Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fred in the
Forest</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="591" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Fred-Siriex.jpg" alt="Fred Siriex and Chris Bavin Remarkable Places to Eat Hampshire New Forest" class="wp-image-21813" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Fred-Siriex.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Fred-Siriex-300x177.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Fred-Siriex-720x426.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Fred-Siriex-768x454.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Fred-Siriex-888x525.jpg 888w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Huzzah – our favourite French maître d&#8217;hôtel, Fred Siriex, is back with a new foodie TV adventure. Even better, the new Remarkable Places to Eat series will also star local spots in the fabulous New Forest. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000tzjp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Broadcast on BBC 2 next week</a>, the charismatic host-with-the-most will be shown the best fishing and local grub. His guide is fellow foodie presenter Chris Bavin (above). Already spotted by a few eagle-eyed locals during filming, the pair will also take a stroll down some very familiar cobbles in lovely Lymington. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prime crew in
Basingstoke</h2>



<p>Netflix was out in force filming in Winchester last month. Now, the latest hot gossip is the crew spotted camped in a Basingstoke car park. Rumour has it they were filming a new Amazon Prime series. Described as &#8216;an epic global spy thriller&#8217;, Citadel will star Game of Thrones and BBC’s The Bodyguard star, Richard Madden. The red-hot cast will also features Indian actress and former Miss World, Priyanka Chopra Jonas. A Bond-style action series featuring a few familiar Basingstoke spots? Watch this space!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hampshire’s best gastropubs</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="665" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/ThomasLord1.jpg" alt="ThomasLord1" class="wp-image-15782" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/ThomasLord1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/ThomasLord1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/ThomasLord1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2019/10/ThomasLord1-720x479.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Congratulations to <a href="https://www.thewellingtonarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">The Wellington Arms in Baughurst</a>, <a href="https://www.anchorinnatlowerfroyle.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">The Anchor Inn at Lower Froyle</a> near Alton and the <a href="https://www.thethomaslord.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Thomas Lord in East Meon</a> (above). All Muddy favourites, the three have each nabbed a spot in the prestigious <a href="https://www.top50gastropubs.com/the-list-51-or-higher/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Estrella Damm top 100 list of UK Gastropubs</a>. Judges were particularly taken by their use of home-grown produce, fine seasonal ingredients and countryside settings – we’ll raise a glass to that.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Street artist strikes again </h2>



<p>Earlier in the month, <a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/arts-culture/artmuseums/spotted-banksy-in-hampshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">we reported on a Banksy-esque street art setting social grapevines alight in Winchester</a>. Despite not actually being a bona fide Banksy, the national papers were quick to splash the story. And there was a lot of love locally for the equally mysterious <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hendog_art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">@Hendog_art</a>, who claimed the work. Since then, the community-minded artist has been busy again, painting a young boy on the wall of a Winchester food bank with a box of donated goods. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Banksy’s NHS Millions</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/17/2021/03/Banksy-Game-Changer.jpg" alt="Banksy Game Changer NHS Southampton" class="wp-image-21799" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Banksy-Game-Changer.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Banksy-Game-Changer-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Banksy-Game-Changer-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Banksy-Game-Changer-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Banksy-Game-Changer-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.banksy.co.uk/in.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">The actual Banksy’s last confirmed work in Hampshire, titled ‘Game Changer</a>’ has just raised a cool £16m+ for NHS charities. It was left in Southampton Hospital a year ago and beautifully summed up public admiration for NHS workers. Bravo Banksy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hot opening &#8211; Inn the Park</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="679" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Inn-the-Park.jpg" alt="Inn the Park Winchester Chesil Rectory new opening hot gossip" class="wp-image-21800" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Inn-the-Park.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Inn-the-Park-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Inn-the-Park-720x489.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Inn-the-Park-768x521.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Inn-the-Park-773x525.jpg 773w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It might not be open yet but Winchester’s hottest new ‘restaurant, grill, café, wine room, bottle shop and terrace’ – aka <a href="https://www.innthepark.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Inn the Park</a> – has been tempting all who pass. Outside is Mozzo coffee cart plus there&#8217;s superfresh donuts and other baked goodies to-go. Locals are literally marking off the days until the historic Mill, overlooking the Abbey Gardens, can officially open. </p>



<p>Previously the River Cottage Kitchen Winchester, the site is in excellent hands. It&#8217;s been beautifully revamped by Mark and Eleanor Dodd, owners of the Michelin-rated Chesil Rectory. Fingers crossed for snagging a table!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offbeet on the move</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="865" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Offbeet-donuts-chef.jpg" alt="Offbeet vegan restaurant donuts Peter Axworthy row hot gossip
" class="wp-image-21802" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Offbeet-donuts-chef.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Offbeet-donuts-chef-300x260.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Offbeet-donuts-chef-578x500.jpg 578w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Offbeet-donuts-chef-768x664.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Offbeet-donuts-chef-607x525.jpg 607w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Speaking of donuts, an unexpected row between the New Forest vegan eatery <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.offbeetfood.com/" target="_blank">Offbeet</a> and Barker Mill Estate, landowners at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.sunnyfields.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sunnyfields Farm</a>, escalated fast in early March. Sadly, it resulted in an unexpected eviction notice. Shocked and unrepentant, restauranteur Peter Axworthy (above) will see out his tenure with a full-blown menu of illicit donuts (yum!). Funding permitting, the latest hot gossip is that Offbeet hope to hotfoot it to a new spot &#8211; the gorgeous, Muddy-rated <a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-retreat/">Retreat New Forest</a> &#8211; later in the year. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Winchester wins again</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Winchester-King-Alfred.jpg" alt="King Alfred Statue Winchester Sunday Times Muddy Stilettos Best Places to Live" class="wp-image-21801" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Winchester-King-Alfred.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Winchester-King-Alfred-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Winchester-King-Alfred-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Winchester-King-Alfred-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2021/03/Winchester-King-Alfred-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Hot-on-the-heels of our reader vote, where <a href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/and-the-best-place-to-live-in-hants-iow-is/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">YOU named Winchester as Muddy’s best place to live in the county</a>, <em>Sunday Times</em> judges have added their seal of approval for the city, ranking it in <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/best-places-to-live" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">the newspaper’s annual UK-wide list</a>. Also top-rated was our fantastic Isle of Wight. Judges picked out the magnificent coastline and vintage atmosphere of the gorgeous Victorian pleasure piers and promenades as factors in their decision. </p>


Hot gossip in Hants and IoW!

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