests arrive wanting to learn. They listen. They absorb information. They’re enthusiastic and genuinely excited by their progress.
When a tutor helps someone achieve something they didn’t think they could do — unlocking a note, understanding their voice or finding the confidence to perform — the tutor gets to share that moment too.
Many tell us that Sing Eat Retreat reminds them why they fell in love with making music in the first place. The fun. The happiness. The connection. The joy of creating something together.
Are the tutors intimidating?
People sometimes arrive expecting accomplished professional performers, directors and musical directors to be aloof or somehow “above them”.
By about day two, they realise quite the opposite.
Our tutors are chosen because they are warm, kind and incredibly supportive. They’re here because they genuinely enjoy helping people develop.
You’ll be laughing with them long before the end of the week.
Choosing Your Holiday
Holiday Types – Which One Is Right for Me?
We offer a range of singing holidays, each with its own style, pace and musical focus. Whether you want to perform, develop your voice, sing purely for the joy of it or combine music with travel, there’s a retreat for you.
Musical Theatre
Our most performance-focused retreats, combining ensemble singing, Vocal Technique, Acting Through Song, staging and performance. You’ll work closely with West End professionals in full-company and smaller-group sessions, with most weeks also offering private one-to-one coaching. Ideal if you love Musical Theatre and want to develop both your singing and performance skills.
Choir Weeks
Perfect if you love the joy of singing with others but want less emphasis on acting and individual performance. You’ll work on exciting repertoire with leading Musical Directors and Vocal Coaches, while developing your own voice through group Vocal Technique and private coaching. These weeks have a little more downtime and are a great introduction to Sing Eat Retreat.
Main Stage – Rock & Pop
For singers who want to unleash their inner rock or pop star. These high-energy weeks focus on contemporary vocals, stagecraft and performance, with a real live-band feel. You’ll explore how to find your own sound, build confidence and connect with an audience. Expect big songs, great harmonies and plenty of opportunities to step up to the mic.
Velvet Sessions – Jazz, Soul & Blues
A more intimate singing experience exploring the rich worlds of jazz, soul and blues. You’ll work on vocal style, phrasing, interpretation and storytelling, learning how to make a song truly your own. Guided by professional musicians and Vocal Coaches, these weeks are perfect for singers who want to discover greater individuality, freedom and expression in their voice.
Singing, Fun & Touring – The Sound of Music & Mamma Mia
Our most relaxed singing holidays, combining ensemble singing with incredible destinations, sightseeing and unique experiences. There’s a lighter focus on technique and performance, making these ideal entry-level retreats. Expect plenty of singing, plenty of fun and some very special locations along the way.
Opera
For confident singers who want to explore the world of opera or develop their existing experience. You’ll work with leading opera performers, Musical Directors and directors on repertoire, Vocal Technique, interpretation, staging and performance – all combined with wonderful food, wine and surroundings.
Do I need to audition?
Generally, no. Most Sing Eat Retreat holidays have no audition requirement.
If a particular programme has specific experience or musical requirements, we’ll make this clear on the individual retreat page.
Is there an age limit?
Sing Eat Retreat holidays are for adults aged 18 and over.
There’s no upper age limit. What matters is choosing a retreat that’s appropriate for your interests and individual requirements.
Learning & Preparation
What will I actually learn?
That depends partly on you and partly on the retreat you’ve chosen.
Across our programmes, areas can include vocal technique, stamina, ensemble singing, harmony, acting through song, interpretation, storytelling, stagecraft and performance confidence.
Many retreats also include private vocal sessions, giving you an opportunity to work directly on your own voice.
Your development is personal. Two people can attend exactly the same retreat and make completely different breakthroughs.
Is it all group singing?
The basis on most holidays is singing ensemble but within the week there are opportunities to sing solo, duet or above.
The exact format varies by retreat, but most Musical Theatre programmes include full ensemble rehearsals, smaller-group classes, workshops, masterclasses and private vocal coaching.
Do I need to prepare before the holiday?
We’ll send material before the retreat so you can familiarise yourself with what we’ll be singing. Depending on the programme, this may include music, lyrics and rehearsal tracks.
But there’s an important distinction between familiarising yourself with the material and trying to teach yourself everything before you arrive.
We don’t generally want you arriving having rigidly learnt every musical detail. Our tutors need the opportunity to teach and guide you correctly.
Learning the words as well as you reasonably can is very helpful, particularly when we’re working towards a performance.
Our UK Summer School is different and requires musical parts to be learnt in advance. Any retreat-specific preparation will always be made clear before you come.
What Is The Week Really Like?
Is the schedule demanding?
There’s plenty packed into the week, particularly at the beginning.
