Spotlight

Hampshire vineyards: Hattingley ValleyBring in the harvest! Continuing our cellar door tour of Hampshire wineries, Muddy goes tasting at Hattingley Valley near Alresford.
The best lidos & splash parksGet a good dose of Vitamin D and splashy fun with our top picks for outdoor lidos, aqua parks and splash pools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Super September! What's on this monthTuck into a bumper crop of sport, cinema, theatre, festivals, music, art and more brilliant events around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
65 paw-fect dog-friendly staysHave pooch, will travel? Here are 65 stays across the Muddy counties that are all Fido-friendly from stunning stately homes to rural cottage staycations.
Review: The Purefoy ArmsSuntrap garden, cosy interiors and the best pud in Hampshire? Add this gastro-gem in the hamlet of Preston Candover to your dining out bucket list, pronto.

Well, hello!

I'm Heidi, 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

Bake-Off is coming back! Get ready for the season by throwing a few of these fabulous baking accessories in the mix for show-stopping cakes and bakes.

Thanks to everyone who took part this year, and helped celebrate the most awesome indie businesses across 25 counties.

View Our Winners

Eat View more
Hampshire vineyards: Hattingley Valley

Continuing our cellar door tour of Hampshire wineries (hic!), Muddy discovers some sparkling vintages at Hattingley Valley near Alresford.
- Review: The Purefoy Arms
  
  Suntrap garden, cosy interiors and the best pud in Hampshire? Add this gastro-gem in the hamlet of Preston Candover to your dining out bucket list, pronto.
- 10 best afternoon teas in Hants & IoW
  
  Stylish country house hotel, right Royal Victoria sponge, classic tea room or sky-high treat, spoil yourself with one (or two) of these awesome afternoon teas.

Arts & Culture View more
New TV alert! 6 shiny things dropping this week

We’re getting into prime autumn telly season, with three — count them, three! — hotly-awaited series returns this week. Read all about them (as well as the other shiny new releases) here…
- 5 things you won’t want to miss on TV this week
  
  Channel 4's making history, Colin Farrell stars in the BBC's bleak new period drama, Anya Taylor-Joy comes of age in Ireland, and more. Muddy's got the inside-line on unmissable telly this week.
- Stop! It’s sofa time: 5 new releases to watch this week
  
  Is that autumn in the air? Time for some top-tier TV. We've got screwball comedy whodunnits, big-budget fairy tale retellings, and powerful documentary deep-dives. Reader, take your pick.

Little Black Book

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

Porcupine Rocks, Petworth

Osme Candles

ezHACH home organisation

Isle of Wight Distillery & Mermaid Bar

Borneo Pantry, Cowes

TURNBULL AND HOOCH

Starboard Home Interiors, Lymington

Winchester Science Centre

Festival Place, Basingstoke

Hattingley Valley Wines, Lower Wield

The Elvetham, Hook

Port Solent, Portsmouth

Travel View more
Italy, Mr Bond? 24 hours in Matera

Make mine a martini, shaken not stirred while we tell you our insider tips on how to best experience the coolest city you’ve probably never heard of.
- 65 paw-fect dog-friendly stays
  
  Have pooch, will travel? Here are 65 stays across the Muddy counties that are all Fido-friendly from stunning stately homes to rural cottage staycations.
- The Muddy insider guide to Norfolk
  
  Stunning beaches, beautiful broads and bijou boltholes plus a vibrant capital city – Norfolk is one of our favourite year-round staycation destinations. Ready to 'Do Different'?

Home View more
10 knockout farmhouses that are up for sale now

Fell in love with rural life on your staycay? Us too. Quick, before the market turns: check out these absolutely stunning farms to snap up across the Muddy counties (and beyond).
- Buffalo Mozzarella with Clementine Salad
  
  Need a new speedy lunch? Try this 15 minute fab mozzarella salad from Tart London - the super-cool caterers of choice for the fashion set (plus Naked Wines at 63% off).
- Glug! New wines to buy and try
  
  Naked Wine sommelier and Gordon Ramsay alumnus Ray O'Connor spills the grapes on why he won't pay thousands for wine, what's in his cellar - and how to dodge hangovers.
Wellbeing
- The Muddy guide to Hampshire and Isle of Wight weddings
  
  Big fat Hampshire or (Isle of) Wight wedding coming up? Stop right there and take a look at these brilliant local wedding venues and businesses.
- 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

Life View more
Back in the office? We’re here to help!

Feeling unprepared to head back to the office after a year WFH? Muddy to the rescue with eight essential Do’s and Don’ts (and yes, you will have to change out of sweatpants).
Kids
- Farnborough Hill
  
  An all-girls independent day school with quirky heritage buildings, excellent academics and a ‘wholehearted’ approach to educating independent women.
- Embley, Romsey
  
  A coast and countryside location with strong curricular and co-curricular offer; Embley School in Romsey offers plenty of opportunity for kids to shine

Instamuddy

Fashion View more
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.
- Rent your clothes like Carrie!
  
  Ethical, eco and everywhere - with Carrie Symonds showing us how to work a sustainable wardrobe, here's where you can rewear, repair and renew your clothes in style.
- 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 View more
- The great school run beauty glow-up
  
  Dropping the kids off at school and legging it? Muddy's Robyn was! We tasked a local salon to give her a hair and beauty glow-up. Here's how she got on...
- Can Haringtons tame the Muddy mane?
  
  Fly-away hair with lots of grey? Not just me then... The challenge for award-winning hairdresser and colourist Barry was to create a style that will still look good a week later

People View more
Muddy talks parenting with Lorraine Candy

“All teenage girls think their mums are a bit rubbish”. Journalist and mother of four Lorraine Candy talks parenting, moody teens and motherhood with Muddy.
- Muddy meets: Shazia Mirza
  
  Brexit, burqas and butt plugs - this ex-teacher turned comedian pulls no punches... The brilliant Shazia Mirza is heading for Hampshire.
- Can private schools ever be fully diverse?
  
  Karl Guest, the good-humoured head of Alton School in Hampshire talks inclusivity, inspirational teachers and his DJing sideline (not even kidding!)