Spotlight

Clear the diary for Living CraftsSpring fayres, craft markets and shopping in general - how we've missed it. But Living Crafts is coming to Cirencester! Read on for what to expect at this terrific, three-day crafty extravaganza over the May Bank Holiday.
18 Best pubs for Alfresco AprilReady for your first pint of FREEDOM!? It may be a chilly start to normality, but throw on the thermals and head out for a tipple at one of these lovely pub gardens from Monday 12th.
TV worth tuning into: what to watch this weekSo... last week it was 24 degrees and now it's baltic, but that does mean you can hunker down in front of the box without feeling too guilty. Get something carby and put those feet up.
Sip, shop and scoff: A day at fabulous Five ValleysA year of pent-up retail therapy yearning to be sated? Whisk yourself off to the hottest and hippest retail-meets-dining destination right here in the heart of the Cotswolds.
30 Outdoor meet-ups within 2 hoursAre you ready to (gasp) leave your local area? From Aqua Parks and city skylines to llama treks, theme parks and boating lakes, here are the 30 best outdoors things to do within 2 hours of Glos and Worcs.

Well, hello!

I'm Sophie, editor of Muddy Gloucestershire & Worcestershire, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

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Gotta Have It

15 must-have accessories for outdoor dining in style

Out with the scratched melamine, in with stylish cups, cocktail shakers, candelabra, and cutlery. Here's our guide to the wow accessories that will make your alfresco meal sparkle

The UK’s most creative and unique independent shops, makers and producers local to you.

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Home View more
Easy slow-cooked lamb for a spring feast

Looking for a low-effort crowd pleaser for a post lockdown get-together? This melt-in-the-mouth lamb recipe with polenta chips is just the ticket, slow-cooked for five hours.
- 58 things to glam up your garden
  
  Garden parties are go, people! But, oh God — is that really the state of the patio? Glam up the garden and impress your guests with these 58 must-have garden objects.
- Downsizing in later life? 9 things to consider
  
  Got aging parents thinking to downsize? It pays to do your research. Here are 9 key things to look out for when you’re helping your parents find their next home
Wellbeing
- Easy! Buy these, and sleep better
  
  Having trouble sleeping? Us and half the world right now! Here's what the Muddy team have in their shopping baskets to help with some much-needed shut-eye.
- 7 Steps to beat insomnia
  
  Can't get no sleep? You're not alone. For World Sleep Day (19th March) we chatted to a sleep expert about how to pandemic-proof our Z-time. Want to beat those bleary-eyed starts? Read on.

Arts & Culture View more
Clear the diary for Living Crafts

Spring fayres, craft markets and shopping in general – how we’ve missed it! So news that Living Crafts is coming to Cirencester is hugely exciting, read on for what to expect at this terrific, three-day crafty extravaganza.
- TV worth tuning into: what to watch this week
  
  So... last week it was 24 degrees and now it's baltic, but that does mean you can hunker down in front of the box without feeling too guilty. Get something carby and put those feet up.
- The TV is calling you: 10 shows to watch this week
  
  OK, so we get it: that garden needs weeding, but you can’t scrabble about in the dirt forever. Give yourself a break and instead watch the best TV this week has to offer.
- What to watch on TV this week
  
  Stacey Dooley reinvents Through The Keyhole, plus rock and roll comebacks, Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan on the small screen and more in our round up of the best TV this week
- This year’s 12 must-see Oscar movies
  
  Cinemas are shut, popcorn consumption is dangerously low but the Oscar noms are in. We have the skinny on what, where and when you can watch this year's best in show.

Little Black Book

Want to support local? Our curated pick of the most creative, unique and brilliant businesses near you.

