We asked. You voted. And voted. And voted… The competition was incredible this year. Are you ready for this? A whopping 75,000 businesses entered and 865,000 votes were cast across the Muddy counties. That included nearly 3,000 Herts & Beds nominees and 28,000 votes in our local finals alone! Phew! So, to win a Muddy Award (and one that’s entirely based on the public vote at that!) is definitely something to shout from the rooftops.

Naturally, it was time to raise a glass (or several) to the BEST indie businesses in Herts and Beds 2022, as voted by YOU, at our annual Muddy Awards drinks.

The sun gods were on our side for the big event last week, which took place at The Farmhouse at Redcoats, near Hitchin – a gorgeously rustic converted wedding barn and 4AA star boutique hotel surrounding by rolling English countryside.

We sipped bubbles and scoffed canapés on the sunshiney terrace, with fields as far as the eye could see, whilst chatting, giggling (it wouldn’t be Muddy without a bit of naughtiness now, would it?!) and mingling with our brilliant local winners – some familiar faces as well as some lovely new ones. And, as new friends were made, we heard murmerings of some new partnerships being hatched, too – ooh we do love a local biz collab!

Our brilliant sponsors (for the second year running), the St Albans based Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors, came along to celebrate with us and meet the winners. Hopefully they didn’t have to talk shop tooo much to all those local businesses nobbling them for legal advice!

Muddy’s Commercial Manager, Jo and I (Katrina, Muddy Editor) presented the certificates on the lawn while the drinks and conversation flowed. The fab local photographer, Lorna Newman, snapped away throughout (yep, these are her awesome pics you’re looking at!) and everyone took home a scrummy Muddy cupcake, courtesy of the talented Maz of Mazzicle Cupcakes in Stevenage

After a couple of months of awards craziness, it was such a treat to meet all of the wonderful winners who have put their hearts and souls into their home-grown local businesses over the past year and beyond. To see the pride on everyone’s faces as they clutched their hard-earned and such-well-deserved certificates, was a joy and a privilege. I’m coming over a bit emosh just thinking about it!

So do you wanna meet the best businesses in Herts & Beds? Course ya do! Here goes…

This year the Hitchin contingent did themselves proud with a whopping ten awards! While a further ten winners represented Bedfordshire – the highest number winners from the county in the Herts & Beds awards to date!

Here’s the full list of winning businesses. Now you know who they are make sure you go and say hi!

A little last word from me… from the nominees, to the readers who loyally voted and supported, (not once but twice), to the amazing finalists who fended off the competition to reach the top five in each category, and, of course the incredible 2022 winners, you are all AMAZING! THANK YOU for making this year’s Muddy Awards the best yet.

CONGRATULATIONS you fabulous lot! Same again next year?!

All photography by Lorna Newman.