Construction specialist Trail Group has been awarded one of its largest single contracts to date – worth around £4.5m – for the first phase of the extensive refurbishment and expansion of a historic hotel estate in East Sussex for the new hotel brand, Crafted.

Powdermills Hotel in Battle is a Grade II listed, 4-star country house hotel, which sits in 78 acres that include a private lake, streams, pastures and ancient woodland, close to the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings.

This is the first property to be acquired by Crafted, which aims to create a portfolio of life-friendly hotels and clubs where guests and locals can benefit from nature, good food, wellbeing, crafts, socials and play.

Trail Group has been appointed principal contractor for the redevelopment of the hotel estate. The build programme represents a significant investment for Crafted to deliver an exceptional experience for guests and an expanded range of facilities in environmentally conscious surroundings.

The construction works will upgrade the fabric of the historic listed main hotel and improve the sustainability of the estate as part of the drive towards net zero. The architects for the scheme are Holder Mathias Architects and the interior designers are House of Dré.

Jon Crosby, Managing Director of Trail Group:

“We are thrilled to be helping to breathe new life into this hotel in such a stunning location and transform it into a beautiful and luxurious place to stay and socialise. Crafted have ambitious plans for the estate and we are really excited to be part of it.”

Joel Williams, COO of Crafted:

“Powdermills is the first hotel in our portfolio and is set in a magnificent location just a short trip from London and the East Sussex coast. It is the ideal location for our guests and neighbours to come together to relax, re-connect and escape from daily pressures. Our food and drink will be homegrown or locally sourced and we will be offering guests a unique selection of activities and amenities.”

“The hotel has been expanded over the years resulting in a fragmented collection of buildings. Our vision is to make the estate more sustainable whilst preserving its heritage for generations to come.”

The construction programme will include reconfiguring the reception, social and dining spaces in the main hotel; refurbishing all hotel bedrooms to the highest specification; building a wellness centre with a gym and studios; converting an existing estate building into a craft barn; and extensive external works such as new glazing, shiplap cladding, guttering and chimney flues.

Located in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the site of the hotel was originally used for gunpowder production for over 200 years – the Sussex powder mills were renowned for their quality. The original house was destroyed by an explosion in 1676 and rebuilt in 1796. It was converted into a hotel in 1983.

Trail Group’s services include construction and building refurbishments, passive and active fire protection, electrical testing and installations, and minor works such as damp remediation. Its focus is on building safety and improvement to help developers and organisations in the commercial and public sectors maximise the potential of their building assets.

For further information, visit www.trailgroup.co.uk.