The urban guide to the countryside -

Well, hello!

I'm Catherine, editor of Muddy Warwickshire, 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.

An Elizabethan/TOWIE modern mash-up?We meet Fiona Laird for a chinwag about her RSC directorial debut, The Merry Wives of Windsor, comedy influences and seeing Daniel Craig naked…
Who wants to get married at The Copse?I do! The Muddy editors road tests this awesome private wedding house with its own 14-seater cinema and hot tub.
32 brilliant days out with the kidsLet your kids take to the high trees, run riot in nature parks, castles, farms and cool down in water-parks across all 19 Muddy counties during the summer heatwave.
Best foot forward15 ways to rock your footwear this month, from garden parties and weddings to the ultimate girls' night out.
Review: Dragon SlayerMuddy trots along to the grand unveiling.
The loveliest pubs with roomsFancy a weekend away in the countryside? The Muddy editors across 19 counties know all the best spots for a relaxed overnighter.
Muddy's Late Summer Festival GuideOur pick of the best late summer music festivals.
Althorp Literary Festival 2018A global phenomenon, Althorp's Literary Festival, October 5 - 7, is entering it's 15th year this autumn and lining up to be the best one yet!

FRI AUG 17 - SUN AUG 19

MON AUG 13 - SUN AUG 19

AUGUST

Jacob’s Plough, Bicester

Going shopping at Bicester Village and looking for a groovy, boutique eating place?
- Cool local cafe
  
  Where can you pick up a 1970s retro American typewriter and order a gift box of award-winning gourmet brownies online while getting your daily fix of Monmouth Coffee? Read on...
- Mexican wave
  
  Sombreros and amigos at the ready? Then let's go eat at Cocina, the hot new Mexican restaurant at Xscape in Milton Keynes.
- The George Townhouse
  
  This award-winning former 18th Century coaching inn in Shipston-on-Stour is a cool boutique stay and lip-smackingly good dining spot!
- Meet the Winemaker
  
  Top Australian winemaker Larry Cherubino rocked up from down under for a wine-tasting at Slurp Leamington Spa.

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Gin Heaven at The Feathers, Woodstock

Take one 17th century hotel, add a 400-strong gin bar, mix in one of the prettiest towns in neighbouring Oxfordshire, and you’re ready to be intoxicated by The Feathers Hotel.
- Gourmet Getaway, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
  
  Dine and snooze at this 4* top golf, leisure and spa resort in the North Warwickshire countryside. Like we did...
- Need a seaside fix?
  
  Feel the sand between your toes within a couple of hours - hurray for Muddy's best beach daytrips!

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Best foot forward

15 ways to rock your footwear this month, from garden parties and weddings to the ultimate girls’ night out.
- Hooray for high-waisted bikinis
  
  Feel at your best on the beach this summer in a super flattering high-waisted bikini. Suits you!
- Get Shorty!
  
  Too hot to sleep? Yep, us too. But these summer PJs are as wafty and airy as they are stylish.

Pick of the Fringe 2018

Heading to Europe’s biggest arts festival? Check out these recommendations from our Edinburgh Fringe regular Debbie from Muddy Sussex.
- Muddy’s sun-lounger picks
  
  Here are the books that’ll be keeping us glued to our inflatable lilo's poolside over the coming weeks.
- The Best Al Fresco Theatre
  
  Read on for our pick of the loveliest located outdoor theatres this summer in Warwickshire and beyond.
- Review: Matilda The Musical
  
  Bag your ticket for this wonderfully sharp-witted RSC musical at Birmingham Hippodrome while it tours the UK.
- Backstage – #MatildaOnTour
  
  Muddy's feeling a little bit naughty after securing a backstage blogger's pass to #MatildaOnTour at Birmingham Hippodrome! Fancy a sneak peek?

Wondering What’s Next For Your Teen?

A-level, AS and GCSE students will find out if they’ve achieved their grades this month. If they don’t get their desired results what are the options?
- The future’s AllBright
  
  Want to start your own business? Need funding to get to the next stage? Female entrepreneurs, breathe deep, smile wide and meet your new best friends.
- Does your worklife need a reboot?
  
  Job doing your head in? Or maybe it's lack of job that's the problem? Whatever the issue, our careers agony aunt is standing by to help you.
Kids
- The Parent’s Guide to Surviving Exam Results…
  
  because it's not just the kids who are bricking it on GSCE, AS and A level results days this year, right?!
- Make a Splash!
  
  Hey hot stuff! Bit sweaty? Break out the Muddy bikini, we’re diving in. Read on for the best outdoor water fun in our 'hood.

Muddy Literary Salon is Back!

And we’ve snaffled a panel of three dazzling writers Vic Grokop, Cosmo editor Farrah Storr and Caroline O’Donoghue, writer for The Pool.
- Muddy meets Clara Amfo
  
  Winning TV quiz Pointless, playing basketball with Justin Bieber, crying over Oprah Winfrey - it's all in a day's work for Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo. Muddy is enamoured with its new BFF.
- Meet the RSC’s new Juliet
  
  Super-modest and down-to-earth Glaswegian actress Karen Fishwick is a girl after our own hearts here at Muddy – “passionate” about drinking and good food!
- Q&A with Joan Iyiola
  
  The actress talks student days at Cambridge Uni, #MeToo and the influence of Black Panther on her RSC Duchess of Malfi.
- Girl Power
  
  Muddy celebrates the Women's Suffrage Centenary by saluting the sisters who dared to break barriers.