Our Story

A place shaped by nature, thoughtful design and the pleasure of bringing people together. 

The best places stay with us long after we've left them. Not because they're grand or luxurious, but because of how they make us feel. 

For Anni Townend, restoring a redundant farm building to create The Grain Store Lewes was never simply about making somewhere to stay. It was about creating a place where design, nature and human connection come together, giving people the space to slow down, connect and focus on what matters. 

We’re proud that our contemporary self-catering holiday home and retreat venue near Lewes has become a much-loved place to stay and gather in the South Downs National Park. 

Today, guests arrive for many different reasons: holidays with family and friends, romantic escapes, solo retreats, leadership and team away days, creative workshops and simply the opportunity to do their best thinking. Yet Anni hopes they all leave with the same feeling: more relaxed, more creatively engaged, more energised and more connected than when they arrived. 

A large pile of cut firewood in front of a building with a concrete and metal exterior, with a tree in the background and a leaning wooden plank in the foreground.
Empty garage with concrete walls, wooden ceiling, and an open metal roll-up door allowing sunlight inside, with a wheelbarrow and fire extinguishers visible.
Close-up of a weathered corrugated metal and cardboard wall with ivy growing at the bottom.
Empty unfinished warehouse with brick wall, concrete floor, and metal corrugated roof.
Close-up of a construction site showing concrete and rebar framework for a wall, with a piece of drywall and wiring visible.
A partially constructed barn with a blue metal door open, showing an unfinished interior with brick walls and metal framework, with a snow-covered field in the background.
Construction site with an orange Hyundai mini excavator, metal scaffolding, and an unfinished wooden structure framing a view of green rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky.
Wooden framework construction with a view of the blue sky and white clouds through the open roof structure.
Close-up view of a concrete roof structure with rolling green hills and fields in the background.
Construction site with workers building a home, showing brick foundation, wooden beams, and scaffolding under a cloudy sky.
A construction site with a waterproofing wall on a hill, a metal support beam, a wheelbarrow filled with bricks or debris, and orange safety fencing.
Construction site with wooden framing and concrete wall, steel scaffolding, and a square hole in the wall.
Construction site of a wooden house with wooden framing and scaffolding, a worker walking inside, construction materials on site, and green trees in the background.
Construction site of a building with wooden framing and scaffolding, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Construction of wooden building in a rural area with three trucks, two workers, scaffolding, and a backdrop of grassy hills and trees.
A man working on a piece of equipment on a grassy field near an old silver pickup truck, with rolling hills and farmland in the background.
Wooden framing and roof structure of a building under construction, with a cloudy sky in the background.
A person working on a rooftop, installing or repairing shingles during daylight hours, with tools nearby.
Close-up of a stone tile roof with sunlight reflecting off the surface, casting shadows.
Man standing on a roof under a clear blue sky, working on roofing tiles with tools nearby.
Two workers on a tiled roof installing solar panels, with leafless trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
Two workers on the roof of a house under construction, with scaffolding surrounding the building and a cloudy sky overhead.
A man wearing a gray knit cap and a red plaid shirt working with a miter saw in a woodworking shop with wood planks and unfinished walls in the background.
Close-up of a black tiled roof with a metal flashing on the side and a rusty scaffolding pole in the background, under an overcast sky.
Wood framing construction of a house interior with exposed wooden studs and beams, a skylight in the ceiling, construction tools, and equipment visible.
A construction worker in a beanie and gloves working on a wooden structure inside a building under construction, using a level tool.
Construction site of a building with a wooden frame, insulation, and scaffolding. The sunlight streams through windows and openings, casting shadows on the floor.
Close-up of construction site floor showing concrete, gravel, dirt, and white PVC pipes laid on the ground. A blue foam board is at the top of the image.
Person pouring wet concrete into a form with rebar, wearing yellow gloves, gray pants, and work boots.
Three construction workers pour and spread concrete inside a building under construction, with a grassy outdoor landscape in the background.
A man working on installing a large window inside a room under construction, with wooden framing and incomplete walls.
Interior view of a building under construction with large glass windows, a partially finished concrete floor, boxes of construction materials, and construction tools, with a view of a green lawn outside.
Interior of a room under construction with a large pentagon-shaped window, wood and drywall paneling, and construction materials on the floor.
Close-up of unfinished ceiling between exposed concrete beams, with electrical wiring hanging down.
Interior of a room under construction with a large square skylight cover and two hanging plastic bags, walls are painted light blue.
Window covered with a plastic sheet and masking tape, with a trash bag at the bottom right corner.
A man in shorts, a white T-shirt, and a cap is using a power drill on a wall covered with plastic sheeting during construction or renovation.
A person working on painting or drywall inside a home under construction or renovation, reaching into a hole in the wall with a bucket of paint or plaster.
Interior of a house under construction with large windows, a sloped ceiling with skylights, a ladder, and exposed insulation and wiring.
A house under construction with wooden siding, large open glass doors, and skylight windows in the roof. There are tools and ladders inside, and the house is set against a green lawn with a clear blue sky.
An interior room under construction with a light green cabinet base, a window with a view of a garden, and two electrical outlets on a white wall.
A room with white walls, wooden floor, and a wooden bed frame. Four skylight windows in the ceiling allow natural light to enter, casting shadows on the wall. There are some tools and materials on the bed frame, indicating ongoing construction or ren
Close-up of a black metal handrail on a staircase, showing scratches and wear, with black vertical bars in the background.
Interior of a house under renovation, showing a doorway with unfinished wall framing and tools on the floor.
Modern house with wooden siding, large glass doors, solar panels on the roof, and a small balcony, surrounded by a grassy yard and wooden fencing.
An elderly woman with gray hair, black glasses, wearing a black turtleneck sweater and blue jeans, standing in front of a modern building with large windows and wooden siding, smiling outdoors.

