Spotlight

Meet your Muddy Awards 2022 winnersYour votes have been counted and - drumroll please - the results are in. Here are your Muddy Awards 2022 winners. Go say hi, they're local you know!
Bilbao, Mykonos or Naples? Disney cruises into EuropeThought Disney Cruise Line was all about Miami, Florida and the Bahamas? Here are the coolest destinations for 2023 - and our insider tips on how to maximise the fun while you're in port.
How to nail the perfect picnicThe sun's out - quick, grab the wicker basket! If you're partial to a picnic (I mean, who isn't?) here's some inspo on how to pimp up your al fresco feast - including £500 of free Ocado deliveries (well hello M&S Deli range).
Muddy’s 2022 Festival Guide: Herts, Beds & beyondAre you ready to make some noise?! From top tributes and dance floor fillers to foodie affairs and comedy capers, these are the festivals you need to know about this summer.
Can these 7 celebs pull off a moustache?It takes a certain kind of man to pull off a moustache, and Miles Teller's Rooster in the new Top Gun has got our surprised seal of approval. Time for a game: TO 'TACHE, OR NOT TO 'TACHE? Let us know if you agree in the comments!

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

Raffia and leather beach bag, designer shades, serious kudos beach towel and luxe sun lotion could all be yours in this fabulous summer bundle

Gotta have it

Muddy Awards 2022

MEET THE MUDDY STILETTOS AWARDS 2022 WINNERS!

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Eat

10 Brilliant Beer Gardens in Herts & Beds

It’s National Beer Day on 15 June in case you needed an excuse to check out our counties’ best pubs with gardens. Here’s where to head to quaff a chilled pint in the sunshine.
- 10 local places to eat vegetarian
  
  We’ve rounded up the local restaurants and cafés that really deliver on colourful and flavour-packed veggie food that could convert even the most devoted meat eater.
- 10 fab foodie (and drinkie) things to do this month
  
  Fancy some foodie fun this month? Step this way for our pick of the tastiest crop of events happening in Herts and Beds throughout May.

Culture

TV time! 7 of the best things to watch this week

From Channel 4’s dark and twisty vision of Britain in 2024 to the next dose of Stranger Things and a new series of Only Murders in the Building, you won’t want to miss these seven new shows.
- 10 outdoor cinemas to book now
  
  Nothing says summer like watching an alfresco movie surrounded by green fields or in the grounds of an impressive stately pile. Here’s what’s on locally. Popcorn at the ready!
- Six shiny new things to watch on TV this week
  
  A new series of The Umbrella Academy, how to make the most of Glastonbury from your sofa, feel-good comedy… Here’s this week’s ultimate guide to staying in.
- 17 local literary events for Independent Bookshop Week
  
  It’s Independent Bookshop Week from 18-25 June so what better time to support your local store and unleash your inner bookworm with these events happening across Herts & Beds
- Pass the remote! 7 great things to watch this week
  
  Fancy something to settle down with? Hey, we all need a bit of me-time. From a sultry new Tudor drama to quirky Netflix comedies, don’t miss Muddy’s pick of the week.

Little Black Book

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

The Alford Arms, Frithsden

Paris House, Woburn

Pip's Barn, near Berkhamsted

South Mill Arts

Carpenter's Nursery and Farm Shop

Chilled Mama

Marquees of Woburn

Watford Palace Theatre

The Lamb, Berkhamsted

The Meadows at Polehanger, Shefford

Edge NLP, Tring

Hertford Theatre, Hertford

Travel

Bilbao, Mykonos or Naples? Disney cruises into Europe

Thought Disney Cruise Line was all about Miami, Florida and the Bahamas? Here are the coolest destinations for 2023 – and our insider tips on how to maximise the fun while you’re in port.
- Driving us wild! The world’s best road trips
  
  There’s nothing like hitting the open road to give you a sense of freedom and adventure on holiday, whether it’s a 24-hour jaunt or a week-long epic escape.
- Indian Ocean calling: Up to 40% off Mauritius family hols
  
  If you’re going to the sun, you gotta do it in style, right? Leading luxury travel company Turquoise have teamed up with the Mauritian tourist board for three incredible deals this summer. Ready, steady, pack!