On a typical Musical Theatre retreat, the first two days can involve around seven hours of musical work each day. That’s when tutors get to know everyone’s voice and abilities, introduce the material and start shaping what the group will ultimately achieve.
After that, the pace settles, typically to around five hours of classes each day, plus any private sessions.
There’s also more downtime as the week progresses, including a full afternoon and evening off on many programmes.
We prefer immersive to intensive.
You’ll work hard, but there’s a reason for it — and the end-of-week payoff is enormous.
Do I get free time?
Yes.
This is Sing. Eat. Retreat. All three words matter.
Musical Theatre programmes tend to have their busiest days at the beginning before more free time opens up later in the week.
Choir retreats have a different rhythm, with many mornings free if you don’t choose to participate in optional activities.
Individual programmes vary, but these are holidays. There will be time to relax, explore and enjoy where you are.
Can I skip a session?
Yes. You’re an adult and you’re on holiday.
Interestingly, people rarely want to. Once you’re working within a group, there’s a natural desire to support the people you’re singing with and be part of what everyone is creating together.
But if you need some time out, take it.
What happens in the evenings?
Whatever suits you.
After dinner, some people stay around the table chatting and getting to know their new friends. Others head for an open-mic session.
And our open mics really are open. Sing something. Play an instrument. Read a poem. Try out something you’ve been working on during the day. Or simply sit back and enjoy everyone else.
Others choose an early night.
We generally wind things down around 10.30pm, although we’ll usually have one later evening during the week when the microphones stay on a little longer and everyone can properly let their hair down.
Do I have to socialise all the time?
Absolutely not. The social side is a huge part of Sing Eat Retreat, but so is having space to recharge.
If you want to stay chatting after dinner, brilliant. If you want to head to bed, also brilliant.
Food & Drink
What is the food like?
The Eat in Sing Eat Retreat is there for a reason.
In Tarifa, our in-house cooking team prepares generous, varied meals throughout the week.
Other destinations, including our Sound of Music and Mamma Mia retreats, combine guest-house dining with local restaurants.
What might I actually eat in Tarifa?
A typical breakfast spread might include cereals, overnight oats, fresh fruit salad, Greek yoghurt, ham and cheeses, tomatoes and avocado, smoked salmon or bacon, scrambled eggs, toast and preserves.
Lunch could include homemade soup with warm rolls, salads and pasta alongside dishes such as BBQ king prawns, grilled Caesar chicken, quiche, roast pork, Spanish tapas or fajitas.
Dinner might be traditional paella; salmon en croûte with fresh hollandaise, potatoes and greens followed by lemon cheesecake; or whole roast chicken with rosemary and thyme jus, potatoes and stir-fried greens followed by fresh-fruit puff pastry parcels with Chantilly cream.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
Yes. In Tarifa we cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-intolerant diets, as well as allergies and other dietary requirements.
At retreats where we rely more heavily on restaurants, options can be more restricted — particularly for vegan guests in Austria and Greece.
Please tell us about dietary requirements when you register so we can discuss what’s possible at your particular destination.
Are drinks included?
It depends on the destination.
In Tarifa, wine and beer are included with dinner until approximately 10.30pm. We also provide alcohol-free beer, flavoured waters, juices, squashes and still and sparkling water. Tea, coffee and water are available throughout the day.
On Sound of Music and Mamma Mia, tea, coffee and water are provided, while alcoholic drinks can be purchased separately at bars and restaurants.
We don’t routinely provide fizzy soft drinks/sodas.
And there’s absolutely no expectation to drink alcohol. Non-drinkers are very well catered for.
Groups, Partners & Rooms
How big are the groups?
It varies according to the programme.
As a guide:
- Musical Theatre retreats: usually around 21–25 guests, with smaller breakout classes generally capped at around 8–9 people.
- Sound of Music and Greece retreats: usually around 25–30 guests.
- Choir holidays: generally around 30–40 guests.
We deliberately use smaller groups within many programmes so that guests receive meaningful attention rather than disappearing into a crowd.
Can my non-singing partner come?
Yes.
We call them Non-Singing Partners (NSPs) and offer a special reduced rate, subject to availability.
They stay with you, eat and socialise with the group and can join trips and other holiday activities. They simply don’t participate in the singing programme.
Contact us for availability and pricing.
Can I have my own room?
Yes, subject to availability. We offer sole-use and shared accommodation options. Check your particular retreat for the room options available.
If I'm travelling alone, can you find me someone to share with?
Yes, subject to availability.
We’ll match you with another guest of the same sex and, wherever possible, someone within a similar age range.
Travel & Getting There
Are flights included?
