The urban guide to the countryside -

Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Well, hello!

I'm Danielle, editor of Muddy Hampshire & Isle of Wight, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

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Gotta Have It

Keep yourself organised with a side of regional sass by grabbing one of these fab notebooks from Fours and Eights.

Making plans? Find your perfect Pub, Inn, Hotel, Café, Restaurant or Bar across the Muddy counties.

Guilt-free GourmetWhether you're cutting back on the calories or switching up to a vegan diet, these restaurants, pubs and cafes will help you stick on the straight and narrow with their great, healthy food.
Witness the fitness! The best new sports gear for 2019Finding it hard to kickstart that hardcore new exercise regime? Buy some slinky new kit and you'll be sprinting around the park faster than Mo Farah (possibly).
Are you Sober Curious?If you're still hanging from New Year and wondering if there's another way, could "sober curious" be for you?
Review: The Park Spa at Warbrook HouseWhat's that I hear? A swishy new spa at Warbrook House Hotel? Check out what we thought when Muddy swung by to check it out.
How to be happy in 2019A new year means the chance to make some changes. So give yourself a huge boost of happy with one of these 28 inspirational ideas.
Cheap EatsHungry but don't want to pay the earth for a good meal? We've rounded up eight of the best places in Hants and the IoW to grab some food on the cheap, cheap, cheap!
'Superspa' breaks for 2019I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want... a massage, mani and Jacuzzi please, and make it snappy.
Superflashy NewsflashNew openings galore! With swanky new places to stay, an exciting festival announcement and much more, come check out the word from the Hants and IoW streets.
Meoncross School, StubbingtonThe Meoncross School in Stubbington may be small but it is bursting with quirk and character.
Your 2019 holiday inspoGoing anywhere nice on your holidays? Don't answer that until you've read Muddy's guide to the coolest travel trends for the year ahead.

What's On

This Weekend

Fri 18 - Sun 20 Jan

Production image2 l-r Rebecca Storm, Fern Britton, Anna-Jane Casey, Sara Crowe, Ruth Madoc, Karen Dunbar & Denise Welch in CALENDAR GIRLS THE MUSICAL landscape

This Week

Mon 14 - Sun 20 Jan

This Month

January 2019

Little Black Book

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Eat Out View more

Cheap Eats

Hungry but don’t want to pay the earth for a good meal? We’ve rounded up eight of the best places to grab some food on the cheap, cheap, cheap!
- Wonderful Winter Walks
  
  Need to stretch your legs and work off that Christmas indulgence? Then boot up and head out with six glorious strolls around the counties.
- Wickham’s New Star Spot
  
  Injecting a bit of high-class cosmopolitan dining into a sleepy little Hampshire village, let me introduce you to Table 22.
- Dockside Daal
  
  Want to have a fancy Ruby Murray in a rather extravagant former pier? Of course, you do! We check out Kuti's Brasserie in Southampton.
- Perfect pubs for an autumn walk
  
  Grab your wellies and wrap up warm, we're going to make you earn that glass of wine.

School Reviews

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Read the reviews

Little Black Book

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

View the businesses

Travel View more

Your 2019 holiday inspo

Going anywhere nice on your holidays? Don’t answer that until you’ve read Muddy’s guide to the coolest travel trends for the year ahead.
- ‘Superspa’ breaks for 2019
  
  I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want... a massage, mani and Jacuzzi please, and make it snappy.
- Booking your family hols?
  
  Don't do anything till you've seen Flight Centre's first Family Adventures brochure - and put yourself in the running for a £20k dream trip!

Fashion View more

Our Festive Fashion Top 10

Invitations piling up and nothing to wear? Well, Cinders, you shall go to the ball (or, er, pub). Muddy’s partywear edit incoming!
- Fashion fun with Victoria Hamilton
  
  We caught up with Hampshire-based stylist, Victoria Hamilton, about her top trends for 2019 and her funniest fashion fails.
- Trendy Treads
  
  Trainers so chic that only a fool would take them near a gym are everywhere this season - including some places you wouldn't expect. Guess where these beauties are from?

Beauty View more

- Hangover Hiders
  
  There's nothing Muddy doesn't know about surviving a hangover. So in the interests of not being mistaken for a dug-up corpse this festive season, behold our five favourite morning after skincare saviours.
- Self-Care Audit – Quiz
  
  Here at Muddy we love wellbeing and we love a quiz, so a wellbeing quiz? Yes please! We've all done it - but how will you get on?

Arts & Culture View more

Close Shave

Gillette’s new ad campaign is ruffling a few feathers. What do you think?
- Top 10 books for young adults
  
  Get your teens away from their phones and nose into a book with these recommendations of fantastic novels for young adults.
- Top Coffee Table Tomes
  
  From fashion to flora to fragrant Frida, we've found the Top 10 most gorgeous new coffee table tomes for you.

Instamuddy

Follow @muddyhantsiow

Home View more

- Speedy Supper: Prawn Laksa
  
  Healthy, hearty and faster than Dina Asher Smith with jet propellers, welcome to 2019's first Speedy Supper. Prawn Laksa, anyone?
- Gotta Have It
  
  Keep yourself organised with a side of regional sass by grabbing one of these fab notebooks from Fours and Eights.
Wellbeing
- Are you Sober Curious?
  
  Whether you're doing Dry January or merely cutting down, we're all re-examining our relationship with alcohol right now. Could "sober curious" be for you?
- How to be happy in 2019
  
  New Year, new chance to give yourself a great big shot of positive energy with one of these 28 inspirational ideas.

Work View more

The future’s AllBright

Want to start your own business? Need funding to get to the next stage? Female entrepreneurs, breathe deep, smile wide and meet your new best friends.
Kids
- Meoncross School, Stubbington
  
  Muddy says: This independent co-ed for ages 2.5 - 16, is situated just outside of Fareham and boasts a real family vibe and an epic Beach School.
- Let’s Get Festive
  
  From meeting Father Christmas to gawping at some fantastic light shows, we've dug out the absolute best of the best Christmassy events for you and the brood. Jingle all the way!

People View more

My favourite places: Jennie Maizels

This Hampshire-based artist has made a name for herself with her delectably quirky doodles. Muddy chatted to her about the best spots for food, wine and generally getting a bit inspired around the county.
- Muddy meets… Greg Emmerson
  
  Greg wowed us in the Masterchef kitchen earlier this year by getting all the way to the semi-finals and is now opening his very own restaurant... in Hampshire, of course!
- Muddy meets… Craig Revel-Horwood
  
  Want the hot goss from the BBC ballroom? Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood dishes the dirt on this year's show.