The urban guide to the countryside -

Warwickshire

Well, hello!

I'm Catherine, editor of Muddy Warwickshire, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

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Gotta Have It

'Tis the season to banish waste, tat all things un-recyclable and go sustainable. We’re not just talking gifts here – it’s all the trimmings, from wrapping paper to festive fromage.

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Muddy's Christmas Wreath Making at ChatsworthCombining feel-good festive creativity with a trip to one of her favourite childhood stomping grounds, Muddy Warwickshire’s Rhiannon Pursall heads north for a wreath making workshop at Chatsworth.
Gift guide: for herAunts, mums, grandmas, sisters and your girl posse all covered for Crimbo, plus some spot-on suggestions for gifts to self. Ho ho ho.
Gift Guide: For nippersTreat the little people! 26 brilliant pressies to wrap under the tree for kids this Christmas.
Gastro Heaven!30 of the best cookery courses across the Muddy counties to tantalise your tastebuds, and impress even the fussiest dinner guest.
Back-to-school with The Boy in the Dress star Forbes MassonVersatile Scots actor Forbes has gone from reading David Walliams' books to his kids to starring in the RSC’s new musical as scary headmaster Mr Hawtrey.

What's On

This Weekend

FRI DEC 13 - SUN DEC 15

This Week

MON DEC 9 - SUN DEC 15

This Month

DECEMBER

Little Black Book

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Eat Out View more

Gastro Heaven!

30 of the best cookery courses across the Muddy counties to tantalise your tastebuds, and impress even the fussiest dinner guest.
- Is this Warwickshire’s quirkiest bar + kitchen?
  
  At Leamington Spa's playful Hart+Co, meals are served school lunch style, then there's the bottomless cocktail brunch from 5pm-9pm! But why is there a bathtub in the middle of the room? Muddy's Rhiannon Pursall investigates...
- Eight awesome autumn walks!
  
  Love the outdoors? Us too, so we’re thrilled to be launching our first ever Muddy Walk Week! Grab your friends or family and try our pick of the prettiest walks in Warwickshire and beyond - all with dog-friendly pubs nearby.
- NEW cocktail masterclass
  
  Christmas is just around the corner...If you're looking to gen up on some new drinks recipes or would like an office do with a difference, get your party started at this Warwickshire artisan distillery!
- Bluebasil Coffee Bar and Vintage Store, Leamington Spa
  
  Love coffee? Love vintage? Oh, and how do award-winning gourmet brownies sound? I’ve a feeling this could become your new favourite indie hangout…it’s one of ours.

School Reviews

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Read the reviews

Fun Finder

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

The 37 coolest party palaces

Got a big birthday celebration looming? Or fancy a weekend away with your squad? We’ve sniffed out the 37 dreamiest party palaces across the land, available for exclusive hire. Grab your gang and let’s go!
- Stay here: One Abbey Lane, Southam
  
  This beautifully renovated Tudor gem in Warwickshire featured on BBC 2's Restoration Home is now a stylish one-bedroom B&B retreat.
- The Lygon Arms, Worcs
  
  Broadway in Worcestershire is arguably the most lovely of the Cotswolds villages – and we know exactly where you should be staying.

Fashion View more

How to do sofa chic

Never mind all the parties, the thing we’re most looking forward to this Christmas is hunkering down at home. Here’s what we’ll be wearing – just accessorize with a book and mince pie.
- Shake up your style
  
  Throw out the rule book, become a fashion rebel and ring the changes this festive season - voilà, our top style tips for rebooting your wardrobe.
- Party like you mean it
  
  Harvey Nichols has come up trumps this season so here's my wishlist to whet your whistle. Plus win £500 worth of party clobber!

Beauty View more

- J’adore/ J’abhor
  
  It's Movember, the month when blokes grow moustaches to raise money for charity. Turns out the Muddy crew have VERY mixed views on men's facial hair. Where do you stand?
- Muddy reviews Jen Adams’ Anti-Ageing Skin Rejuvenation Plan
  
  How to look ten years younger in 12-weeks? Jen Adams, who runs a natural anti-ageing skin clinic in Leamington Spa, has a plan and Muddy was a very willing recipient!

