An old sweet shop in the peak district is not your usual base camp for a work trip, but that’s what we found ourselves for our end of year review and team celebrations and we can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Mount Cook Adventure Centre was the first port of call. First up was 2019 recap, then a presentation for 2020 and beyond. There are some exciting plans coming together including some exciting changes to the business, an office refurb and more.

Once the business stuff was concluded we all donned our waterproofs and fired arrows at each other, no really we did. When I say we had to wear waterproofs, this is not being dramatic. The weather was, to put it mildly, not kind to us. The arrows, however, were kinder, as they had foam on the end! This was a sort of ninja dodgeball and it is very good fun. A cup of tea and drying off was eagerly accepted before we popped back out to build and race go-karts.

Rather predictably we headed straight for the pub after all this adrenaline, which was conveniently located opposite our accommodation in the aforementioned sweet shop. A very meaty sausage role was consumed in this pub, and our feedback would definitely be less meat, more pastry.

When we finally got into the accommodation and unloaded our stuff we noticed that it was a bit cold, if you come into the office we will tell you a tale of how we all almost froze to death in a converted sweet shop in the sticks! We fixed the heating, cooked a curry as a team. With full bellies we sat down and enjoyed an appearance from Richard, the quizmaster, which really anchored the evening.

The weather the next morning was as rough as some people’s heads, nevertheless we headed out on a short yomp and to a warm cafe.

All in all it was a fantastic two days and we can’t recommend the centre and the accommodation enough. Here’s to 2020!