An 850-acre Cotswolds estate of luxury homes to rent and own, The Lakes by YOO is a year-round hotspot for A-list guests.
Well-heeled travellers with a penchant for one-of-a-kind spots flock to The Lakes by YOO, and with a seasonal restaurant, a sailing club lake, wellness retreats and more, we’re in no doubt as to why.
Phoebe Vela-Hitchcox, Managing Director at The Lakes, tells us what’s on, what we can look forward to this year, as well as how to spend the perfect weekend at The Lakes By YOO. Phoebe also takes us through her career highlights, reveals her top spot for a girls’ night in London, and exciting travel plans on the horizon.
The Lakes By You has just launched its new speaker series ‘Lakes Talks‘ featuring leading voices across art, culture, wellness, politics, and more. ‘Lake Talks’ kicked off with a talk led by self-development coach, Roxie Nafousi.
You know The Lakes By YOO inside out. Talk us through your favourite way to spend a weekend here?
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Morning cuddles with my 7 year old, followed by a delicious breakfast by the lake. I try to unwind with a body and facial treatment at The Lakes Wellness Spa over the weekend. I also enjoy staying active here, which includes a cold water swim in the lake and our legendary family bike ride around the estate each weekend, ending up in the arboretum we created from trees given to us by our wedding guests. We (me and my husband John, who owns The Lakes by YOO) often spot things we can improve whether that’s adding new breeds to the farm or some new herbs to the market garden. A session with our farm manager, Luke Gilman is always uplifting! There is so always so much fun to be had on the estate…
Who can we expect to hang out amongst at Lakes By Yoo?
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Like-minded people who come to relax, recharge and reconnect in nature. We have a lot of business leaders from a variety of industry sectors (spanning finance and business to creatives) who are looking to completely switch off from the bustle of the daily grind. Lots of outdoor enthusiasts like hikers and bird watchers are drawn to the scenic trails and wildlife around the lakes, too.
Talk us through your role at the YOO Group.
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As managing director at The Lakes by YOO, I’m responsible for all operational aspects of running the Estate: 850 acres of wild woodland and glassy lakes, surrounded by a collection of bespoke private homes, lakeside cabins, and luxury apartments. With a background in events and communications, I’m also heavily involved in our sales and marketing initiatives.
Tell us a bit more about your career including some of your favourite memories from this time, before the YOO Group?
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I began my career on the Financial Times conference and events planning team. I later took a step away from events and moved into communications, joining Press Holdings Media Group who own The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator. Over the course of nine years, I worked my way up to Head of Corporate Affairs and Events. I’ve also worked for the financial newspaper Sunday Business, and I’ll always remember these years as such a pivotal life period for me. I learnt such an incredible amount from Andrew Neil (the former newspaper editor and veteran broadcaster) and he’s now one of my most treasured friends. He even gave me away at my wedding to John! He has razor-sharp intellect and one of the most valuable things he taught me was to always think two steps ahead.
Outside of ‘the day job’, my most fulfilling role has been working with Chickenshead. It’s an incredible theatre group which offers children from disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities the opportunity to immerse themselves into the world of performing arts. It’s incredibly rewarding watching the kids on stage realising their dreams.
How did this transition from media to the luxury hotel industry feel?
One of the areas I’m most involved in at The Lakes by YOO is heading up our events offering; thanks to our privileged location in the heart of the Cotswolds, with so much land to explore and beautiful on-site accommodation, we’ve become an incredibly popular spot for corporate away days and events. Being able to draw on my experience and personal love for hosting and planning events has been hugely helpful here, and it’s been an extremely rewarding venture to watch the estate continue to go from strength to strength in this space. As I’ve been lucky to work in events management, the transition has felt fairly seamless.
What are some of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on to date at YOO?
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One of the projects I’m most proud of is the launch of The Lakes by YOO’s Spa & Wellness Centre, which opened its doors last summer. With 850 acres of land to explore, The Lakes by YOO is a haven for wellness lovers who enjoy wild swimming, paddle boarding and kayaking, and plenty of running and cycling routes. Opening the spa was a natural next step for us. We launched the spa in partnership with COSMOSS – the wellness brand by supermodel Kate Moss who is a close friend of the estate – and we were the very first spa in the world to partner with the brand. We also have facials from Dr Barbara Sturm and treatments by MOSS of the Isles and Wildsmith Skin.
