Our Story

A transformative restoration project designed to be enjoyed

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Intentional eco-conscious comfort by design

A luxury holiday home. A contemporary event and collaboration space. A wellness retreat in the stunning South Downs. Whatever you need from it, The Grain Store provides.

The Grain Store is the culmination of several years’ work and vision: our dream was to create a rural retreat for those wishing to escape and reconnect.

Working closely with Gavin from GM Build, Lewes, his exceptional design skills and craftsmanship have been instrumental to the project.

Purposely keeping the original concrete frame of The Grain Store visible, you see it echoed in the polished concrete flooring of the ground floor. The cedar-clad exterior and south-facing picture windows complete this striking modern conversion.

The Grain Store Build: Photography by Carlotta Luke

Our founder, Anni Townend shares insights into The Grain Store’s transformation:

“The planning brief was to convert a redundant farm building into a boutique self catering accommodation and stipulated that the end result would be in keeping with the then existing building whilst being a massive improvement on it. In 2017 the grain store was made of concrete breeze block, topped with an asbestos roof.  Huge metal doors opened into a dark cavernous space which had once upon a time been filled with grain in the height of summer, harvested from the surrounding fields. The building had become redundant as farm machinery had grown larger, and the technology of drying the grain has been completely revolutionised.

My vision was then, and now, to create a space where people could relax and restore themselves, a place from which they could come and go and in which they would feel taken care of. My design philosophy in everything is 'simple, functional and beautiful' from the overall vision to the smallest detail. One of the benefits of having lived close to the grain store and on the South Downs Way for many years is that I know the lay of the land, and the way in which the light moves around and through the building. In addition the beautiful concrete ribbed structure of the original grain store both informed and formed the design of the conversion and is beautifully captured in the photographs of Carlotta Luke.  Carlotta is a local Lewes photographer who specialises in telling stories of building projects through images.

Teamwork is hugely important to me. Throughout the design, planning and building phases working closely with a local builder and their team together we were able to work with the overall design and respond to changes that needed to be made through collaboration. Everyone who worked on the conversion contributed their ideas and experience as well as their expertise, and felt proud to be part of the creation. To this day whilst the team who take care of The Grain Store Lewes, and The Studio at The Grain Store has evolved everyone has been, and is, a massive part of making The Grain Store what it is today - for which I am hugely grateful, and proud.

We opened in March, 2020. This coincided with the onset of the pandemic and a series of lockdowns which had a huge impact on the business. So we went through an extended period of being closed and then only being open to particular groups. Whilst getting the interior totally ready for opening which I loved doing I have equally loved and am proud of the exterior. Guests often marvel at the well established garden, the choice of plants, and the orchard in which we have a grass sofa that looks out over the Downs and the hot tub.

We look forward to welcoming you!”

Video by SHOOTLAB

A place to relax, naturally.

As a sustainable business and eco-friendly holiday home, we’re committed to using, where possible, green sources of energy. So, we’ve installed an air source heat pump, solar panels and underfloor heating. By providing a charging point for electric vehicles, recycling facilities, and eco-friendly products to use at The Grain Store, we aim to minimise the environmental impact.

Created to be calming, comfortable, and cosy to induce relaxation and wellbeing, this is the ultimate wellness retreat. A complete getaway. Thoughtful design and expert craftsmanship are combined with attention to detail and high quality furnishings in every room.

  • Simple, beautiful and functional

    “I wanted to share my thoughts on what ‘luxury’ means. My ethos is that simple, beautiful and functional is best. I look forward to welcoming you.”

    — Anni, Owner of The Grain Store Lewes

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