Far Peak Camping and Hayloft Café, Northleach

Mac & Jac's Cafe, Malvern

Memsahib Gin and Tea Bar, Cheltenham

The Cardinal's Hat, Worcester

Cosy Club, Worcester

Stratton House Hotel, Cirencester

Lower Mill Estate, Somerford Keynes

Gin & Juice Bar at No. 131 Hotel, Cheltenham

Cloud Nine Glamping, Cirencester

The Lakes by Yoo, Lechlade-on-Thames

Calcot Manor & The Gumstool Pub, Tetbury

The Lavender Bakehouse, Chalford

Eat View more
18 Best pubs for Alfresco April

Ready for your first pint of FREEDOM!? It may be a chilly start to normality, but throw on the thermals and head out for a tipple at one of these lovely pub gardens from Monday 12th.
- Sip, shop and scoff: A day at fabulous Five Valleys
  
  A year of pent-up retail therapy yearning to be sated? Whisk yourself off to the newest and most fabulous retail-meets-dining destination in the Cotswolds.
- Top 50 gastropubs 2021 revealed!
  
  What better week for the reveal of the country's best gastropubs than the start of lockdown easing? See who's made it in and where you should setting your satnav for. We'll race you to the table.

Work View more
How to get your finances in shape for 2021

The beginning of the year is always about renewal, resolutions and healthy regimes. But the fallout from Covid has shown how financial wellbeing is also vital – and too often overlooked. Muddy limbers up for a money MOT.
Kids
- Thrill out at Aztec Adventure’s Activity Centres
  
  No need to drive all the way to the coast for some water-based action, say hello to one of Worcs best kept secrets - a spectacular aquapark where you can bounce, slide, boat and glide.
- 16 Family activities to do this Easter
  
  Looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained this Easter? You're in luck - here are 16 brilliant things to do as a family over the holidays.

Instamuddy

Fashion View more
Word up! Slogan sweats to buy now

Can’t find the words to say it yourself? Say it with a sweater! Here are eight cool slogan jumpers we’re coveting right now, all from indie shops and brands.
- 2021 fashion collabs you need to know
  
  When high fashion met high street. Here are the new season fashion collabs we're lusting after this month (with surprisingly affordable price tags).
- Wear the trousers: stylish alternatives to jeans
  
  It's time to cast off the joggers and emerge from your style hibernation. We've found some comfortable but chic alternatives for those days when denim isn't doing it for you.

Beauty View more
- Get ready to go outside: SPFs for every skin type
  
  The sun is (just) starting to make itself felt and while that brings happiness, joy and vitamin D, it also means more time outdoors. Get prepped with the best facial SPFs.
- Skincare SOS – your winter essentials
  
  Zoom close-ups making you wince? Cold winter days and dry central heating are playing havoc with our skin. Try these hero products for a dose of much-needed hydration.

People View more
My Favourite Places: Gem designer Ros Watts

Where does seriously stylish jewellery designer Ros Watts get her inspiration? These local hangouts, of course! Join us for a peek inside Ros’s very own little black book.
- Clutter cleanse! 10 tips to master the mess
  
  Feel like you're swimming against a constant tide of stuff? The battle to stop clutter piling up is real. We chat to Gloucestershire declutter expert Ruby Monro - known as The Organiser -for her pro-tips on mastering the mess in our homes.
- My Home comforts: meet the Cotswold Candle Co
  
  Nothing adds a sense of 'aah' to a home more than a luxury, scented candle. We chatted to candle-maker Polly Oswald from Cotswold Candle Co about her beautiful, hand-poured candles (inspired by the scents of the Cotswolds), and find out what makes a house a home for her ...

Travel View more
30 Outdoor meet-ups within 2 hours

Are you ready to (gasp) leave your local area? From A
aqua parks and city skylines to llama treks, theme parks and boating lakes, here are the 30 best outdoors things to do within 2 hours of Glos and Worcs.
- 6 Places to go blossom-bathing
  
  Head for one of these gorgeous, sweet-scented walks near you. As these candy-crush stunners sweep into life through our shires we've found the best places to go blossom-bathing.
- 11 UK stay-cays that could be abroad
  
  Get ahead of the crowds for when we can take a stay-cay *crosses everything* with these 11 UK holiday spots with a distinctly foreign feel - can you guess where they are?