I stayed at the stunning new Sussex hotel with stylish décor, a gorgeous lake and creative workshops galore!

That’s because Crafted at Powdermills, in Battle, East Sussex, is the first of a new group of resorts with a focus on wellness, creativity, good food and switching off from the frantic pace of everyday life.

The brainchild of Chris King, co-founder of the original award-winning Birch hotel, Crafted is ‘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.’

Formerly the Powdermills Hotel, Crafted is set within a Georgian Grade II-listed country house, on a huge 76-acre site surrounded by ancient woodland, wildflower pastures, and a seven-acre private lake.

I visited on a very wet weekend, and it was a welcome relief to walk inside to find a roaring fire burning in the reception area. We were checked in and before we knew it, a glass of sparkling wine was put in our hands, as we were led to the library to sit down and relax.

Like all the relaxation spaces at Crafted, the décor is absolutely stunning. An eclectic mix of bold colours, comfy seating and thoughtful touches, including a record player and a decent selection of books, it was a gorgeous place to while away an afternoon.

I was lucky enough to be given a tour of the vast site by head of operations Jordan Thomson. It includes its own pub, restaurant, cocktail bar, craft barn, art studio and members club, as well as three private cottages.

There is also an outdoor pool (open from spring to autumn), and a lakeside sauna, hot tub, cold plunge and dedicated area for lake swimming.

Guests can also enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking sessions, yoga in the forest, and will soon be able to book a slot on one of two padel courts that are nearing completion.

Going forward, there are also plans to open up tree house accommodation, off grid cabins, a lakeside ritual room for meditation and massages, a reformer pilates studio in a custom-build wellness barn and a larger, members-only space.

Jordan also showed me some of the four levels of room offered, which range from cosy to suite, with some suitable for dogs.

The 55 artisan-designed rooms and suites feature handcrafted details by House of Dré, British-made furniture, and locally crafted ceramics inspired by the surrounding landscape.

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 created by Seb Cox, and locally crafted woodwork and ceramics by Alistair Laburnan and Holly Dawes, who now works from the craft barn.

My suite, located in a barn with a balcony overlooking the lake at the front of the hotel, was super spacious and the bed was enormous. I loved the natural colour scheme, which made it feel like a really relaxing space.

Creativity is at the heart of Crafted and members and hotel guests can book in for a range of experiences, from pottery, to candle-making, to sketching and much more. We took part in a Christmas wreath-making workshop, where we spent a chilled afternoon making woodland wreaths with the lovely Katie Underwood from Flower Show Presents.

It’s not something I’ve ever done before, but I loved having the option to try a cool new experience, and unplug from technology for a bit.

And then there was the food. We had dinner in the restaurant where Neil Armstrong, executive chef, has a goal to reach 75 per cent British provenance across all of its menus. The food was absolutely delicious, and once again, the interiors in the restaurant were sumptuous and inviting.

For those wanting a more casual experience, food is also served in the cosy pub, where Sunday roasts are particularly popular with guests and locals alike.

After dinner, we enjoyed a couple of drinks in the cocktail bar, where a live DJ was playing. For those wanting a quieter spot for a drink, the parlour next door has a roaring fire and plenty of seating.

This are also houses a private dining room and a co-working space that can be booked by members.

We slept really well – it was so lovely and quiet – and we enjoyed an upmarket continental buffet breakfast, as well as a hot cooked-to-order option the next morning.

Although sad to check out, our 24 hours at Crafted had left us feeling calm and ready to take on the rest of the weekend.

For more information about membership, which costs £180 a month, or to book a stay at Crafted at Powdermills, visit https://www.staycrafted.com/