New Retreat on the Beach in Margate. Read Ellie’s Inspiring Story.
I first met Ellie when she enquired about staying at the LT Holiday Apartment in May this year. She was on a research mission for opening her own Retreat accommodation retreat and came across LTHA. Digging deeper she found I did workshops and homewares.
Along with her Mum, Aunt and Daughter, Ellie and her family came up from London to stay at LTHA and attend a Candle Making Workshop.
Fast forward 5 months and Ellie’s place The Brightside in Margate, Kent is ready for staying, relaxing and playing at!
Ellie’s story is a tough one. Her place came about when finding out her Husband had aggressive cancer:
“Being a family with a seemingly perfect life – a beautiful, talented daughter, glamorous jobs in the music industry, lots of travel, a lovely home in Surrey – we lived our lives at what felt like 90 miles per hour. Our only tensions were what great event or holidays we couldn’t fit in… Our full stop came when my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 aggressive cancer.
It was devastating and frightening; we went through the next months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy shellshocked and numb to the core… Then the oncologist told my husband that he was permitted 6 weeks to recover before major surgery. Not being able to travel far, we escaped to our holiday apartment in Kent.
I always knew this place was special but I can’t stress enough that I believe the apartment saved our family. Tapping into the local community of experts in wellness therapies and healing practices combined with total relaxation by the sea, enabled him and us to get strong again. This experience has completely changed our outlook on life and made us realise how precious life is and how fragile we are”.
Relaxing at the beach and recovering became a focus to Ellie and her family and The Brightside became a welcomed retreat.
“Our recovery time was filled with blissful waves soothing us to sleep at night, clean sea air and walks on the beach and so much love and help from the amazing creative and skilled local community here”.
Ellie’s Husband is still currently having chemo and we can only imagine how hard this must be but her focus and positivity is seriously refreshing:
“Our life is still not ‘back to normal’ by any measure – as anyone who has suffered a major life changing experience will know. But this time has had such a profound effect on me, that after 10 years working at a high level in the music industry, I felt an overwhelming call to step away from it all and make a difference to others who are going through similar tough times themselves. This is where The Brightside was born”.
The interior deco matches Ellie soothing and calm attitude and we have been honoured to have supplied her with LT towels and hand towels for bathroom at the Retreat, The Brightside. Check out her website – go and stay and treat yourself to some therapies and a splash in the sea.
Ellie we salute you and your Hubby and wish you every success. Your strength to create during a tough time is truly inspiring.
Love Laura xx
For more information check out Ellie’s website here The Brightside
