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

Water bottles are such a faff to carry around, aren't they? But Chanel are on hand with this chic solution. Can you guess how much it costs though?

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Half-term Saviours!Harassed parents, breathe. We know 40 ways to keep the kids entertained across Warwickshire and further afield from animation courses and welly wanders to the best theatre and days out.
Is it getting hot in here?Apply a cold compress and loosen that corset! It's historical hunk time in film and telly (oh hello again Aidan Turner!), with three new sizzling period dramas to look forward to.
Muddy meets The Whip’s Katherine PearceWe caught up with the talented young northern actor who's gone from causing drama as Lolly in 'Corrie' to playing a gutsy former cotton mill worker in the RSC's new play about the abolition of slavery in Britain.
Warwickshire's best Snowdrop walksThey're coming out! The loveliest places to catch winter snowdrops across Warks and the Midlands in the next few weeks.
Win £2000 to kickstart your business dreamsHave a brilliant business that needs a helping hand? We’ve teamed up with business banking alternative, Tide, to offer a whopping two grand (yes, you read it right) to give you the boost you need. Win it here.

What's On

This Weekend

FRI FEB 14 - SUN FEB 16

This Week

MON FEB 10 - SUN FEB 16

This Month

FEB

Little Black Book

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Eat Out View more

A romantic afternoon tea in gothic Victorian splendour?

Looking for chandelier-hung, vintage glamour and velvet sofas this Valentine’s Day? Whittles at Binswood in Leamington Spa, a grade II listed gothic Victorian mansion and former school, should suit you nicely!
- REVIEW: The Ultimate Veganuary Treat!
  
  Pinkies at the ready! Muddy pops in to review the Vegan Full Afternoon Tea at Mallory Court Country House Hotel, near Leamington Spa.
- REVIEW: Bumbles – Studley’s new eco-conscious indie coffee shop
  
  Innovative restaurants and cafes all over the UK are doing their bit to make going out more sustainable, including Studley’s inviting cool new indie, Bumbles - a coffee shop with a zero-waste zone.
- 5 of the best…festive boozy buys
  
  Time to stock up your fridges and cellars! Whether you're buying for others or yourself (hey, you deserve it), you can't go wrong with these five divine drinks.
- Gastro Heaven
  
  30 of the best cookery courses across the Muddy counties to tantalise your tastebuds, and impress even the fussiest dinner guest.

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.

Holiday planning? 10 European-style staycations

Love a continental jaunt but staying in Blighty this year? These 10 UK holiday spots have a distinctly European feel.
- 3 good reasons to visit Ettington Park Hotel
  
  We've been before but it was so hauntingly good, we just had to go again.
- Call me Cupid! 46 romantic stays across the Muddy counties
  
  In the mood for love? Of course you are, pussy cat! Here, allow us to assist with the rumpy pumpy with 46 romantic boltholes across the Muddy counties.

Fashion View more

4 new season trends to try (and one to avoid)

The high street is awash with new spring/summer goodies. Overwhelmed? Here’s our pick of the new trends worth exploring – and how to wear them.
- Six of the best of British lingerie brands
  
  Hey sexy pants! We've found 6 chic lingerie brands to spice up your life this Valentine's Day. And - bonus - they're all British.
- 3 new online bridal collections
  
  Here comes the bride... and she's got next-day delivery! First time collections from the likes of Matches, Kitri and even the recently revitalised Warehouse.

Beauty View more

- REVIEW: LavaShell Massage
  
  Could retreating underground for a massage with hot rocks be the perfect escape after the festive frenzy? Muddy Warwickshire's Rhiannon was all too obliging to give it a try, at Leamington’s stylish salon The Beauty Rooms.
- 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?

Arts & Culture View more

Unmissable culture to book in 2020

Here are some of the hottest tickets for Coventry and Warwickshire in 2020 – see you there!
- REVIEW: The Whip, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
  
  Kimberley Sykes latest work at the RSC is a riveting collaboration with former BBC journalist and playwright Juliet Gilkes Romero about the hidden scandal of the £20 billion loan to compensate British slave-owners.
- The 5 best books out February
  
  Muddy's pro bookworm Kerry Potter has got five Feb fancies for your delectation.
- Muddy meets The Whip’s Katherine Pearce
  
  We caught up with the talented young northern actor who's gone from causing drama as Lolly in 'Corrie' to playing a gutsy former cotton mill worker in the RSC's new play about the abolition of slavery in Britain.
- The 2020 cultural picks you must not miss
  
  There's a ridiculous amount of amazing art, books, film, TV, music and theatre landing this year. Muddy's culture vulture Kerry Potter picks out the best of the bunch.

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Home View more

House beautiful! 5 chic interiors trends for 2020

New year, new decade, new home trends – time to go shopping, methinks…
- Local Blow Outs
  
  Grab your family, besties and dogs, and choose one of these gorgeous walks (with pubs nearby obvs) across 22 Muddy counties to stretch your legs in 2020.
- 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.
Wellbeing
- 10 wellbeing breaks
  
  Wanna escape the daily grind? Book on to one of these gorgeous wellbeing holidays for some much needed R&R.
- 3 Bonkers Wellbeing Trends in 2020
  
  Will you be, um, honouring your vagina this year?

Work View more

Sisters are doin’ it for themselves!

Our drinks, networking and theatre night for women in business together with the RSC and The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon was a blast! Here’s the lowdown.
- Win £2000 to kickstart your business dreams
  
  Have a brilliant business that needs a helping hand? We’ve teamed up with business banking alternative, Tide, to offer a whopping two grand (yes, you read it right) to give you the boost you need. Win it here.
- 7…of the best notebooks
  
  You know what they say – write notes, realise dreams! Or, um, at the very least make January’s admin rush a little more bearable.
Kids
- Half-term Saviours!
  
  Harassed parents, breathe. We know 40 ways to keep the kids entertained across Warwickshire and further afield from animation courses and welly wanders to the best theatre and days out.
- Get into the groove with Motionhouse
  
  This leading UK dance-circus company in Leamington Spa is launching three new classes in Jan 2020 for littlies, over 60's and boys aged 11+.

People View more

Exclusive interview! Muddy meets…. Laurence Fox

The actor-turned-singer has been front page news since an incendiary appearance on Question Time last week. In this exclusive interview, he talks midlife crises, death threats and groupies with Muddy’s Kerry Potter.
- Muddy Meets Josie Long
  
  We caught up with (we reckon) the most positive comedian in the business about motherhood, MasterChef, making people laugh and her new tour, Tender.
- Muddy meets… Forbes Masson
  
  Versatile Scots actor Forbes has gone from reading David Walliams' books to his kids to playing scary headmaster Mr Hawtrey in the RSC’s new musical adaptation of The Boy in the Dress.
- 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.
- 8 Wedding Bouquet Trends
  
  Planning a wedding and curious about the latest bouquet and floral trends? We spoke to in-the-know Warwick florist Hannah Bosbury at Green and Wild.