Crafted at PowderMills: Chris King on Reinventing the Country Hotel

What does it take to turn a tired country hotel into a destination people genuinely want to return to?In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson sits down with Chris King, founder of Crafted, to explore the transformation of PowderMills in Battle, East Sussex. Set around a seven acre lake on the site of a former gunpowder mill, Crafted brings together boutique hospitality, bold interior design, British craftsmanship, wellness, food and community.Chris shares the thinking behind the hotel’s transformation, from trusting bold design decisions and commissioning local craftspeople to creating a lakeside sauna, cold water swimming area, padel courts, pottery workshops and spaces designed for social connection.They discuss the realities of building a new hospitality brand from scratch, supporting British makers, sourcing food locally, creating memorable guest experiences and making major investment decisions when there is no guarantee they will work.Chris also explains why Crafted is being built as a social catalyst. With remote work and changing lifestyles leaving many people increasingly isolated, the aim is to create opportunities for guests and members to meet, try new things and build genuine connections.It is a conversation about hospitality, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship and what happens when every detail of a physical space is considered through the eyes of the person who will actually use it.Key Topics Covered✦ Transforming PowderMills into Crafted✦ Building a distinctive boutique hotel brand✦ Bold interior design and taking creative risks✦ Working with British craftspeople and local makers✦ Reclaimed timber, handmade ceramics and bespoke furniture✦ Sauna, cold water swimming and padel✦ Designing hospitality around guest experience✦ Local food, organic growing and sustainability✦ Building community through shared experiences✦ Social connection and social health✦ Starting a hospitality brand from zero✦ Reversible and irreversible business decisionsCheck out Chris King in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckroaming/Check out Crafted at PowderMills: https://www.staycrafted.com/Enjoying the show?Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUgKey Moments:00:00 Introducing Chris King and Crafted07:00 Why PowderMills was the right location13:10 Bold interiors and trusting the designer16:53 Bringing local craftsmanship into the hotel20:00 Creating the lakeside sauna and swim experience26:30 Can this hospitality model make money?31:09 British craftsmanship competing on price38:30 Designing a frictionless guest journey43:34 Why Chris designs for himself46:30 Taking risks and testing new ideas50:37 Why padel is here to stay58:27 Creating a social catalyst outside London1:02:34 Why social health matters1:05:30 Chris King’s advice to his younger self