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Well, hello!

I'm Anna-Lou, editor of Muddy Northamptonshire, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

Support the local businesses you love the most in our brilliant lifestyle Awards.

FRI 26 - MON 29 MAY 2017

MON 22 - SUN 28 MAY 2017

MAY 2017

The Wharf – Bugbrooke

A cider and beer festival this weekend, with a great line-up of music, and a beautiful canal-side setting (eek)!
- 7 brilliant beer gardens
  
  Hurrah, the sun has got his hat on - lets head out to one of Northants fab beer gardens
- The Fat Duck, Bray
  
  The waiting list just got longer. Heston Blumenthal's Berkshire restaurant is named 10th best in the world.
- Bravo Nuovo!
  
  Are we really surprised that Nuovo has maintained it’s high standards over the Northamptonshire years? Not really.
- The Stanwick Hotel
  
  It's an oasis of tranquility and quality, set on the edge of the A45. It's easy to reach and even easier to relax.

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Muddy checks out 25 cool places to camp

Those yurts, lodges and cool glampy sites get booked up waaaaay in advance, so heres a heads up on 25 best places to start your search.
- Cottages for larger groups
  
  Looking for a gorgeous holiday stop for a group of mates/extended families/the local knitting group who really know how to party? Hang on, I’ll just get out my magician’s hat and wand and, er… abracadabra!
- Muddy travels: Kalkan
  
  I can't recommend Kalkan or Pasha Apart Hotel highly enough Warm, friendly hosts, lovely cocktails, a pool outside your balcony and all at a reasonable price. Off you pop

Heads up on hats

Tis the season of weddings, regattas and races and you know what that means – hats, hats, hats! Follow our 5 tips to help you top off your outfit in style.
- The joy of jumpsuits
  
  Be still my beating heart! I've always had a special place in my wardrobe for a jumpsuit and now they're back in vogue. Bring it all on...
- The perfect Spring bag
  
  Need new arm candy? You can’t add Ryan Gosling to basket, but you can get your mitts on this tote that comes with a clutch and a purse too.

Terrific TV

All the latest news on the best telly to watch this month, as chosen by Muddy’s square-eyed Kerry Potter. Go on, budge up and pass the remote.
- May’s best books
  
  Want to get lost in a good book? Schedule some 'me time', because here’s our pick of the best new releases for the merry month of May.
- Reviews: The Addams Family
  
  If you're at a loose end this week and want to entertain you, the kids, the partner, your girlfriends, please see this!
- ‘The Hypocrite” at the RSC
  
  Richard Bean (of 'One Man, Two Guvnors' fame) has written a riotous new play and it's playing to full houses at the RSC.
- Our new London hangout
  
  5 reasons why The Harcourt in Marylebone is officially our most favouritest public house in the big Smoke

Are you a work-life ‘blender’?

It’s no longer about ‘work life balance’. Now, the buzz words are about ‘blending’ – so do you have what it takes to fully mix business with pleasure?
Kids
- Top 10 chapter books for kids
  
  With Whit holidays on the horizon take some literary inspiration to get the kids imaginations whirring
- Step away from the screens
  
  Overstretched parents, tech-addicted kids and, shockingly, exercise levels dropping from the age of seven – what can be done?

6 reasons The Kitchen Secret will change your life

The Kitchen Secret, brainchild of the scrumptious Tash Perkins, who comes to your kitchen, chops, dices, steams, stirs, whisks, frys and roasts you up a storm with only the freshest ingredients. Oh and did I mention she does all the food shopping too (calm down Mudsters, I can hear the excited screams from here)!
- My favourite things
  
  Rachel Johnstone is lucky lady. She has the dream job as home-finder extraordinaire at Stacks Property Search, so wouldn't we like to know a few of her favourite places and things to do in and around Northamptonshire? You bet we would...
- Muddy’s Top 5 Men
  
  Five flaming hotties, so little time. How do these fine figures of masculinity stack up versus...
- Fave Places – The Wonder Kitchen’s Sammie Goddard
  
  Sammie Goddard runs The Wonder Kitchen, a lipsmacking cupcake business that services Oxfordshire,...
- First look: Beyonce’s promo vid for her new fitness line
  
  I’ve just landed the mother of all chest infections, that’s my excuse not to do any exercise...