Have you heard about the new and local private members club for
pre-school children and their families? It sounds amazing. Luxurious surroundings, baby facilities, a coffee shop, free concierge service,
grown-up classes, a nanny service and an on-site spa... Want to know
more? I spoke to Antonia Joyce, who is behind the business.

 

Based in the beautiful surroundings of the converted stables at Hillmotts Farm, Beaconsfield, Sanctum is a new private members club for pre-school children that
offers parents and children a luxurious, safe environment in which to learn and play,
meet and chat. There's a busy schedule of classes, seven days a week, without any
breaks for school holidays.

   'After working hard for years and then having my daughter, I was amazed at how basic the facilities were for mums and babies,' says Antonia. 'Going out and about was hard enough, nevermind having to sit on a dirty hall floor, drink lukewarm instant coffee and change my daughter’s nappy on the cold tiles of a public toilet. All this gave me the idea to provide the opposite for mums and their children - affordable luxury in a safe, clean and chemical-free environment, along with free parking and decent coffee!' 

   You and your little one can enjoy the wide range of antenatal, postnatal, baby and toddler classes, including baby massage, Buggy Fit, Dinky Dancers, Tatty Bumpkin, Fairytale Academy, foraging and more - all included within a single monthly subscription. All of Sanctum’s experienced and CRB-checked teachers are handpicked, and the classes are small (maximum of eight people).
   Sanctum also offers classes over the weekend to engage dads and grandparents, with an ‘Adventure in the Wilderness’ nature walk, and a ‘rough and tumble’ class designed to get the men and their toddlers moving!
   Classes are constantly being added, depending on demand and feedback. At an additional cost, members can also attend evening classes, such as ‘back to work’ workshops, paediatric first aid, paediatric dentistry and French lessons (including
wine tasting).

   Antonia says: 'It’s like an upmarket community centre - we are offering a place to meet, live, learn and laugh. We want to take care of the children, the mummies, the daddies and the grandparents by offering convenience, classes for everyone, coffee afternoons, as well as parties! Almost all of our suppliers and teachers are parents themselves and have a wealth of experience with children and families. We are all working together to provide a sanctuary for our members!'

   Additional member benefits include access to Sanctum’s free concierge service – discounts with carefully chosen local providers that will be of use to both new arrivals
to the area and to families who have been in the here for a while.
   Sanctum has been designed with you in mind and offers impromptu events, such as ‘Pamper & Play’ afternoons where mums can bring their children to play while having a mini beauty treatment in the Sanctum Stables from the experts at Hillmotts Retreat.
   There's no joining fee and members only need to commit for one month. Memberships can also be frozen while the member is on holiday. Sanctum offers two membership packages, Gold (£85/month for eight classes) and Silver (£45/month for four classes), and also offers class ‘bundles’ of two, four or six classes.

For more info, visit