NEFS Winter Residential Weekend
Fri 5th – Sun 7th December 2025
Visit the NEFS Shop to book
This weekend will include our usual Saturday Workshop for the block, which will be on Saturday 6th December 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. There will be three tune workshops from Stewart Hardy and Grace Smith and a session, which will give us a chance to learn new tunes, work on the relevant techniques, and play some of our NEFS live tunes together. Morning coffee and afternoon tea is included, as is a light lunch provided by Shepherds Dene.
In addition, we will begin the weekend on Friday evening (5th Dec) with dinner and an informal session, the bar will be open to purchase drinks and there is an option to book Bed & Breakfast, so you can stay over, ready for the workshop on Saturday.
After the workshop on Saturday, there is the option to stay for dinner, and to join us for the evening. We are planning a short informal concert to inspire and entertain you, and this will be followed by a session. The bar will be open and there is again an option of bed and breakfast, so you can relax and enjoy the evening.
On Sunday morning (7th Dec), there will be two more workshops with Stewart and Grace, with a coffee break in the middle, and we will finish just before lunch at 12.45 pm.
We have a wide range of packages to allow you to book the events you wish to attend, whether residential or non-residential.
We have space for 16 residential guests at Shepherds Dene with single occupancy. There are 8 en suite rooms, and most other rooms have wash basins. There are plenty of bathrooms and toilets (10 rooms share 5 bathrooms – 3 on the first floor, 2 on the second floor) and there is a lift to the first floor.
When you book a place, you will be sent a form to complete, requesting your dietary requirements (including for Saturday refreshments and lunch) and accommodation needs if residential. Please return the form within seven days to confirm your booking. En suite rooms will be allocated firstly to those who require an en suite to attend, and then to those who would prefer one, in order of receipt of the forms.
Weekend Packages
There are many different options available for the NEFS Winter Residential 2025. Please decide which events you would like to attend, and select the appropriate package (purchase one product only per person).
| Residential packages | Price | Product link |
| Full Weekend: Friday dinner & session, B&B, Saturday Workshop, with lunch, dinner, concert & session, B&B, Sunday workshops & coffee Fri 17:00 – Sun 12:45, inc Fri and Sat B&B | weekend rate | FULL WEEKEND |
| Saturday Workshop with lunch, dinner, concert & session, B&B Sat 10:00 – Sun 09:30, inc Sat B&B | £210 | SAT+BB |
| Saturday Workshop with lunch, dinner, concert & session, B&B, Sunday workshops & coffee Sat 10:00 – Sun 12:45, inc Sat B&B | £250 | SAT+BB+SUN |
| Friday dinner & session, B&B, Saturday Workshop, with lunch Fri 17:00 – Sat 17:00, inc Fri B&B | £200 | FRI+BB+SAT |
| Friday dinner & session, B&B, Saturday Workshop, with lunch, dinner, concert & session Fri 17:00 – Sat 23:00, inc Fri B&B | £250 | FRI+BB+SAT+EVE |
| Friday dinner & session, B&B, Saturday Workshop, with lunch, dinner, concert & session, B&B Fri 17:00 – Sun 09:30, inc Fri and Sat B&B | £340 | FRI+BB+SAT+BB |
| Non-residential packages | Price | Product link |
| Saturday Workshop only Sat 10:00 – 17:00 (including tea/coffee and lunch) | £75 | SAT |
| Friday dinner & session, Saturday Workshop & lunch, dinner, concert & session, Sunday workshops & coffee Fri 17:00 – 23:00, Sat 10:00 – 23:00 and Sun 09:30 – 12:45 (Non-residential) | £215 | WEEKEND NON-RES |
| Saturday Workshop & lunch, dinner, concert & session Sat 10:00 – Sat 23:00 | £125 | SAT+EVE |
| Friday dinner & session, Saturday Workshop & lunch Fri 17:00 – 23:00 and Sat 10:00 – 17:00 (Non-residential) | £125 | FRI+SAT |
| Friday dinner & session, Saturday Workshop & lunch, dinner, concert & session Fri 17:00 – 23:00 and Sat 10:00 – 23:00 (Non-residential) | £175 | FRI+SAT+EVE |
| Saturday Workshop & lunch, dinner, concert & session, Sunday workshops & coffee Sat 10:00 – 23:00 and Sun 09:30 – 12:45 (Non-residential) | £165 | SAT+EVE+SUN |
A visual representation of the available packages.
Visit the NEFS Shop to book
Please note: Once a booking is made, any refund is at the discretion of NEFS Directors, and is dependent upon the terms of cancellation from the venue.
These weekends have, in the past, cost more to put on that we receive in income, due to the limited number of people we can fit in. However, NEFS does like to subsidise these events as they are so enjoyable and important to our lovely community. The costs to stay at Shepherds Dene have also gone up quite markedly since last year, due to energy, staff and food prices, and with the maintenance of such a lovely, but old, building. So, if you are able to, and would like to, make an additional donation to NEFS funds, you can add your selected amount before you checkout, once you have added your product to your basket.
If you would like to attend, but find that financial circumstances mean you are unable to afford the full amount for the package you would like, please get in touch to request a discretional bursary from the Stewart Hardy Music fund to help with the payment. We will consider all requests and do what we can to help. In addition, NEFS will subsidise the lunch cost for the Saturday workshop where needed, allowing this to be booked at the usual £50 for the Saturday workshop. Please get in touch if this would help you to attend.
Venue
Shepherds Dene Retreat House, Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6AF
01434 682212
https://shepherdsdene.org
Lifts to Shepherds Dene can be arranged from Riding Mill station if you plan to come by train, and car shares may be possible from various localities. Please get in touch to request or offer a lift.
Outline Timetable
Friday
| Time | Event |
| 16:30 | Arrive and afternoon tea (in the Dining Room) |
| 17:00 | Settle in & tunes! |
| 18:00 – 19:00 | Dinner |
| 19:30 – 23:00 | Session |
Saturday
| Time | Event |
| 08:30 | Breakfast for residential guests (and vacate bedrooms) |
| 09:45 | Physical warm-up |
| 10:00 – 17:00 | Full day Saturday Workshop, with lunch |
| 18:00 – 19:00 | Dinner |
| 19:30 – 20:15 | Informal Concert |
| 20:30 – 23:00 | Session |
Sunday
| Time | Event |
| 08:30 | Breakfast for residential guests (and vacate bedrooms) |
| 09:30 | Physical warm-up |
| 09:45 – 11:00 | Workshop |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee |
| 11:30 – 12:45 | Workshop |
| 12:45 | Depart Shepherds Dene |