Arts & Culture View more

Fancy a festive theatrical party for over-18s?

Get your glad rags on and head over to Coventry Belgrade’s B2 studio space for some nibbles, drinks, live music, gaming tables and immersive drama – where you may become part of the script.
- Meowy Christmas!
  
  Cats are everywhere this Christmas! We head to the Belgrade for some festive feline fun in Puss in Boots. Is it the saucer of cream we were hoping for – or more like UHT semi-skimmed?
- REVIEW: Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas
  
  Muddy reviews this warming old-fashioned festive treat for littlies with a one-woman band and cute wooden puppets at Warwick Arts Centre.
- The Boy in the Dress
  
  The RSC’s new musical about a 12-year-old boy who goes to school dressed as a girl, attunes with a modern desire to celebrate difference in a kinder way.
- Back-to-school with The Boy in the Dress star Forbes Masson
  
  Versatile Scots actor Forbes has gone from reading David Walliams' books to his kids to starring in the RSC’s new musical adaptation playing scary headmaster Mr Hawtrey.

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Home View more

Muddy’s Christmas Wreath Making at Chatsworth

Combining feel-good festive creativity with a trip to one of her favourite childhood stomping grounds, Muddy Warwickshire’s Rhiannon Pursall heads north for a wreath making workshop at Chatsworth.
- 15 Christmas Wreath Workshops
  
  Selling quicker than hot strudel, Christmas wreath workshops seem to grow in popularity every year.
- 3 party cocktails – ready, steady, shake!
  
  Step away from the Chablis and try something different! We've got 5 copies of a cool new cocktail book to give away - and here are three autumn liveners from it to whet your whistle.
Wellbeing
- Gastro Heaven!
  
  30 of the best cookery courses across the Muddy counties to tantalise your tastebuds, and impress even the fussiest dinner guest.
- REVIEW: Ardencote Destination Spa Day, nr Warwick
  
  In need of some 'me' time or looking to treat a friend, mum or partner to a wellbeing getaway? This new £1.1m purpose-built thermal spa, in a 4-star country house hotel is good value in a gorgeous countryside setting.

Work View more

Making work work for you

Back at your desk after summer fun and not really feeling it? We hear you. Here’s some food for thought from the autumn’s hottest self-help book by ex Elle journalist turned author Lotte Jeffs.
- Flexi-time – are you working it out?
  
  Flexible working is a buzzy phrase, but seriously - how many of us actually live the dream? Our ed-in-chief was at the launch of The Women’s Business Council's #100waystoworkflexibly project.
- Sexy Stationery
  
  Stationery is one of my specialist subjects. And - whoop! - it's National Stationery Week. Check out this sexy lot. Hubba bubba!
Kids
- PREVIEW: Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas
  
  Muddy takes a sneak peek at a theatre adaption of this classic Christmas comic cartoon strip for kids which flies into Warwick Arts Centre for the festive season until Dec 29.
- Nurturing Your Teen’s Career Aspirations
  
  Many Year 11's are now deliberating over where to study for A levels and what subjects to choose. How can a school best support your teen to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving workplace?

People View more

Q&A with The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson

Incredibly Julia Donaldson’s and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling picture book The Gruffalo was first published, 20 years ago! Muddy talks books, performing and buying a post-office with the best-selling writer.
- Fight Club
  
  Love a good food fight? Well there's a huge one in the RSC's new autumn production King John. Just don't go in your best garb if you've booked a front row seat! Actor Richard Pryal fills us in.
- GBBO contestant, Priya O’Shea
  
  Sadly Leicester's Priya O'Shea was the seventh baker to leave the tent this week. Here's everything you need to know about the Midlands amateur baker.
- Q&A with writer and performer Francesca Millican-Slater
  
  Birmingham writer-performer Francesca Millican-Slater has been collecting the stories of visitors, past and present, to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the childhood home of William Shakespeare’s wife. You too can be part of the story.
- Everyone’s talking about… The Guilty Feminist
  
  Love the podcast? Good news - its creator is coming to Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, this Friday (May 24). We grabbed super-talented comedian Deborah Francis-White for a chinwag.