Spotlight

What's on: December 2021It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Scrooges need not apply! We've got your diary sorted for the coming weeks with festive experiences galore.
Christmas gift guide: for himWhat to buy the bloke who has everything (or 'wants nothing')? We've sorted his Christmas list with 25 cool gifting ideas from independent brands and businesses across the Muddy counties
10 reasons to visit St Albans this ChristmasHere's why you should make the historic cathedral city of St Albans your Christmas shopping destination this year and immerse yourself in festive fun, food and local culture while you're at it!
Five gripping reads to give your working life a boostWhat better inspo for giving your career a shake-up than the story of a creative genius who defied her generation and became a living legend. We've found the best books that embrace the Clarice Cliff spirit...
49 lovely light trails across the Muddy countiesWhether you're home or away this Christmas, the Muddy editors have rounded up the most twinkly trails taking place across the country, including some right here in Herts & Beds - ready, get set, glow!

Well, hello!

I'm Katrina, editor of Muddy Herts & Beds, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

Gotta Have It

Party season essentials to add to your beauty bag

It's Christmaaaaas! Treat yourself to some festive glam, and pick up some some gorgeous stocking fillers in one fell swoop at Next Beauty & Home's shopping event (11-12 Dec).

Gotta have it

What’s on this month

Fancy doing something fun? Er, always! Read on for our curated picks of the best things happening near you right now

See What's On

Eat

Shop local Christmas gift guide: Food and drink

Stumped by what to buy the foodie in your life? Luckily Herts & Beds has a cornucopia of locally produced gastronomic delights to scoff and quaff. Here’s our pick!
- 10 best vegan and sustainable restaurants in Herts & Beds
  
  If you’ve been thinking about reducing your meat intake to help the environment, try these local vegan and sustainable restaurants for size – they tick the eco-friendly box and deliver on taste, too.
- Local refill and zero waste stores you’ll want to shop in
  
  Check out these sustainable grocery, gift and household stores – it’s refill, but not as you know it – tempting products, stylish stores and online ordering – it’s a no-brainer!

Culture

Pass that remote! Six things to watch this week

It’s freezing! Definitely the only excuse you need to catch up on some sofa time. On our watchlist this week: Benedict Cumberbatch’s cowboy “career-best”, on-demand opera, award-winning BBC comedy, and more.
- 8 things to watch this week on the big and small screen
  
  What to watch this week, you cry? From Lady Gaga serving looks in her murderously glam new movie to tension in the tent with the Bake Off 2021 final, here are your eight must-watches.
- 7 new releases to watch on TV this week
  
  Sweeping fantasy, bouncy musicals, the second series of Tiger King…it’s all happening on the box this week. Get into something comfy, pop open the Pringles and settle in for a watch.

Little Black Book

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

Hertford Theatre, Hertford

XV STRIPES

Image Bliss Photography

The Little Berko Bakery

Perch & Co.

Hotel Cromwell, Stevenage

Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors

Cooking and Carafes

Ashridge House, Berkhamsted

Home Farm Glamping

Alpine Rose Interiors

Brilliant Brazilian

Travel

Cool yule! Muddy guide to Christmas in Edinburgh

Ice rinks, Santa Land, fireworks and castles…For cracking Christmas celebrations and a helluva Hogmanay, head north of the border this winter.
- The best Black Friday travel deals!
  
  Staying in a gorgeous hotel or lying on a tropical beach never fails to make us happy, which is why we’re excited to bring you all the best discounts around the world. Just think of us as your BFF when it comes to BF!
- Escape by rail to these 7 heavenly new hotels
  
  No flight, no faff… hop on the train to these gorgeous new hotels from the newest Pig Hotel to a Peaks treehouse and a cheeky little number in Paris

Home

Ten bulbs to plant now for a dreamy spring garden

Want to know how the Wormsley Estate in Bucks looks so fabulous come spring? Head gardener Charlotte Tremlin reveals her secret for glorious beds and baskets.
- Gotta Have It
  
  Keen to up your ‘shop local’ creds this Christmas? Why not extend that to buying your cards from local designers and artists, too? Here’s our pick of the best from the talented bunch in Herts & Beds
- Letterbox love: 47 gifts to send to their door
  
  Choose from these gorgeous artisan present boxes, sent nationwide, from bespoke biscuits to gin and chocolate, and pamper packs to paperbacks. That’s Christmas sorted.
Wellbeing
- Your health questions answered!
  
  Don’t understand why the weight won’t shift? Have a back that’s reminiscent of Quasimodo? Muddy puts your questions to Healthily’s chief medical officer, Professor Maureen Baker
- 10 ways to take the drama out of divorce
  
  We know the ‘D’ word isn’t a pleasant one but it doesn’t have to become a drama-fuelled slanging match if you follow this expert advice.

Life

Five gripping reads to give your working life a boost

What better inspo for giving your career a shake-up than the story of a creative genius who defied her generation and became a living legend. We’ve found the best books that embrace the Clarice Cliff spirit…
Kids
- St. Francis’ College, Letchworth Garden City
  
  This compact, yet close-to-town all-through school for girls puts heart and soul first and foremost but thrives academically too.
- Shop local Christmas gift guide: For kids
  
  From little ankle biters to fussy teens we’ve got you covered this Christmas with what to buy – all from local designers, makers and stores in Herts & Beds

Instamuddy

Fashion

Where to rent, repair and sell gorgeous designer clothes

Madonna’s cone bra is now available to rent! It’s ethical, eco and everywhere… here’s where you can rent, repair and sell-on stylish clothes, from Christmas party outfits to eye-catching clutch bags
- A new leaf: your 10 autumn wardrobe essentials
  
  Bright knits, checks, big handbags, even bigger boots. We’ve got your autumn/winter 2021 fashion fix sorted.
- Best swimwear for 2021
  
  Nothing says summer like new swimwear. Who cares if it’s the Med or the back garden, it’s time to splash out. Whether it’s eco, floral, striped, shaping, nautical or sporty, we’ve found your perfect bikini or swimsuit.
Beauty
- Party season essentials to add to your beauty bag
  
  It’s Christmaaaaas! Treat yourself to some festive glam, and pick up some some gorgeous stocking fillers in one fell swoop at Next Beauty & Home’s shopping event (11-12 Dec).
- Hair transformation! Muddy goes ‘petrol’
  
  Time for a new ‘do? From subtle styling to bold design (read on!) Haringtons has you covered with slick service and skill. See what happened when Muddy sat in the salon chair…

People

Muddy meets: Ed Byrne

Muddy caught up with the Essex-based Irish funnyman to chat jokes, family, famous friendships and not being a d**k.
- My favourite places: Gemma Crawley-Roberts
  
  We asked Gemma, owner of quirky local art and gift shop, The Arc, to share some of her favourite places to eat, drink and shop in her hometown of Bedford.
- Muddy Meets… Peter Morton, Artistic Director of Half A String Theatre
  
  Heartwarming family production, Under the Frozen Moon, is coming to Southern Maltings in Ware, with Hertford Theatre this Christmas. We caught up with the Artistic Director of the company behind it to find out more