Why our sleep experts loved it
The Dream Team Gold Crowborough Pocket Sprung Mattress is Dreams pushing its in-house range firmly into premium territory. A tall, 35 cm box-top model with an 8,520 pocket spring count and a brand-new DreamTex comfort layer, it's priced in the same ballpark as some upper-range Hypnos models. That is a bold move for a retailer brand, and it changes what I expect from it in terms of feel, finish and long-term confidence.
On the bed it feels like a modern, plush hotel mattress built for side and combination sleepers, with a cool, neutral surface that avoids the usual memory foam heat. It is less obviously aimed at very firm-mattress fans, and as this DreamTex foam is still new, the long-term story is not fully written yet. The question for consumers is whether Dreams' step up in price is matched by a step up in value.
Construction & materials The Crowborough is a big, substantial mattress. At around 35 cm deep it sits much higher than a standard model and has that layered, hotel-bed look once it is dressed. It is heavy too, so it feels every bit the flagship in the Dream Team range.
The top is an attached box top, essentially a built-in pillow top, finished in a cool-touch knitted cover. This gives a very cushioned first impression and is designed to work with the DreamTex foam below to keep the sleeping surface a little cooler and fresher than a standard polyester fabric.
Beneath the cover is a dual layer of DreamTex foam, Dreams' new in-house comfort material. It is described as thermoregulating, antimicrobial and silver-infused, with cooling gel woven through to help manage heat and odour. Under that sits the main engine: a pocket spring core with a quoted total of 8,520 springs, including both full-height pocket springs and smaller micro springs for finer contouring and reduced partner disturbance. What you do not get here, despite the premium price, is a stack of natural fibres. This is very much a high-tech synthetic-and-springs proposition rather than a wool-and-cotton one.
Firmness & feel Dreams rates the Crowborough as a medium, and that matches how it feels in use. The box top is plush, so you get a soft, cloud-like initial sink, but quite quickly you can feel the firmer, more structured spring unit taking over underneath. You do not get the slow, deep "hug" of memory foam; instead it feels more buoyant and responsive.
For side sleepers, this combination is very appealing. The top lets shoulders and hips dip in enough to ease pressure, while the dense spring core keeps the spine broadly aligned. If you switch a lot between side and back, the mattress has enough surface softness to be comfortable on your side and enough underlying push-back to avoid feeling hammock-like when you roll onto your back.
Dedicated back sleepers are a slightly different story. If you like a bit of cushioning with your support, the Crowborough works very nicely, but if you know you prefer a noticeably firm, flat feel, the plush top may be a touch too yielding. Stomach sleepers, especially heavier ones, may also find the top too soft to keep the hips high enough; a firmer, flatter model is usually a safer bet in that position.
Performance & support In day-to-day use, the big strengths here are pressure relief and motion control. The mix of full-height pocket springs and micro springs spreads weight very evenly, which helps avoid sharp pressure points around the shoulders and hips. You feel cradled rather than perched on top, but without that stuck-in-the-mattress sensation that thicker memory foam designs can create.
Because each spring is individually wrapped, movement is well contained. The foam-rich box top adds another layer of damping, so if one partner tosses and turns, the other should feel less disturbance than they would on a cheaper open-coil mattress. For couples, especially if one of you is restless, this is a real tick in the Crowborough's favour.
Support-wise, the mattress does a solid job for light to average-weight side and back sleepers. There is enough resistance lower down to keep the pelvis from dropping too far, provided you are not at the very top end of the weight spectrum. I would be more cautious recommending it to heavier, mainly front-sleeping users, simply because a deep, medium-feel pillow top is not the classic recipe for keeping the spine perfectly neutral in that position.
Temperature regulation DreamTex is clearly Dreams' big play here. The foam is designed to absorb excess heat, then release it again to smooth out temperature swings, with silver and cooling gel in the mix to keep things fresher and less clammy. In practice, the Crowborough does not feel icy, just comfortably neutral: it does not noticeably heat up under you in the way dense memory foam can.
The combination of the breathable cool-touch cover, gel-infused DreamTex layers and a very airy pocket spring core means air can circulate more freely than in an all-foam design. If you are a moderately hot sleeper, or you share a bed and tend to overheat together, the Crowborough should feel pleasantly balanced. If you run extremely hot or struggle with intense night sweats, you might still want to look at a more aggressively cooling mattress, but for most people this hits a nice middle ground of "not hot, not cold".
Practical features There are a few practical points to be aware of. First, the depth: at around 35 cm, you will need deep fitted sheets and possibly an extra-deep protector. On a tall divan or high bed frame, the overall bed height can creep up to the point where shorter sleepers or children may find it a bit of a climb.
Second, the weight. This is not a mattress you casually spin by yourself on a Sunday morning. Rotating it will realistically need two people, and you will want to think carefully about tight staircases and awkward corners before delivery. On the plus side, you do get the usual Dreams package of delivery to your room of choice, optional mattress recycling and a 100-night comfort guarantee, along with the option to buy extended cover. What you do not get, at this premium price, is a long standard manufacturer warranty of the kind you often see on heritage brands; that is something cautious buyers should factor into their decision.
Who it suits Side sleepers and combination sleepers are, for me, the most natural match for the Crowborough. The plush box top and medium rating give you that gentle sink at the shoulder and hip that you want in a side position, with enough support underneath to keep you comfortable when you roll onto your back.
Hot sleepers who dislike classic memory foam should also short-list it. The DreamTex layers feel more neutral and responsive than dense memory foam, and the high spring count keeps air moving through the core. Add in the motion isolation for couples and the tall, hotel-style profile, and you have a mattress that will appeal to people who want a luxury feel from a big-name retailer rather than a purely online brand.
Who it does not suit If you are a firm mattress loyalist or a dedicated back sleeper who likes a very solid, unyielding surface, the Crowborough is unlikely to convert you. The medium tension and generous pillow top are designed for comfort and pressure relief rather than a rigid, orthopaedic feel. Heavier front sleepers should also be cautious, as the plush top could allow the hips to sink more than ideal.
It is also not the obvious choice for buyers who prioritise natural fillings and long guarantees . At this price, many people will expect wool, cotton and a 5–10 year manufacturer warranty from a heritage brand. Here, your money is going into advanced synthetic foams and spring count instead. And because DreamTex is still a relatively new material, the long-term performance story is less established than with more traditional constructions, which may bother more cautious shoppers.
Final verdict The Dream Team Gold Crowborough Pocket Sprung Mattress is a clear sign that Dreams wants to play in the same premium space as its big-name suppliers. The spec is undeniably impressive: a very high spring count, a deep, indulgent pillow top and a modern, cooling DreamTex comfort layer that, in my experience, feels genuinely neutral rather than stuffy or sweaty.
For side and combination sleepers who like a plush top with strong underlying support, and for hot sleepers who are wary of memory foam but still want pressure relief, it is a very attractive option. The trade-offs are that you are paying near-Hypnos money for a retailer brand with synthetic comfort layers, a short standard guarantee and a new foam technology whose long-term story is still being written. If you are comfortable with that, the Crowborough delivers a luxurious, cool and supportive sleep. If you would rather prioritise natural fillings, rock-solid firmness or a long warranty from a heritage name, you may feel your money is better spent elsewhere.
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