Crafted at Powdermills

A ‘wellness destination’ in London can often translate to a desperate, semi-bleak attempt at pretending you’re not in a busy, overpopulated city: a cold plunge in a shipping container, or a metre-square gap of space at your heaving local lido. At Crafted, however, they can justify their wellness manifesto, and then some. Giving a 17th Century powder mill (hence the name) in Battle a glow up, turning it into a hotel, restaurant, members club and general new gem in the East Sussex crown, even one night here will leave you feeling like a brand new person. There is sprawling nature to ramble through and a glimmering central lake to dunk yourself in; couple all that with a cosy pub, craft classes, and ample spaces to laze or - if you must - work, and you’ve got a one-stop-shop for brain and body bliss. 

What are the rooms like at Crafted?

In short, gorgeous. I stayed in a junior suite, which had floor-to-ceiling windows opening out onto a patio sitting on the lake’s edge: reader, I gasped. If you can bear to drag yourself away from the stunning sights outside (more difficult than it sounds), then the rooms themselves are warm and organic: all cream and terracotta hues, natural textiles, and the general feeling of being held in a lovely, nurturing hotel womb. The bed was big enough to fit an entire polycule, while thoughtful touches like products from natural fragrance brand Verden and adaptogenic, Lions Mane-laced coffee from Nootropics come good on their self-care ethos. Currently, most of the rooms are in the main building, but there’s also a lake house available for group stays, with plans to build outdoor cabins in other parts of their plot. 

What are the facilities like at Crafted?

No matter what your persuasion - sporty, foodie, arty, or any of the other lesser-celebrated Spice Girls - there’s something at Crafted that should tickle your pickle. In their dedicated craft barn, have a crack at pottery, preserve-making and loads more. Gym bunnies can enjoy state of the art facilities including a frankly terrifying machine that tells you your metabolic age, or take part in classes from barre to HIIT. They’ve got two outdoor padel courts and plans for a pickleball court, but the real MVP is their lakeside wild swimming area, hot tub, cold plunge and sauna - the latter replete with a huge picture frame window for gazing out at the scenery while you sweat. 

What is the food like at Crafted?

Their main modern British restaurant is only open from Thursday to Sunday, so I had dinner in the pub, which has been transformed from an old boot room into a cosy nook with a log fire, booths and an elevated pub grub menu. A starter of smoked mussels on toast came sat on a splodge of chilli mayo and a liberal dousing of herby oil, while a main of roast cod was extremely generously portioned, with chowder-inspired accoutrements, a creamy seaweed bearnaise sauce and a crispy compressed potato stack. The result was like a posh, deconstructed fish pie, accompanied by a glass of vintage Italian red that they’d opened for the evening and were selling for an extremely reasonable £8 a glass. Breakfast, meanwhile, adds nutritious extras - green juice shots and coconut yoghurt bowls - to the usual pastries and breads, with eggs and more available to order.

What’s the area like around Crafted?

You go to Crafted to indulge in all its offerings, not to head out (although history buffs will enjoy the Battle of Hastings reenactments in their nearby park come summertime). That said, we’re in the country, so scenic walks are plentiful, as are other local pubs. But really, with acres of space in the Powdermills estate and woods to lose yourself in on a sunny morning stroll, you don’t even need to leave the site to indulge your inner explorer.

Details

Address: Powdermill Lane, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0SP

Expect to pay: Cosy Rooms start from £304 per night

Closest transport: Battle station is a 5 minute drive, with Crafted operating a free pick-up service 

Book now: Click here