Relaxation Has A Whole Different Meaning At This New East Sussex Hotel

In the middle of a sunset walk around the gorgeously wild, woodland-surrounded lake at Crafted at Powdermills, my partner turns to me and announces: ‘I haven’t heard a siren since we arrived.’ Such a realisation is the life of a Londoner – and why even just a one-night escape to calmer, quieter pastures is such a welcome reset. 

But at this boutique hotel in Battle, East Sussex, switching off actually means doing more. The aim is to provide a reset from more than just the typical ‘relaxation wellness’ angle with the help of a host of crafty and sporty activities. A spa break is always welcome (I would never say no to a steamy sauna and a lazy lounge by the pool), but sometimes complete R&R means exercising your brain and body in a different way than you might be used to.

When we arrive on a Sunday afternoon, we immediately head to Crafted’s lakeside deck for a hot-cold plunge session, one of two activities we’ve tacked onto our short stay. The other is vinyasa yoga the following morning; we’re lucky to have an instructor all to ourselves, allowing us to focus on our breath and balance without any distractions. It’s the first time either of us has tried vinyasa or contrast therapy and, in the spirit of Crafted’s philosophy that resting means embracing new experiences, we dive into both head-first. While my partner concludes the bracing plunge session with some wild swimming, I steady my adrenaline in the rustic wooden hot tub nearby, taking in the 78 acres of woodland that frames the lake and the continuous birdsong that comes along with it.

The lake at Powdermills is framed by acres of ancient woodland, making for a magnificent view from the hot-cold plunge area

A tour around the grounds a couple of hours later – something any guest can request – shows us just how perfectly Crafted has, well, crafted a balance between elegance and playfulness. There are stylish, colour-drenched lounges and an airy, plant-filled restaurant in the main house, but outside you’ll find a chicken coop (you can feed the birds if you ask nicely), a padel court, and a quirky wooden arts and crafts barn tucked away in the forest. Here, you can get stuck into ceramics: choose from handcrafting a Japanese kuriniki tea bowl, or learn dorodango, a meditative technique of sculpting soil and water into a smooth, shiny sphere. Just be aware there are limited pottery classes at the weekends, so if you’re wanting to get your hands dirty, opt for a mid-week stay.

Built on the ethos ‘crafted by name, crafted by nature’, the new collection of hotels – of which Powdermills is the first – is the creation of British hotelier Chris King. Elements of his previous, short-lived venture, Birch, live on in Crafted: a focus on holistic wellness, a members’ club built in, farm-to-table dining. What differs is the scale (Birch Croydon had 181 rooms, shrunk significantly to 55 at Crafted at Powdermills), which works well to establish King’s new brand as an intimate, cosy getaway offering a secluded space to just… breathe.

Nowhere is this more important than in the bedrooms, where an earthy palette with handcrafted furnishings offers an instantly calming feel. Designed by House of Dré to be ‘deliberately eclectic’, each room is a stage for local craftsmanship, including linen collages by Brighton-based House of Quinn and ceramic lamps by Hastings-based Holly Dawes. Unique wares by those same artists, from woodwork to ceramics, are also available to buy in the hotel’s mini shop.

Earthy tones and locally crafted furnishings make each bedroom a calming sanctuary to return to after a day of new experiences. Credit: Milo Hutchings

After a drink from the Crafted pub and a game of cards in the sunny courtyard, we head to dinner. The restaurant flaunts a menu of fresh British dishes – think fennel and butter bean salad, spring vegetable pot pie and creamed spinach and leek gratin – while the pub has a separate, slightly more rustic menu. The aim is to reach 75 percent British provenance across both, and while the kitchen garden (looked after by head grower Lucy) is still finding its footing, we’re told that fruit, veg and herbs grown there should be in guests’ food by the end of this year.

We set off for our amble around the lake just as warm orange hues begin to appear in the sky. About halfway, we perch on a sturdy-looking log on the riverbank and point out the abundant wildlife that surrounds us. There are bats flying overhead, kingfishers flashing across the water’s surface, and sneaky unidentified creatures rustling in the bushes and the trees. We linger for a while in the welcome calm that nature brings, and the feeling doesn’t dissipate for days – even when we return to the wailing streets of the city.

C&TH Key Notes

Experience to book: Anything you haven’t tried before – ‘new’ is key – but contrast therapy comes with an incredible view and a sauna for afters

Local day out: Visit the site of the infamous Battle of Hastings, which gave the town its name

Dinner to order: Spring vegetable pot pie with two sides: creamy spinach and leek gratin, and roasted pink fir potatoes

Best nearby walk: You don’t need to go far – there’s a path around the lake which makes for a gorgeous walk during sunset complete with all kinds of wildlife

The Last Word

An hour’s train from Charing Cross, Crafted at Powdermills appeals perfectly to city dwellers desperate for a break from the sounds and sights of London. Crafted offers a way to rest by staying busy in body and mind, all while surrounded by precious nature and acres of wild space.

Book It

Doubles from £220.50, staycrafted.com