The Grain Store Build: Photography by Carlotta Luke

Inspired by the landscape 

Long before The Grain Store existed, Anni had fallen in love with part of the South Downs. 

What drew her here wasn't simply the view, but the feeling of stepping out of the door and walking directly onto the South Downs Way, surrounded by open countryside. 

The changing light across the Downs, shifting seasons, birdsong, morning mist and rhythm of the landscape continue to inspire both her work and the experience she guests enjoy. Nature isn't simply something to look at. It's an active part of life here. 

Whether you're walking the South Downs Way, sitting quietly in the garden or watching the light change through the large crittall doors, the landscape becomes part of the experience. 

Explore The Downs

Video by SHOOTLAB

Created with heart 

Every decision at The Grain Store Lewes is considered and intentional. From the layout of the building and the choice of natural materials to the planting in the garden and the way the spaces flow into one another, every element has been designed to feel calm, purposeful and quietly welcoming. 

Anni often describes The Grain Store in just three words: Simple. Functional. Beautiful. Those aren't just her design principles. They are values that continue to shape every stay and gathering here. 

View the Space
An elderly woman with short white hair and sunglasses smiling, wearing a black leather jacket, black top, and white pants with a large black belt, standing near an open glass door. Inside, there is a large plant with broad green leaves and part of a room with furniture.

Spaces that bring people together 

As an executive leadership coach and thinking partner, Anni has spent many years helping people have better conversations. Through her work, she understands how much our surroundings can influence the way we think, talk and connect with one another. 

That thinking is reflected in the spaces at The Grain Store Lewes. Three generations might gather around the dining table, friends linger over dinner, a leadership team find a different perspective away from the office, or two people simply enjoy the rare luxury of uninterrupted time together. 

The setting may change and the purpose may be different, but the principle is the same: create the right environment and good things can happen.

Explore Leadership & Team Retreats

A new chapter in wellbeing 

The Grain Store Lewes continues to evolve while remaining rooted in the values that inspired it. In 2026, Anni and Simone Thorn co-created South Downs Sauna at The Grain Store, bringing a Finnish-style sauna experience to the secluded woodland surrounding the property. Designed as a natural extension of The Grain Store’s connection with nature and wellbeing, the sauna offers guests another way to experience the restorative qualities of this special setting 

Book your stay at The Grain Store