No. Guests arrange and pay for their own flights.
This gives you the freedom to choose the airport, airline, departure point and travel dates that work best for you.
Do you arrange airport transfers?
Where it makes sense, yes, for an additional charge.
For Tarifa, we organise shared transfers from Málaga and Gibraltar.
For Sitges, we normally offer one transfer option, although guests can easily make their own way.
In Zakynthos, the airport is only around ten minutes away and taxis are readily available.
For Salzburg, the public transport network makes independent travel straightforward. Where there is sufficient demand from guests flying into Munich, we may organise a shared transfer. Travelling by train to Salzburg is another option.
Whenever we organise transfers, we use official transport companies.
Full destination-specific information is sent after you book.
Will you help me work out how to get there?
Absolutely. Even where we’re not providing a transfer, we’ll give you the information you need to make sensible travel arrangements.
Booking & Before You Travel
What happens after I book?
Once you’ve paid your deposit through the website, we’ll send you a registration form. Please return it within two weeks.
We review the information to make sure the retreat is suitable for you. It’s extremely rare for us to advise someone that a particular holiday isn’t right for them, but it can happen.
That’s why we ask you not to book flights until we’ve received and reviewed your registration form.
Around three months before departure, you’ll receive your welcome information and your next payment will become due, if paying by installments.
Approximately two months before the retreat, we’ll send further practical information and begin gathering transfer requirements where applicable.
Around one month before departure, you’ll receive your music and final information and your final payment will become due.
Transfer arrangements are normally confirmed around three weeks before departure.
Then, approximately four days before the retreat, we create the guest WhatsApp group. That’s usually when it suddenly becomes very real!
How much is the deposit?
A £300 non-refundable deposit per person is currently required to secure a place. Or you can choose to pay in full and save 10% of the listed price.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Appropriate travel insurance is an essential requirement for our retreats.
Your policy should be suitable for your destination, personal circumstances and planned activities and include appropriate medical and repatriation cover.
We also strongly recommend checking cancellation and travel-disruption cover carefully rather than assuming a policy covers every reason you might be unable to travel.
Health, Accessibility & Vocal Care
How physically demanding are the holidays?
This varies significantly between retreats.
Singing itself can be physically demanding, and some final performances or recordings involve movement and staging. Other holidays may include optional trekking, fitness, sightseeing or other activities.
Accessibility also differs between properties and destinations.
Rather than making assumptions about what you can or can’t participate in, please contact us before booking to discuss your individual requirements.
We’ll give you an honest assessment of the particular retreat you’re considering.
What if my voice gets tired?
Your voice is an instrument, and looking after it is part of the week.
Our tutors will guide you on vocal technique and stamina, and we encourage guests to stay hydrated, get enough rest and be sensible about alcohol and vocal over-exertion.
If your voice becomes tired, tell your tutor.
Pushing harder is rarely the clever answer.
The aim is to get you through the week singing better, not simply singing more.
Will I be photographed or filmed?
Photography and filming are a natural part of many Sing Eat Retreat holidays, particularly where the week culminates in a performance, recording or professionally produced film.
Our Terms & Conditions cover the use of this material.
However, if you have a particular concern about appearing in promotional photographs or footage, please speak to us before the retreat. We will endeavour to avoid using promotional assets in which you appear.
Still Nervous?
Good. You’re probably normal.
Singing is personal. Performing can make us vulnerable. Walking into a group of strangers and singing in front of professional performers can feel like a huge leap.
People arrive slightly nervous. Some genuinely wonder whether the whole thing sounds too good to be true.
And then the week starts.
The professional tutors turn out to be warm human beings. The strangers become friends. Classes are full of laughter. People support each other. Voices improve. Confidence grows.
And by the end, things can get surprisingly emotional.
Not because we’re trying to manufacture a “life-changing experience”. But because doing something you weren’t certain you could do, surrounded by people who genuinely want you to succeed, is a very powerful feeling.
The three worries we hear most often before someone comes are:
“Will I be OK travelling on my own?”
Yes. Most of our guests do.
“Will I be good enough?”
You’re coming to improve, not to prove anything.
“Why would these tutors want to work with me?”
Because the joy you get from learning is part of the joy they get from teaching.
People sometimes arrive expecting their tutors to be aloof and intimidating.
By the second day, they realise just how kind, supportive and invested in their progress they really are.
And by the end of the week?
We hear one sentence rather a lot:
“That was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had.”
Still have a question?
If there’s something we haven’t answered, get in touch.
And if you’re unsure which retreat is right for you, tell us a little about your singing experience, what you enjoy singing and what you’d like to get from the week.
We’ll help you choose.
