Trading Boundaries

An Indian stone elephant standing out front of a Georgian coaching inn gives some indication of what lies within at Trading Boundaries. Here, in the quintessentially Sussex countryside, where villages cluster around cricket pitches, Trading Boundaries offers a more exotic alternative. Handcrafted Indian furniture, fabrics and collectibles have been sold here for more than 25 years since a former pub at a crossroads was turned into a popular trading post. Its evolution over that time has seen more aspects added to the family business – the latest of which are its eight lovely guest rooms.

As you might imagine, these boutique rooms are exquisitely furnished with one-off pieces from India – the luxury room, for example, has a seriously cool, beautifully-carved vintage Indian bed, the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else. But whichever room you choose — there are dog-friendly rooms, family suites and twins as well as doubles — you can expect something to pique your interest. You can also expect a modern bathroom, good WiFi, a Bluetooth speaker, a Smart TV and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Rooms are all positioned around a courtyard with a fountain in the middle, and it’s a short stroll from the Trading Boundaries shop, art gallery and café/bar, which is another thriving arm of this family business. It’s here you’ll have your continental breakfast during your stay. From Wednesday to Sunday, the cafe and its terrace are open all day too and lunch here is highly recommended. Like your rooms, the dining area combines vintage Indian style with contemporary style. There’s a real tuk tuk as part of the decor but the menu focuses on locally-sourced food and drink and includes plenty of English wines. Live music is another integral part of the Trading Boundaries offering. Jazz brunches on a Sunday are a real draw and be sure to check the calendar for one of their regular concert nights featuring some of the country's finest acts.

After browsing the labyrinthine rooms of the shop and taking a peek at Britain's only gallery devoted to the work of 1970s icon Roger Dean (best known for his distinctive prog rock album cover artwork), you can get out to explore the area which offers plenty round to see and do – nearby vineyards, the neighbouring National Trust property, Sheffield Park, or the steam trains of the Bluebell Railway. Trading Boundaries is within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on the edge of the Ashdown Forest, with lots of walks, good pubs and great cycling in every direction. All this and it’s just an hour or so from London, 30 mins from Gatwick, and within a day trip’s distance of the south coast.