Banbury Lodge

I have just completed a two-week stay at Banbury Lodge. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with care, warmth and reassurance. The medical team took me under their wing and made me feel instantly safe. The initial few days of detox were hard, but I was fully supported throughout. All of the staff have been amazing, including the therapists, support workers and management team alike. I am leaving with a real sense of achievement and improved health, and I would fully recommend Banbury Lodge.

My time at Banbury Lodge met my expectations and more. It was, of course, very daunting going in, but I was quickly made to feel comfortable and supported. I received great support throughout my time here and I am now feeling in a much better place to continue my sobriety journey.

Banbury Lodge has been an incredibly positive and enjoyable experience for me. The building is well maintained, with comfortable bedrooms that are cleaned regularly. Great chefs provide a variety of food and accommodate individual needs. The treatment programme is balanced, with therapeutic work, one-to-one sessions, yoga, sound therapy, pet therapy, as well as free time. A wide range of activities are provided during the evenings, including board games, movie nights and quiz evenings, for example. Being part of the community alongside fellow addicts has been a great source of support. Every single member of the team has been kind, compassionate and supportive, and I massively appreciate the positive impact they have had on my continuing recovery. I am forever thankful.

I came into treatment in a very bad place, at my lowest point and at my darkest hour. I came into a fantastic programme and was treated with respect, care and made to feel like a human being for the first time in a long time. The contact between my wife and the centre has been incredibly useful and beneficial to us both. I have slowly improved day by day and increased my positivity to the point where I am now starting each day with a laugh and a smile on my face. I am leaving feeling 10 feet taller and ready for the challenge that awaits me.

Overall, I feel I have benefited from my stay at Banbury Lodge. The staff are supportive and available when you need them. Improvements need to be made with the therapeutic side of ED, as there is not enough focus on this. The variety of food at mealtimes could be improved as well. Having my own en-suite room and the welcoming community made the settling-in process particularly easier. Those struggling with drugs, alcohol and addictions would find value in coming to Banbury Lodge.

I came in with no hope and no plans for my future, and I was in a bad way due to my addiction. Since being here, all the staff and therapists have been supportive, very friendly and very helpful throughout my detox. At the start of recovery, I was very scared coming in, but once I got here and got to know everyone, it became much easier. My mental health feels so much better. A massive thank you to Kat and Annmarie in the kitchen, always catering for everyone's needs. I leave here with a different outlook on life and a positive attitude, which will support my sobriety and recovery.

Where to start! I arrived at Banbury Lodge physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically utterly broken, like a plate smashed into a hundred pieces. I did not even know if I could be put back together and was daunted and overwhelmed on admission. The first few days were hard to navigate, but by day 4 I knew this was one of the best decisions I had ever made. During my journey at Banbury Lodge, I met so many kind, supportive and compassionate individuals. The programme is designed to inspire you to become the best version of yourself, your authentic self. The therapy, one-to-one sessions and process groups feel like safe and confidential spaces, allowing you to unburden your traumas and give space to learn and heal. The programme is holistic and I loved Gladys the pet therapy dog, the sound bath sessions and daily meditation sessions. Not a fan of yoga, but if you are, they do that too. Shout out to all the amazing other residents I had the pleasure of spending time with. I know many of us are keeping in touch and I have made some new lifelong friends, especially the karaoke group. Who knew "I Will Survive" could be sung so badly. I now play it after my meditation every morning and have a dance. The staff at the lodge are lovely. Kat and Anne Marie, thank you for the wonderful food you cooked. From Graham at reception, Eve the housekeeper, Nick the manager, all the therapists and support workers, I am truly blessed and grateful to you all. I intended to stay for 2 weeks but realised I needed 3, so nearly a month on from entering Banbury Lodge, how has my lif...

After 31 days at Banbury Lodge, I can genuinely say that I am leaving here a different person, optimistic about life and moving forward with my recovery journey. The staff are brilliant and the community works together to support each other. The group sessions, including a strong focus on step work and therapeutic topics, ensure recovery is always at the forefront of time at Banbury Lodge. I have had my ups and downs during my time here, including two new diagnoses, ADHD and complex PTSD, following a very thorough psychiatric assessment arranged by the centre. This gives me more hope for a balanced life that I need now I am returning home. I have been listened to and consistently allowed to share, being treated fairly and respectfully, even in times when I may not have acted in the most rational of manners. From management to housekeeping, everyone has been approachable and friendly and I have learned so much from both staff and the community during my time at Banbury Lodge. Coming back from a significant relapse was hard to say the least, but I am genuinely leaving here a different person, a better version of myself. Thanks to everyone, positive vibes and best of luck in a happy life and recovery moving forward. PS Suki and Katie are amazing people, others too, but I love these two in particular.

My 14 day stay at Banbury Lodge potentially saved my life and certainly gave me the opportunity to be ME again with my family, friends and relationships. All staff are very welcoming, friendly and helpful. The community itself just shows such tremendous support and understanding without judgment. My therapist was so caring, kind and a terrific listener who I bonded with immediately. Activities keep you busy throughout the day and the food is delicious! May I take this opportunity to thank all the staff members who have helped me on my journey, which I will start now I have left…

I was a client at Banbury Lodge for 28 days primarily for Eating Disorder treatment, along with issues regarding alcohol. I had an extremely positive experience at Banbury Lodge and feel that I have benefited massively from the tight schedule of group therapy and workshops, alongside 2 1-1 therapy sessions a week (as part of the ED programme). As I suffer with ARFID, I have many complex food needs and was thoroughly impressed with how accommodating Kat (the chef) and Nick (the manager) were. I did feel that the workshops and sessions were largely focussed towards alcohol and drug addiction, however, I was able to exercise the skills learnt towards fighting against my eating disorder. Being taught to view my ED as an addiction has been massively helpful. If you are motivated and put the work in, I believe you can gain a lot out of your stay at Banbury Lodge.