Home

7 of the best bistro sets to buy now

The faintest whiff of summer sun and you’ll find us out in the garden, chilled spritz in hand. And to sit at? One of these seven totally chic bistro sets, darling!
- How to nail the perfect picnic
  
  The sun’s out – quick, grab the wicker basket! If you’re partial to a picnic (I mean, who isn’t?) here’s some inspo on how to pimp up your al fresco feast – including £500 of free Ocado deliveries (well hello M&S Deli range).
- 10 of the prettiest gin bottles to add to your shelf
  
  It’s World Gin Day on 11 June, so what better way to celebrate than with a glass of the good stuff? Here’s our pick – including some local ones of course – that’ll look as good on your shelf as they taste in your tonic.
Wellbeing
- 6 ways to get the best sleep you’ve ever had
  
  Do you struggle to snooze? We’ve nobbled the pros at Healthily for the latest scientific thinking on how to conquer insomnia. Cue, walnuts, pink noise – and orgasms.
- WIN £3,000 cash for your business!
  
  To celebrate this year’s Muddy Awards, our national sponsor Healthily is giving away a life-changing £3k cash injection to boost one company’s health & wellbeing. Click to enter now!

Life

Meet your Muddy Awards 2022 Finalists!

Your nominations have been totted up and the results are in! Here are your amazing Muddy Awards 2022 Finalists in Herts & Beds. Vote to crown your local champions now!
Kids
- Seven reasons your kids will love Camp Beaumont this summer
  
  Wondering how to keep your child entertained during the long summer school holidays? Camp Beaumont offers fun, flexibility and a feast of fabulous activities for kids and teenagers.
- St Columba’s College, St Albans
  
  This Catholic school puts equal stock in moral guidance as it does in academia, making for well-rounded young people, eager to reach their full potential and give something back to the wider community.

Instamuddy

Fashion

The Muddy edit: 30 hottest summer pieces from Next

Whether you’re heading to the beach, on a chic city break or sipping Pimm’s at a garden party – here’s how to do it in style with Muddy ed-in-chief Hero Brown’s picks, all new-in at Next.
- Win a designer beach bundle worth £400!
  
  Raffia and leather beach bag, designer shades, serious kudos beach towel and luxe sun lotion could all be yours in this fabulous summer bundle
- 5 stylish sleepwear sets for him
  
  Threadbare boxers begone! The style gods have spoken (aka Gucci and Harry Styles) and pyjamas for men are in – here are five sets that hit the spot.
Beauty
- The Muddy edit: 30 hottest summer pieces from Next
  
  Whether you’re heading to the beach, on a chic city break or sipping Pimm’s at a garden party – here’s how to do it in style with Muddy ed-in-chief Hero Brown’s picks, all new-in at Next.
- REVIEW: new skincare that’s gorgeous – and works!
  
  Let us introduce you to WOAH – your favourite new vegan skincare line, tried and tested by Muddy ed-in-chief Hero Brown. See our edit, then win the entire collection, worth over £200.

People

Can these 7 celebs pull off a moustache?

It takes a certain kind of man to pull off a moustache, and Miles Teller’s Rooster in the new Top Gun has got our surprised seal of approval. Time for a game: TO ‘TACHE, OR NOT TO ‘TACHE? Let us know if you agree in the comments!
- Gotta Have It: 90s legends in Lego
  
  Can you guess which girl band is being immortalised in Lego 25 years after their iconic album release?
- Muddy meets… Ray Mears
  
  He’s the guy you’d want by your side if you ever, erm, got lost in the wilderness… Yep, it’s Ray Mears, aka the Father of British bushcraft and he’s coming to our ‘hood with his new show, We Are Nature. We caught up with him to find out more.