Frequently Asked Questions.
Do I have to have lots of experience to come on one of the tutored retreats?
No, all our courses are suitable for all abilities except where expressly described i.e. painting for beginners. The rest of the courses are suitable for all, from artists making a living from their work, to complete beginners and we welcome this mix.
Is there availability?
Sold Out retreats will be marked as 'Sold Out', and there will not be an option to ‘add to cart’ other retreats will have availability or to hire Coombe for a bespoke retreat contact Lara for dates - the more advance the booking the more likely we will have availability but do contact us for last minute dates in case we’ve had cancellations.
I can only eat certain things, will this be a problem?
Not at all, when you book your place the booking form will ask you for our dietary and/or access requirements so just let us know and we’ll cater for you accordingly.
If I book as a resident, will I have to share a bedroom?
No all our rooms are for single occupancy unless you expressly wish to share a double room with a partner, in which case just let us know at the time of booking, for everyone else all rooms are for single occupancy.
I’m not sure which course is best for me, can someone advise me?
Yes of course, give us a ring to discuss your interests and level of experience and we can advise you on different options and answer any other queries you may have 01803 722352.
What are the costs?
Tutored retreat prices range from £335 + VAT for a long-weekend to £640 + VAT for a 5-day residential course full board - see each specific course for exact prices. To hire Coombe for bespoke retreats prices vary depending on what you’d like to do, so contact Lara to discuss
For the tutored retreats how much actual teaching time/free time is there?
Our tutored retreats have quite a lot of active teaching time. Some tutors vary, however as a general guide the day starts at 9.30am with your tutor in the studio and they actively teach and work with you until lunchtime which takes place from 1-2pm. The afternoon session then resumes from 2-5pm. Please ask for schedules for specific tutors.
How do I book a retreat?
Click onto the course for more information and online booking OR call us and we can either book you in over the phone or send you a booking form in the post 01803 722 352.
Do you take waiting lists?
Yes, please email us to join a waiting list for a specific course or tutor lara@coombefarmstudios.com
How do I get from Totnes train station to Coombe?
We can pick you up and drop you back again, just email us and let us know your arrival time - ideal arrival times are 5pm into Totnes and departing from Totnes at approx 3pm.
Can you send me a printed brochure?
Yes we print our brochures on-demand to save paper/waste, if you’d like one just click the button below to request.
What happens if there are future “lockdowns” due to coronavirus?
In the first lockdown we rescheduled all the courses. It was an epic amount of work, but we are hugely grateful to all the participants that changed date with us! Realistically however it’s not something we can do as an ongoing policy. Therefore if we cannot run a retreat in the future due to a covid19 Lockdown (regional or national) we would cancel the course. Given the exceptional circumstance we were able to refund those who didn’t change dates during the first lockdown. However as a small organisation we simply wouldn’t be able to manage financially if we continued to do so for future Lockdowns. Therefore we will not make refunds. However we have an ongoing programme of retreats and all deposits would be transferrable to any other retreat within 12 months (either for yourself or a friend).
Have you done a COVID-19 Risk Assessment for your site and what happens if I, or someone else, gets symptoms during a retreat?
Yes we have, we have implemented a full risk assessment which you can download here.
What happens if I have to cancel my retreat?
A deposit of £150 is required at the time of booking your course. It is non-refundable however it is transferable to another course within 12 months. The balance of course fees are required three weeks before your course starts. They are also non-refundable and non transferable, therefore we suggest you take out adequate holiday insurance at the time of booking to ensure you are covered in the event that you are unable to attend your course.