The urban guide to the countryside -

Well, hello!

I'm Keya, editor of Muddy Leics & Rutland, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

Gotta Have It

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

7 perfect days of summer - just add gin!Ableforth's Bathtub gin looks cool, tastes even better and will rev you up for a summer of fun. Here, win a case (yup, six bottles of it!) and find out for yourself.
SUMMER FUN FOR THE KIDS
Stuck on what to do with your kids this summer hols? Get organised and take them out and about to enjoy some of these fab summer events or book onto one of these cool courses across Leicestershire and Rutland.
In all your FineryNeed a summer party frock? We can help with that! Cool London brand Finery majors in chic dresses and jumpsuits, and - guess what? - we have 10 x £500 worth of its goodies up for grabs.
46 stunning summer pubsFancy sipping a cold one in a pretty al fresco pub setting with friends or fam? Here are the best of the bunch across all the Muddy counties. Cheers!
A review of Belvoir CastleMuddy makes like Queen Vic and spends a day living like royalty in Belvoir Castle - well sort of...

FRI 19 JULY - SUN 21 JULY

MON 15 JULY - FRI 19 JULY

JULY 2019

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Muddy Eats: Tamatanga

Like your Indian food, fresh, flavoursome and fast? Tamatanga is the perfect place for you.
- Indian Summer
  
  Looks like Leicester is set to have an Indian summer and we don't mean the weather! We're talking about the Indian food invasion that's hitting our shores and coming faster than your freshly baked chapati.
- 46 stunning summer pubs
  
  Fancy sipping a cold one in a pretty al fresco pub with friends or fam? Here are the best of the bunch across the Muddy counties.
- John’s House Restaurant
  
  A few phone calls and a six month waiting list later, I finally made it to Leicestershire's only Michelin-starred restaurant...but was it worth the wait?
- No 44 on the Waterside, The Arden
  
  Muddy heads for a working lunch of sharing small plates at the recently refurbished brasserie of this boutique hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon with river views.

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Making plans? Find your perfect Pub, Inn, Hotel, Café, Restaurant or Bar across the Muddy counties.

Glamping at Ettie’s Field

Our first over-nighter glamping experience in an Airstream or should I say ‘glamper-vanning’. Find out if it was as fun as it sounds.
- 40 Quirky Stays for Summer
  
  From yurts to lodges, shepherd's huts to helicopters (not even joking!), the Muddy editors have pulled together the most charming, unusual escapes across 21 counties. Enjoy!
- St Ives – the dreamiest staycation in the UK
  
  As I was going to St Ives, I met a man with seven wives. OK, not really. What I did meet with though was a whole lot of FUN! Here's six reasons why you should take a trip to the Cornish coast this summer.

In all your Finery

Need a summer party frock? This under-the-radar label majors in cool dresses and jumpsuits. We’ve got £500 worth of Finery goodies up for grabs for 10 lucky Muddy readers – that’s £5k worth of foxy fashion!
- Green is the new black: Sustainable and stylish summer essentials
  
  Ethical fashion; sustainable fashion; slow fashion, whatever you want to call it, rock the...
- Dingle dangle delights
  
  When the high street can't cut it for gorgeous, glam jewellery, just head to Just Jules. Take these beauties for example...

The top 10 books of the summer

Don’t pack your suitcase or load up your Kindle until you’ve read this! We’ve picked the 10 best books to get stuck into on holiday. Prepping for a holiday isn’t top of my list of fun tasks – another 8 page to-do list? Great! But there is one exception to the rule; one part of this herculean […]
- A review of Belvoir Castle
  
  Muddy makes like Queen Vic and spends a day living like royalty in Belvoir Castle - well sort of...
- The books you MUST read this summer
  
  June's best new books are a corking bunch, including Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert's breathtaking new novel.
- Eat and drink your way through these foodie festivals
  
  Consider yourself a foodie? Partial to a glass of gin? Then check out this year's top-notch local food and drink festivals. There's plenty to choose from over the next few months.
- Unmissable outdoor cinema and theatre
  
  From magnificent castles, gorgeous gardens and historical ruins, the best spots to enjoy some...

Love interiors and art?

I’ve got my eye on this gorgeous graphic cushion, part of Habitat’s new collaboration with supercool artist Quentin Jones. Wanna see more?
- Sexy stationery
  
  Stationery is one of my specialist subjects. And - whoop! - it's National Stationery Week. Check out this sexy lot. Hubba bubba!
- Speedy prawn paella
  
  Fancy a fuss free but flavoursome dinner tonight? Ding ding ding! You have yourself a winner right here. Try this ridiculously easy paella recipe and you may even impress yourself.
Wellbeing
- Hypnotise your way to happiness
  
  Ever heard of hypnosis? And I don't mean the kind that makes you do whacky things like on telly. I recently had a few sessions to help reduce my stress levels, working-mum anxiety (the struggle is real) and more. Check out if it worked...
- Run for the hills!
  
  Actually don't just yet - let me tell about these brilliantly inspiring running books first.

5 killer tips for better work/life balance

The juggle is real – and not going anywhere – so how the hell can we get it right?! Let’s ask the work/life balance experts for some help.
- Wanna work for Muddy?
  
  Muddy Leicestershire and Rutland is looking for a brilliant intern! Could this be you or someone...
- Worklife need a reboot?
  
  Job doing your head in? Or maybe it's lack of job that's the problem? Our careers agony aunt...
Kids
- Muddy Eats: Tamatanga
  
  Like your Indian food, fresh, flavoursome and fast? Tamatanga is the perfect place for you.
- SUMMER FUN FOR THE KIDS
  
  Stuck on what to do with your kids this summer hols? Get organised and take them out and about to enjoy some of these fab summer events or book onto one of these cool courses across Leicestershire and Rutland.

Meet Tamsin Winter

Local author Tamsin Winter discusses her new book, why it’s not a good idea to run in 40 degree heat and how she’s survives without a TV!
- Meet fab florist, Amanda Steele
  
  Amanda Steele has been frolicking with flowers for as long as she can remember it's no wonder that her amazing handiwork work has been featured all over the world. Here we find out where she likes to hang out locally in Rutland.
- Where does a Michelin trained chef like to eat?
  
  Born and raised in Leicestershire, Bee Patel's worked her way through some of the UK's best...
- Where does interior designer Nicky Keen like to unwind?
  
  Design and decor guru, Nicky Keen loves transforming houses in to unique homes. She's lived...
- Muddy makes the Daily Mail!
  
  The 50 most inspirational women in the UK - Keeley Hawes, Dina Asher-Smith, Thomasina Miers,...