Last week we hosted the inaugural Kip Experience in the glorious East Sussex countryside. Who knew so much planning went into an event?! It blew our minds, but we loved deciding all of the big and littlest details, from the ‘where?’ down to the glasswear.
Our guests stayed at Tiny Houses in East Sussex, a clutch of super-cool and utterly unique huts, handbuilt by their owner. Off grid, and beautifully combining vintage finds and contemporary comfort, they sit on a countryside farm with epic views of golden fields and sheep.
Tillingham Winery sits on the other side of the valley from the huts; a beautiful 45-min meander or quick zip in a car. We were so excited to partner with them for the event, showcasing their extraordinary wines and brilliant hospitality. The feast setting, their an outdoor hops bar, was everything we love: rustic-chic, unique, beautiful, local. And the wine tasting for it all was a great Tuesday at ‘work’.
But the event’s main beauty was its breathtaking florals, both grown and arranged by SSAW Collective. We’ve been keen to work with this utterly inspirational business for ages. With 3 female founders, SSAW are a community of ethical growers, florists and chefs. They grow everything they can themselves, and source the rest locally, all in harmony with the seasons, and in a sustainable way.
So that was our collaboration: Kip x Tillingham x SSAW. We added a band we love (Jack + Tee), bespoke Eminente rum cocktails, and the most beautiful hand-drawn invites, menus and place names by the ever-so-talented Scribble & Daub (mine’s already framed, back home). The end result? A 5-hour dinner, with incredible food by SSAW, enhanced by glorious Tillingham wines and the best company.
Then home to the Tiny Huts for our guests, where they had a firepit surprise (including more cocktails and sparklers), and — so they said — an amazing night’s sleep, in this wonderfully peaceful corner of East Sussex. Wish you could have come along? Well, this is just the start and we’ll be running more Kip Experiences for our members; staying at some of our favourite hideaways, showcasing their local produce and places. Come with a partner, with a friend or with a group of friends for an epic weekend with like-minded people. They’re experiences for everyone in our Kip community, first-come-first served. Watch this space…
Liz x
Huge thanks to Kitty for the incredible photos and Rokethouse for capturing those special moments on film… and a big shout-out to everyone who helped us turn this dream into a reality:
Feast & flowers: SSAW Collective
Feast venue & wines: Tillingham
Invitations and menus: Scribble & Daub
Music: Jack & Tee
Cocktails: Eminente Rum
Guest gifts: Elizabeth Scarlett, Bramley, Eym, Brew Tea Co, CRU Kafe
