- Ishani 2025 “Clarity, Creativity, Connection. The retreat helped me find myself again.

I absolutelyloved being surrounded by so many passionate and talented people. The SSL desk & all the workstations are amazing. Producers & engineers are always around to help you no matter what stage you are in your production journey. There are extra mini studios & areas to immerse yourself in so you can work on your song alone or collaborate with other artists.

If you’re thinking about doing this retreat - Do it! Come with an open mind ready to switch off and connect with your inner artistic soul & fellow retreaters some of whom will become future collaborators & friends.

The MPR team & the session musicians & sound engineers have created something very special. I hope I can come back again one day!”

- Joe 2025 “It is beautiful & extremely well-resourced with a vast array of beautiful equipment & a large team of top music industry professionals to support you.

With meals catered for by a professional chef & housekeeping fully taken care of, there was no choice but to focus on producing music!

One of the things that impressed me most was how we were taken care of, listened to, & supported to get what we wanted out of the retreat.

An atmosphere of camaraderie and collaboration with the other attendees arose naturally within our group (not at all forced) and it was such a joy to be around people passionate enough about music to take a week out of their busy lives.

I was delighted with my track & one of the takeaways for me was that, although I don't consider myself a singer, working with a top vocal producer - & given time & great equipment - my voice can sound surprisingly good! The biggest thing I can say is that since going on the retreat I have written something original everyday. The spark has been rekindled and I can't thank MPR enough. If you're thinking about it- do it!!”

- John 2025 “Life. Enhancing. Experience -This is an immersive experience where you live and breath music making. It’s hard to believe how quickly a group of strangers can create a thriving, creative community with everyone helping each other’s projects – the pace of planned & spontaneous song making is exhilarating!
They make you feel completely at ‘home’. This is so important as the days are busy so having a gorgeous 3 course dinner served by a top chef each evening starts the wind down perfectly. Hannah also provides a cooked breakfast at the start of each day so you are ready for action!
The MPR staff are hugely experienced, skilled & creative but they are also incredibly supportive & caring – this is important as the process of getting a song from what you hear in your head to produced can be an emotional as well as technical journey.
Being surrounded by drummers, guitarists, vocalists etc was inspiring & ‘enhancing’. A special thanks to Chris for being really supportive when I had a bit of a wobble – which he was able turn into a fantastic collaborative experience resulting in a lovely song.
Looking to reignite your passion for music making, take your demo recordings to the next level. Be completely absorbed in your own & others’ creativity whilst also laughing a lot, eating a lot & drinking responsibly (possibly!) Then your search is over!”

- Chris M 2025 “Initially I was nervous sharing my music and recording for the first time, but as the retreat progressed, I found myself growing into the experience and becoming more comfortable.
The team at the retreat was fantastic. Everyone was eager to help and provided invaluable feedback and interventions that truly enhanced my music.

The collaboration between participants was something to behold. I couldn't believe just how incredible the final recordings turned out to be. It has given me the confidence to release my music online, which is something I had previously only dreamed about.

The food and company in the evening was also amazing, it was great to get away from all the usual distractions.

On a personal level, the process was an emotional journey for me. I feel that I have grown significantly as a writer and a musician. I have nothing but great memories from the experience and would wholeheartedly recommend this retreat to anyone considering taking the plunge into music production. Don't delay, give it a go!”

- Carl 2025 “I wanted to say a big thank you for the opportunity to take part in the retreat.

Also for your patience, and kind support.

For me, it was a big step out of my comfort zone. Always wanted to sing, write songs, make music, perform, but self-doubt and that critical inner voice would stop me doing anything other than a few jam sessions with my brother and some sketchy home recordings.

The retreat was one of the best things I’ve ever had the chance to do.

The people, the music, the creativity, all of it. It was positive from the very start to the end.

I’ve left more creative, more confident, and learned loads that I want to take forwards into my music.

There isn’t an ‘even better if’ from me. Only gratitude.”

- Chris T 2024 “Attending MPR was a transformative experience for me as a musician, producer, & mixing engineer. Everyone contributed to an environment of growth and collaboration.
Not only did I gain invaluable insights into my craft, but I was also able to share my own skills to help others realize their artistic goals. This exchange of creativity fostered a sense of camaraderie, & I left with not only enhanced skills but friendships.
MPR is able to cater to individuals at all skill levels with varying goals. Whether you’re interested in developing songwriting skills, diving deeper into production, mastering the intricacies of mixing, or exploring engineering techniques, there’s something for everyone.
Barny, the owner of Blue Bell Hill Studios is an exceptional mixing engineer & an incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, caring host. His expertise and guidance are invaluable, especially if you’re looking to grow as a mixing engineer. - Chris, was instrumental in making the experience truly special with meticulous planning he brought in session musicians, allowing participants to dive into the complete process of creating a record in a condensed timeframe. This added a dynamic, real-world element to the retreat that made it an unforgettable experience.
If you’re passionate about music in any form, MPR is an experience that will inspire and challenge you in the best ways. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking to deepen their knowledge and connect with a supportive and talented community.”

- Andy 2024 “I’ve just had the most incredible week on the Music Production Retreat (MPR), Blue Bell Hill Studios!

For musicians & non-musicians alike, the MPR is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for music lovers to get a hands-on Studio & music creation experience at one of the UK’s top studios hosted by some of the best in the industry.

Run by a fabulous team, Barny Barnicott, Chris James, Clay & Hannah we were made to feel welcome as soon as we arrived!

Can’t recommend the MPR experience enough! I’ll be back!!”

- Barry 2024 “Just returned from a fantastic experience at Music Production Retreat.

Barny, Chris, Jim, & Clay were incredibly professional, friendly and supportive, and they work very hard to ensure that everyone gets the most from the course and meets their objectives.

Hannah’s hospitality is also top class !

This is an exceptional experience which I would not hesitate to recommend.”

- Jordan 2024 “The best part of the music production retreat for me was that it was tailored to suit the individual, the flexible nature of the schedule allowed for everyone involved to focus on and spend time learning about various parts of the music production process, as well as being able to bounce ideas off one another within the group.
I hadn’t previously worked with other musicians/artists/ professionals and as expected, the experience was invaluable. To this day I still remember and use pieces of advice that I picked up from the retreat.
Another point to note, everyone involved organising and running the retreat: Chris, Barny, Hannah, Tom to name a few all went the extra mile to make everyone feel welcome and get the most out of the experience. There was a lot of attention to detail and effort that I think has been reflected in the reviews and overall satisfaction from people who have enjoyed the retreat.
Many thanks guys”