A well Crafted plan

Launching in late 2025, new hospitality brand Crafted will debut Crafted at Powdermills in East Sussex – its first hotel in a series of reimagined spaces made for rest and restoration, as well as for making, doing, exploring and sharing. Designed for modern lives craving more connection, more creativity, more calm, Crafted is creating a new space where guests and neighbours alike can step out of autopilot and reconnect with the good stuff: nature, food, wellbeing, craft, people and play.

Image credit: Miles Jack Paris Hutchings

Crafted’s first hideaway, Crafted at Powdermills, is uniquely built around a seven-acre private lake, fringed by ancient woods and wildflower pastures. Where creativity meets nature, guests can experience cold-water dips, paddleboarding, kayaking sessions, yoga in the forest, and saunas on the banks of the lake. There’s even an outdoor bathing pool and a growing programme of outdoor wellness experiences throughout the year.

Within the walls of a Georgian Grade II-listed country house, this debut property will feature 55 artisan-designed rooms and suites – each one thoughtfully restored and inspired by nature. With its own pub, restaurant, cocktail bar, Craft Barn, Art Studio and members club, it’s a place to unwind or dive into something new.

Outside will be three beautifully crafted private cottages – Ash and Oak (both with 3 bedrooms) and the spacious Lake House (5 bedrooms) each with a kitchen diner, cosy living space with a stove, and plenty of room to stretch out. The Lake House elevates a stay even further with a private garden, outdoor pool, and a deck onto the water. Perfect for larger groups, company retreats, birthdays, or unforgettable getaways.

At Crafted, creativity doesn’t sit quietly in the corner – it’s at the heart of the experience. Guests will find two dedicated spaces to make and create at Crafted at Powdermills: the Craft Barn, a tactile space for working with your hands, and the Art Studio, a place to explore new ideas, techniques and mediums. Old-school skills meet modern minds here, with sessions in everything from ceramics to printmaking, and natural dyes to experimental art practice. Whether you’re a lifelong maker or a total beginner, this is a space to try something new – or rediscover something lost.

Image credit: Crafted at Powdermills

At its heart, Crafted is about craftsmanship – the thread that weaves all its values together. House of Dré has shaped the design philosophy for Crafted at Powdermills’ Georgian home, honouring its industrial heritage while embracing contemporary design and playful colour. Guestrooms feature bespoke British-made furniture, locally crafted ceramics, and a rich layering of timeless materials that balance old and new. Each space is a calming, creative retreat. Inspired by the surrounding English woodland, the design embodies a quiet luxury without pretence, offering a sense of home that feels both intentional and effortlessly relaxed.

Great produce doesn’t need a passport which is why Crafted aims to source ingredients locally from the Sussex’s coast to Kent’s orchards – and keep things simple: high quality, low impact, fiercely seasonal. Crafted’s goal is to reach 75% British provenance across its menus. Led by a soon-to-be-announced passionate executive chef, the restaurant is the heart of the hotel with a menu that’s shaped by what’s in season, what’s grown at Crafted, and what’s worth eating.

Crafted has been brought to life by Chris King, co-founder of the original award-winning Birch hotel. With Crafted, Chris is starting a new chapter: one rooted in nature, driven by creativity, and shaped around a simple idea – that people are busy, but not with the things they love; Crafted is here to change that.

Chris King stated: “Crafted at Powdermills is just the beginning. Over the coming years, Crafted will grow into a network of life-friendly hotels and clubs across the UK and beyond. Each one unique to its setting, but all sharing the same spirit: nature-first, creatively charged, and thoughtfully designed for balancing modern lives.”

Crafted at Powdermills is redefining what a members’ club can be – no more compromises between wellness, work, good food, and genuine connection. While traditional clubs tend to focus on just one aspect of life, Crafted is designed to offer it all. It’s a space where you can work productively, eat exceptionally well, stay active, and feel part and celebrate a vibrant, local community. More details on memberships will be announced later this year.

Main image credit: Miles Jack Paris Hutchings