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

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

Booking your family hols?Don't do anything till you've seen Flight Centre's first Family Adventures brochure - and put yourself in the running for a £20k dream trip!
Muddy Xmas Gift Guide: Tweens to Teens
Grace Dieu Manor SchoolMuddy says: A friendly but forward-thinking co-ed independent day school taking kids from 12 weeks - 11 yrs, set in 120 acres of lush Leicestershire greenery.
Muddy makes the Daily Mail!The 50 most inspirational women in the UK - Keeley Hawes, Dina Asher-Smith, Thomasina Miers, Jacqueline Wilson and founder of Muddy Stilettos, Hero Brown!
Festive afternoon teaTime for boozy hot chocolates, lashings of mulled wine and copious amounts of cake which is why we've rounded up the best spots for festive afternoon tea.

FRI 21 DEC - SUN 23 DEC

MON 17 DEC - FRI 21 DEC

DECEMBER 2018

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Festive afternoon tea

Time for boozy hot chocolates, lashings of mulled wine and copious amounts of cake so it would only be right to round up the best spots for festive afternoon tea.
- Christmas drinkies! Time for something new
  
  Usually face-down in a vat of Baileys throughout December? You can do better than that! Here's our guide to nailing your Christmas drink choices like a pro. Bottoms up!
- On the Waterfront
  
  The Encore overlooking the River Avon in historic Stratford-upon-Avon has just reopened after a swish complete makeover.
- The cosiest pubs with fires
  
  Come in from the cold, snuggle up and enjoy a pub lunch or pint in one of these delightful...
- Boboli, Kibworth Harcourt
  
  A restaurant so popular it has its own foodie festival! Muddy jumps on the Boboli bandwagon.

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Muddy’s guide to skiing essentials

Considering heading out on your first-ever ski holiday? Well before you slalom and schuss, you may want to consider packing these clothing essentials.
- St Lucia, beyond the beaches
  
  As the nights draw in and the weather gets bloomin' chilly, Muddy Wilts ed, Joanna heads to sunnier shores for a Caribbean family adventure beyond the beaches.
- Fancy a weekend away in Kent?
  
  Course you do! We've teamed up with Southeastern to give you the lowdown on the Garden of England's hidden gems. PLUS we're giving away a luxe weekend stay there worth £500! Aren't we nice?

Something for the little ones

Our fashion favourite Cos is launching babywear this week – and we’ve gone gaga for it. Behold the cuteness!
- The really wild show
  
  On the prowl for this season's hottest print? Leopard is a cult classic given an AW18 reboot. Enter the fashion jungle for Muddy purrrfect picks.
- Hear me roaaarrrrr!
  
  If you want to stay warm and chic this season, get your mits on this brilliantly bold new season Marc Cain jumper. Grrrrr!

Coffee table books to snaffle

From fashion to flora to fragrant Frida, here are 2018’s most gorgeous coffee table tomes.
- The new John Lewis Xmas ad!
  
  It's here! The John Lewis Christmas ad has launched with the Rocket Man as its secret weapon...
- Muddy Book Club! November’s best new reads
  
  The temperature's dropped so batten down the hatches, commandeer the sofa and get stuck into our November picks.
- Savage X Fenty
  
  Rhianna’s brought out a new ‘Savage’ Fenty underwear range – and given...
- October’s best books
  
  Clear space on your Kindle! We've got some literary inspiration for you.

What we’re loving: Festive wreaths

Deck your door with boughs of holly! Fa la la la la ….too early? Turn to these beautiful bespoke festive wreaths – which one will grace your front door?
- Quirky advent calendars
  
  Counting the days until Christmas? Here, we can help with that! Open the door to the best alternative...
- SPEEDY SUPPER
  
  Mix up your Monday night dinner with this simple but tasty Mediterranean-style orzo and kale dish on World Vegetarian Day 2018
Wellbeing
- When wellbeing meets wine
  
  We’re into health and fitness but we also love a Chablis or three. Sound familiar? We...
- It’s National Spa Week 2018
  
  You'll feel completely zen after spending a few hours in one of these amazing spas. Annnnd...

Wanna work for Muddy?

Muddy Leicestershire and Rutland is looking for a brilliant intern! Could this be you or someone you know?
- Worklife need a reboot?
  
  Job doing your head in? Or maybe it's lack of job that's the problem? Our careers agony aunt...
- Find your ideal job
  
  There's more to life than a college education, doncha know. Muddy investigates some excellent...
Kids
- Gift guide for littlies
  
  Treat the little people! Gorgeous young children's pressies for Christmas, with brands you won't find everywhere else.
- Grace Dieu Manor School
  
  Muddy says: A friendly but forward-thinking co-ed independent day school taking kids from 12 weeks - 11 yrs, set in 120 acres of lush Leicestershire greenery.

Muddy makes the Daily Mail!

The 50 most inspirational women in the UK – Keeley Hawes, Dina Asher-Smith, Thomasina Miers, Jacqueline Wilson and founder of Muddy Stilettos, Hero Brown!
- Meet Kirsteen Thomson, from Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year 2018
  
  Wild card on Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year 2018, artist Kirsteen Thomson tells us about some fabulous places she's stumbled on locally and during her painting travels.
- Muddy makes the glossies!
  
  Our ed-in-chief Hero Brown on being a centre-fold pin-up in Psychologies magazine - alongside...
- Meet Leicester’s most stylish lady
  
  When it comes to fashion, Sukhina Garcia has got it nailed. She runs ladies boutique, Betty Brown which grabbed the gong for Best Women's Store in the Muddy Stiletto Awards 2018.
- On the lash with Tim Henman
  
  Tim Henman, party animal - who'd have thought it? Ahead of Wimbledon, the British tennis legend...