This year’s ‘bd2 Christmas do’ saw us return to The Low Wood Hotel located on the edge of Lake Windermere for the first time since 2005, which was our initial foray into making a weekend of it. We’ve since visited all the various hotels in the English Lakes Hotels Group which are all great places to stay and are all very different. From the boutique style of The Waterhead in Ambleside, to the grandeur of Storrs Hall and the Art Deco splendour of The Midland. The Low Wood is newly renovated with a massive building and refurbishment program underway with impressive first class facilities including health and spa and incredible views over the lake.

As well as the great locations, English Lakes Hotels always put on a great party night with this year’s probably the most impressive featuring a live Big Band and DJ providing perfect entertainment, and an onsite casino. Everyone made the effort and dressed in black tie, the evening started with canapés and champagne in the bar before tucking into a delicious four-course dinner with drinks. The festive food went down a treat, everyone was well-fed and ready to party! The festive spirit at bd2 went on well into the early hours, with plenty of fuzzy heads at breakfast the next morning.

As well as our weekend away, we reinstated Bar bd2 in the studio for the afternoon of the last day at work with quizzes, our Secret Santa, shipped in pizzas and a stock of craft beers from local micro brewery Wily Fox. All of which set everyone up for the extended Christmas break – after which we’ll be fired up and ready to get back to drawing pictures and building websites!