Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1004" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/05/Hares-of-Hampshire.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27032" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/05/Hares-of-Hampshire.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/05/Hares-of-Hampshire-800x535.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/05/Hares-of-Hampshire-1000x669.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/05/Hares-of-Hampshire-768x514.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/05/Hares-of-Hampshire-784x525.jpg 784w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>No, you&#8217;ve not had one too many wines at lunchtime &#8211; Hares of Hampshire, a free, family-friendly <a href="https://haresofhampshire.co.uk/art-trail/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="public art trail (opens in a new tab)">public art trail</a>&nbsp;featuring colourful giant hares and their young leverets has hit the streets, parks and public spaces around Southampton and Winchester.</p>



<p>The brainchild of the actors and Hampshire locals, Sarah Parish and Jim Murray, the individually painted happy hares are sponsored by local businesses and will be auctioned to help their charity, The Murray Parish Trust, to raise funds for critically sick and injured children at Southampton Children’s Hospital. </p>



<p>Muddy spoke to the local actress about some of her favourite places around Hampshire. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Bush Inn (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.thebushinn.net/" target="_blank">The Bush Inn</a>, Ovington</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/07/The-Bush-Inn-Ovington.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27694" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/07/The-Bush-Inn-Ovington.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/07/The-Bush-Inn-Ovington-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/07/The-Bush-Inn-Ovington-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/07/The-Bush-Inn-Ovington-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/07/The-Bush-Inn-Ovington-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>A handy five minute walk from our house, The Bush is a great pub for all seasons. In the summer it has great outside space and views of the river. In winter, it’s really cosy and welcoming with roaring fires.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The River Itchen (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/explore/rivers-and-canals/river-itchen" target="_blank">The River Itchen</a>, Alresford &#8211; Southampton</h2>



<p>Both my husband and I are huge fans of this beautiful chalk stream. Jim is a very keen fisherman so spends as much time as he can down at the river catching trout.&nbsp;I love the&nbsp;crystal clear water and the varied wildlife on the river bank.&nbsp;We have a beautiful walk that we do with the dogs, that starts at the Bush Inn pub.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/long-barn-arlesford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Long Barn (opens in a new tab)">Long Barn</a>, Alresford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1200" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Long-Barn-Lavender-edited-X.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27136" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Long-Barn-Lavender-edited-X.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Long-Barn-Lavender-edited-X-800x640.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Long-Barn-Lavender-edited-X-1000x800.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Long-Barn-Lavender-edited-X-768x614.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Long-Barn-Lavender-edited-X-656x525.jpg 656w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>This is a great place to pick up anything you want.&nbsp;It has a really well stocked nursery: outdoor furniture, beautiful pottery, fabulous clothes and a really great&nbsp;café, all surrounded by beautiful lavender fields.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.theblackrat.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Black Rat (opens in a new tab)">The Black Rat</a>, Winchester</h2>



<p>The Black Rat Restaurant, located&nbsp;on Chesil street at the bottom of the town centre is one of our top dining spots. It was converted from a pub into a quaint and quirky restaurant and continues to get a spot in the Michelin Guide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.theblackboypub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Black Boy (opens in a new tab)">The Black Boy</a>, Winchester</h2>



<p>Tucked away on Wharf Hill, off Chesil Street in Winchester, The Black Boy (sister pub to The Black Rat) is faithful to its origins. Although recognised in most of the well known beer and pub guides,&nbsp;it&#8217;s still a traditional back-street boozer. It’s always full of really interesting fun people &#8211; and the board game selection is to die for!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://facemattersskincare.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Face Matters (opens in a new tab)">Face Matters</a>, New Alresford</h2>



<p>I LOVE a good facial and Sally Curson is by far the best therapist in Hampshire. Her non-invasive lifting and toning facials at the Alresford clinic&nbsp;are Harley Street standard with a Hampshire price tag and her Face Matters products are gorgeous. I wouldn’t use anyone else.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Micheldever Woods (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forestryengland.uk/micheldever-wood" target="_blank">Micheldever Woods</a>, near Winchester</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/03/Winchester-Bluebells-Hardo-Müller.jpg" alt="Winchester Bluebells Hardo Müller" class="wp-image-11999" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/03/Winchester-Bluebells-Hardo-Müller.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/03/Winchester-Bluebells-Hardo-Müller-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/03/Winchester-Bluebells-Hardo-Müller-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/03/Winchester-Bluebells-Hardo-Müller-667x500.jpg 667w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Pic: Hardo Müller</figcaption></figure>



<p>By the end of April, Micheldever Woods are full of the most beautiful bluebells. The walks are astonishing, it’s like a sea of blue. Great for a good, long dog-walk.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.everymancinema.com/Winchester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Everyman Cinema (opens in a new tab)">The Everyman Cinema</a>, Winchester</h2>



<p>I love watching films &#8211; and there’s nothing better than watching one with a glass of wine on a comfortable sofa! The Everyman is really cosy and shows terrific films. Great snacks too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/winchester-science-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Winchester Science Centre (opens in a new tab)">Winchester Science Centre</a>, Winchester</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="998" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Winchester-Science-Centre_spacekid_-Harvey-Mills-Photography.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27397" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Winchester-Science-Centre_spacekid_-Harvey-Mills-Photography.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Winchester-Science-Centre_spacekid_-Harvey-Mills-Photography-800x532.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Winchester-Science-Centre_spacekid_-Harvey-Mills-Photography-1000x665.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Winchester-Science-Centre_spacekid_-Harvey-Mills-Photography-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/06/Winchester-Science-Centre_spacekid_-Harvey-Mills-Photography-789x525.jpg 789w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>This is a great place to take the kids on a rainy day. There’s a soft play area and experiments for the kids, lots of interesting things to play with. And best of all, there’s a planetarium.</p>



<p><em>The <a href="https://haresofhampshire.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Hares of Hampshire (opens in a new tab)">Hares of Hampshire</a> trail runs until 29 August 2022. </em></p>


Sarah Parish’s Favourite Places

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