Boutique Care Homes embraces past, present, and future in West Sussex

The West Sussex border town of Burgess Hill traces its origins back to three parishes mentioned in the Domesday Book — Clayton, Ditchling, and Keymer; the latter of which lends its name to Boutique Care Home's latest home. Historically, the area was known for brick and tile manufacturing, led by the Keymer Brick and Tile Company (latterly Keymer Tiles, which still operates, albeit now from a location in Surrey), which supplied tiles and bricks to buildings across the country. Indeed, framed examples of old Keymer tiles can be found along the corridors of Keymer Hall — just one of the many ways in which Boutique is recognising and celebrating the history of the area in its latest home. Indeed, Keymer Hall's roof boasts mock 'smokestacks' — a subtle nod to the area's industrial past and one intended to encourage residents to recall fond memories of Burgess Hill.

Keymer Hall Care Home, which sits on a wooded, previously undeveloped site close to the eastern edge of Burgess Hill, officially opened its doors in December 2025. Prior to my visit, I asked Boutique's development director Tom Duck why Boutique had chosen this particular site and location for their latest home. He told me that the demographics of Burgess Hill — with its ageing population, strong wealth profile, and lack of other modern, purpose-built care accommodation — made the town an ideal location for Boutique; a view confirmed by the high level of initial enquiries the provider received.

The site itself was acquired through a developer who had already obtained consent for the development of a care home — the plot lending itself to such a project because of its size and the fact that a small woodland separates the site from the neighbouring residential development — thus providing privacy as well as views for residents to enjoy.