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My kind of country


KATHERINE HUDSON, FOUNDER OF THE ARABIAN TENT COMPANY, LOVES HER BOHEMIAN LIFE IN THE ROLLING HILLS OF THE SUSSEX DOWNS
Where do you live and what do you love most about it? I live in a hamlet near Seaford in East Sussex. It is an idyllic spot with no traffic noise whatsoever. My partner, Alex, and I moved here about two years ago, but I am in fact Sussex born and bred. Our home is a converted farm outbuilding with flint walls, exposed beams and wood floors, with the most wonderful views. The combination of countryside and sea is a powerful one, and I particularly love the lines and colours of the Downs. Describe your perfect country home. This is pretty much it, but it would be one - year - old Cordelia. A Sussex barn that I could convert myself would be incredible, but there is nothing I would want to change about my location.
What inspires you most about living in the country? I love country walks. You can work things through in your head, ideas come to you, and you feel more relaxed. The Arabian Tent Company is based in a barn on the Firle estate which is close to Charleston farmhouse, where the artistic Bloomsbury Group met. This part of Sussex is still very creative - there are potters, painters and poets. I think Where do you find your own design inspiration? I started the company six years ago because I thought that people should have more choice for their wedding celebrations than the usual white marquee. I began with the Indian - style Raj tent and the burlesque inspired Moulin Rouge, and there are now eight to choose from. I go to India and Argentina every year, but more and more I find ideas in this country. For example, I launched a William Morris tent this year to mark 150 years since the founding of his company, Morris & Co. Morris took many of his designs from the Islamic.


What is your favourite local shop?

My kind of country


Middle Farm, a farm shop on the road between Lewes and Eastbourne. It has a great selection of produce, including the best Cornish pasties ever. I also like buying produce direct from peoples garden - if I drive past a stand with home - made marmalade or jam, home - grown fruit and vegetables, freshly laid eggs or home - baked cakes, I always stop.
What is your earliest country memory?
I was brought up on a farm not far from here, so my entire childhood is crammed with country memories. I was the eldest of would spend all day outside building camps, shooting air rifles, sploshing through streams, building tree houses, eating vegetables straight from the ground and making models from clay we dug from the stream. It was a proper country childhood. Describe your perfect weekend. Friends would come to stay and there would be a big dinner on Saturday night with lots of dressing - up in silly costumes and wigs. I still have the dressing - up box from when I was a little girl. Then we would have a big fry - up the next morning, before walking to The Ram Inn at Firle for lunch.
garlic from the woods. I put the flowers in salads and make pesto from the leaves. What is your favourite food destination? The food at The Griffin Inn, Fletching is exceptional. I also love The Jolly Sportsman in East Chiltington where they do great oyster shooters - the perfect Sunday lunch starter. I couldnt live without... Walking, my Blackberry and festivals - Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle in Dorset is my favourite. I have met a lot of my friends through festivals - a really caring group of people, but also the ones who are the most fun.
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