A lakeside sauna, cold-water plunges, Technogym, padel court, vegetable garden, co-working space: if the list of facilities at Crafted at Powdermills reads like a compendium of top trends in hospitality, it may be a sign that its founder Chris King, the brains behind the now-defunct Birch hotels, is pulling out all the stops to ensure the hotel’s success.
“Powdermills holds such fond memories for people,” he says to Broadsheet of the East Sussex location chosen for his new hotel brand’s first property. The sprawling estate – some 78 acres a hop and a skip from the site of the Battle of Hastings, spanning a woodland-fringed lake, barn and wisteria-clad Georgian main house – has long been familiar to locals as a venue for weddings and celebrations. King was conscious of that history when taking on the project, and “determined to honour that legacy”.
One year, extensive works and a £20 million budget later, Crafted opened its carefully renovated doors with 55 revamped rooms and three self-catering cottages in late 2025. Working within the constraints of a Grade II-listed building proved complex. “The biggest challenge was honouring the building’s heritage while making it genuinely useful for modern hospitality,” King says. The result is a meandering layout taking guests from a compact pub and airy conservatory restaurant – both open to the public and overlooking a Neoclassical heated pool – to a characterful guest and members’ lounge, co-working hub and cocktail bar. Interiors by House of Dré (Lino, Room 2 Chiswick) make bold use of colour drenching, dramatic lighting and tactile finishes in these tucked-away areas; local artists, such as Chiara Perano (whose painted ceiling adorns the blood-red dining room) and autodidact portraitist Ibi Meier-Oriutemeka, are well represented. Each bedroom is different, allowing guests to opt for what suits their tastes – some lean towards vintage furnishings while others are more contemporary; some are screen-free and away from the main house – all of them feature handmade pieces and large beds.
The brand’s commitment to craft is more than just a marketing gimmick. On a hillside overlooking the lake, an old barn has been kitted out with floor-to-ceiling windows, a log burner and a large kiln under the care of local ceramicist Holly Dawes, whose “wonky” vessels sit throughout the property alongside woodworker Alistair Laburnum’s pared-down vases and dinnerware. This Craft Barn is the setting for creative workshops changing with the seasons – and a clear draw for locals who have plumped for the £180 a month membership. Freelancers from the nearby creative hubs of Hastings and St Leonards have bought into the concept, setting up shop in the common rooms for working days improved by forest walks, HIIT and barre classes, and lakeside sauna and hot tub sessions. Food is also central to that offer. King points to the lion’s mane schnitzel as a dish that reflects the kitchen’s approach: familiar, seasonal and ingredient-led. It’s crispy and cloud-like, and served with comforting egg and chips lifted by a herbaceous green sauce.
Looking ahead, Crafted has big plans: more creative workshops, from foraging to natural dyeing, alongside outdoor activities such as kayaking, forest yoga and cold-water swimming. The search for the next Crafted location is already under way. “This is just the beginning,” King says.
