Spotlight

We Trial: The Latest Hi Tech FacialWant to know how to achieve serious results with a pain free high tech facial?
Calm: 5 ways to deal with uncertaintyWe talk to life coach Jess Wall about how to deal with the anxiety and uncertainty of living with Corona Virus. You're going to want to read this one. Promise.
What's On This WeekSo the rules and regs have changed a little, but there's still loads to do across Herts & Beds this week. Enjoy!
Eight Awesome Autumn Walks!Muddy loves a good stomp (obvs), so we’re thrilled to present to you (drumroll please) our pick of the prettiest walks in Herts & Beds and beyond - all with dog-friendly pubs
Autumn Red Wine Recs, from Wee VinotecaLove a glass of red, but don't know your Montepulciano from your Malbec? Read on for five awesome autumn wines.

Well, hello!

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

Gotta Have It

Your alternative advent calendar guide for 2020

Move over, chocolate. From gin to jewellery, and options for men and minis, here are the best alternative advent calendars to count down the festive season.

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Little Black Book

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Herring Green Activity Farm

Woburn Safari Park

Style My Kid

Thread Tales

The Red Lion, Milton Bryan

Moo Boutique, Tring

The Waterfront Hotel, Wyboston Lakes

ROAR Coaching Ltd

Armstrong Landscapes, Redbourn

Spa Experience, Welwyn Garden City

Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery

Kite at the Red Hart, Hitchin

Eat View more
Review: New Al Fresco Menu at Paris House

Head over to the historic Paris House Terrace, sample the excellent new Al Fresco menu from top chef Phil Fanning. Make sure to take in the grandeur of the deer park while you’re at it.
- Launch review: The Pig, Harlyn Bay, Cornwall
  
  On its opening day, Muddy's ed-in-chief Hero Brown was the first to eat lunch at the brand new Pig hotel in Harlyn Bay (what a trooper!). So what was the verdict?
- 20 Zero Waste Shops across Herts & Beds
  
  The eco shopping scene is thriving and there are lots of plastic free options. Re-style the weekly shop with guilt-free groceries, cleaning products, gifts and more.
- Where to: Eat Out in Herts & Beds
  
  With government scheme offering 50% off (up to £10 per diner), it's time to get out there and support your favourite (or perhaps your new favourite) restaurants and cafes.
- Recipe: George St Canteen’s Mediterranean Breakfast
  
  St Albans institution, George St Canteen is THE best brunch spot. We've got hold of their Mediterranean Breakfast recipe so that you can create a holiday-style brunch at home.

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Arts & Culture View more
What’s in: 7 new TV and film releases to watch this week

Sherlock Holmes spin-offs, live opera and the return of Bake Off – it’s all happening this week! Grab a cuppa, unearth the remote and stick one of these on the box.
- Your ultimate autumn culture planner 2020
  
  Culture vultures, grab your diaries. Here's your Muddy-curated cheat sheet to the season's best art, theatre, TV, books and film in the UK.
- Boredom begone! Here’s what to watch this week
  
  In need of something new to sink your teeth into? Muddy to the rescue! Here are the latest TV and film releases coming to a screen near you.

Home View more
- Comforting classics from The Pie Room
  
  Ooh, is there anything more satisfying than good flaky pastry? These two warming recipes from Calum Franklin’s new cookbook The Pie Room will take you into autumn and beyond.
Wellbeing
- Calm: 5 ways to deal with uncertainty
  
  We talk to life coach Jess Wall about how to deal with the anxiety and uncertainty of living with Corona Virus. You're going to want to read this one. Promise.
- 7 steps to better sleep in lockdown
  
  So you've downed a chamomile tea and ignored your phone but still can't get to sleep. Sound familiar? Read on for our guide to getting some Z's during lockdown.

Travel View more
10 European-style staycations to book now

Love a continental jaunt but staying in Blighty this year? These 10 UK holiday spots have a distinctly European feel – can you guess where this is?
- Top places to stop on your way to Cornwall and the South West
  
  Driving down to your staycation and need a lunch pit-stop or runaround with the dog/kids? We've sniffed out the best places to stop near the south-west's major routes.
- Muddy’s Insider Guide to the Isle of Wight
  
  This sunny little Island may be small in stature but it's packed to the brim with amazing things to check out. We've got the top tips on how to discover the real Isle of Wight.

Work View more
Back-to-school for grown-ups

The kids may be going back to school but why should they get all the new gear? We all deserve shiny winter boots and bags too. Here’s our pick for back-to-school style.
Kids
- How to manage back-to-school anxiety
  
  With the nation’s schoolchildren poised to go back to school, it’s a tense time for everyone. So, how, as parents, should we control our fears? Muddy finds out.
- Parents’ guide to surviving exam results
  
  ...because it's not just the kids who are bricking it on GSCE and A level results days this year!

Fashion View more
New season fashion trends: A/W 2020

The fashionistas have spoken! Add pieces from these five trends to your wardrobe to nail autumn/ winter style this year.
- Autumn’s comfiest fashion trend
  
  With high-end fabrics, funky designs and cool silhouettes, cardigans have never been cooler. Here are seven of our favourite online buys (including a few local ones) to add to your autumn wardrobe.
- The shacket: your new sartorial hero
  
  What do you get when you cross a jacket with a shirt? A shacket, of course! Here's our pick of the best lightweight and affordable options to take you into autumn.

Beauty View more
- We Trial: The Latest Hi Tech Facial
  
  Want to know how to achieve serious results with a pain free high tech facial? We head over to The AL5 Aesthetics, Harpenden, to try out their latest treatment.
- The essential no make-up kit
  
  It’s a trend that’s not going away anytime soon; make-up so subtle that it just makes you look like a brighter and better version of yourself. Here’s the Muddy guide.

People View more
What’s Cooking – Luke Garnsworthy, Crockers

Crockers (Tring & Henley) are some of our fav high-end local restaurants. We chat to founder, Luke Garnsworthy, about Marcus Wareing, kitchen gadgets and cooking for Bruce Willis.
- Muddy meets: Shlomo, beatboxer
  
  Record-breaking beatboxer Shlomo has a new project on his hands - raising money for the NHS in association with UK theatres. Tell us about it, Shlo!
- What I’ve learnt in lockdown
  
  Love it or loathe it, lockdown has given us time to learn new skills but has it taught us something deeper? Muddy tapped five women juggling careers, babies and even a tumour, to tell all.