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Longevity is a really central part of our wellness offering. We’ve incorporated longevity-based programmes (such as the recent longevity retreat with Deepak Chopra and the cold water and breathwork immersion retreats with Halen Strength), alongside treatments that strengthen the immune system, reduce inflammation and improve circulation, to help guests live healthier for longer. We also have infrared saunas which are fantastic for boosting circulation and cardiovascular function, and a cryotherapy chamber which has been linked to reducing inflammation and muscular issues. Since day one, the spa has been incredibly popular amongst our homeowners and guests, so it’s been a really huge success for us.
Tell us more about the longevity retreat.
This was our very first longevity retreat hosted by author, healer and meditation guru Deepak Chopra, and was an incredible four days of personal discovery and self-betterment. We explored lots across the workshop. A few highlights included: Longevity and Epigenetics Conversations with Deepak Chopra and Augustinus Bader; Happiness Ahead: Jivamukti-inspired yoga with Sadie Frost; Connection and Love Conversations with Poonacha Machiah; Meditation and intention setting with Deepak Chopra; Heart-Led Healing with Estelle Bingham.
And what is coming up?
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We’ve started hosting Classic Car Collection rallies at The Lakes by YOO and have a few lined up for later this year. A lot of our homeowners and guests have a real passion for classic cars so these days have become a really fun gathering and space for like-minded people to meet. We all head out for a drive to a local place of interest and then head back for lunch and afternoon drinks at The Lakes Bar & Kitchen.
We’ve also recently debuted our ‘Lakes Talks’ series – where we bring together leading voices across wellness, finance, politics, arts and culture to engage with our residents and overnight guests for interactive talks and workshops. Renowned self-development coach, manifesting guru and two-time Sunday Times bestselling author, Roxie Nafousi, kicked-off our first session with one of her infamous Manifest Workshops, guiding guests through her acclaimed ‘7-step guide to manifestation’ focusing on success, happiness, and abundance.
Where have you travelled to recently? Do you have any exciting travel plans on the horizon this summer?
John and I recently returned from New York City where we went to see the Rolling Stones play – we are both huge music fans (we even have a dedicated music room in our home at The Lakes by YOO!), and the Jaggers are close family friends, so that was a really special trip.
Where do you like to spend your downtime and who do you like to spend it with?
Aside from at The Lakes, I love to spend time at home in Ramatuelle in France with family, and friends who feel like family.
A spot in London you’ll never get tired of?
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Scott’s Restaurant and Chiltern Firehouse are places I always go back to for fantastic food and unparalleled service.
Favourite place in London to catch up with girlfriends over a drink?
The Roof Gardens, ‘the social club in the sky’, is the place to be and to relax.
Favourite spa you’ve ever been to (in the UK or elsewhere)? The treatment you always ask for?
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Of course it has to be The Lakes Spa – my favourite treatment is the Signature Sturm Glow Facial by Dr Barbara Sturm. Outside of the UK, I love Chiva Som in Thailand; I’ve experienced some really wonderful and transformative wellness journeys here.
What makes a luxury hotel stand out to you?
I look for exquisite design and exceptional service. Walking into a beautiful reception with unflappable staff that have a real ‘can do’ attitude really helps to create that feeling of ease and relaxation you want to begin a holiday with.
A favourite hotel to stay at?
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Grand Hotel at Villa Feltrinelli in Lake Garda. The building has such a rich and storied history, and its beautifully understated and elegant approach to hospitality I think is unmatched anywhere else in the world.
What’s your favourite thing to do when you need to recharge?
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Hosting a dinner party at home in our garden, overlooking the lake. Surrounding myself with my favourite people in this setting at home, to relax, dine and recharge in nature is one of my favourite feelings.
Any exciting travel plans coming up?
We are planning a family trip to French Polynesia later this year. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that as a family we adore being surrounded by the water, so we’re excited to discover all that these magical islands have to offer.
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