Hampshire &amp; Isle of Wight

<p>Great inspo for where to go and what to do in Hampshire &#8211; am fancying girlie brunch at the Grazing Rooms and a splash about in Heckfield Place Bothy spa 🧖‍♀️ 👍</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Spa openings</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="625" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Heckfield-Place-Bothy-Spa.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25627" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Heckfield-Place-Bothy-Spa.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Heckfield-Place-Bothy-Spa-300x188.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Heckfield-Place-Bothy-Spa-720x450.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Heckfield-Place-Bothy-Spa-768x480.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Heckfield-Place-Bothy-Spa-840x525.jpg 840w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Much anticipation for <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="the brand-new Bothy Spa (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bothy.heckfieldplace.com/" target="_blank">the brand-new Bothy Spa</a> at the luxe Heckfield Place hotel, near Hook. We&#8217;re told it will be “gently” opening its doors this year – although sources there wouldn’t commit to an exact date yet. </p>



<p>Elsewhere, The Winchester Hotel is set to reopen its refurbished <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="boutique spa (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.thewinchesterhotel.co.uk/spa" target="_blank">boutique spa</a> in late Spring/early Summer. And there&#8217;ll be new hydro and thermal areas and six treatment rooms for ESPA facials and massages. Bliss… Muddy’s bathers are all packed and we’re set to go. Full report to follow.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Celeb gossip catchup</h2>



<p>Better late than never – here’s our round-up of pre-Christmas sightings. Winchester was once again abuzz in December as The Crown actress <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Elizabeth Debicki (opens in a new tab)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Debicki" target="_blank">Elizabeth Debicki</a> was spotted with film crews on Kingsgate Street. The Aussie actress will play Princess Diana in the final two series of The Crown. And crews were spotted again in Basing View, Basingstoke, too. Spoiler alert: onlookers say an actor in that shoot bore a striking resemblance to one Martin Bashir&#8230;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ItaliaContiPetersfield/photos/a.2088216791392548/3098740163673534/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="687" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Noel-Gallagher-and-teenager-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25625" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Noel-Gallagher-and-teenager-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Noel-Gallagher-and-teenager-1-300x206.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Noel-Gallagher-and-teenager-1-720x495.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Noel-Gallagher-and-teenager-1-768x528.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Noel-Gallagher-and-teenager-1-764x525.jpg 764w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a><figcaption> Pic: Fleur Ash/<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ItaliaContiPetersfield/photos/a.2088216791392548/3098740163673534/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Italia Conti Petersfield  (opens in a new tab)">Italia Conti Petersfield </a></figcaption></figure>



<p>Stellar celebrity sightings came in thick and fast in East Hampshire, too. First up, those Rock ’n’ Roll Mancunians, Oasis. The last reported Gallagher brother on our patch was Liam, who claimed to have fallen out of a helicopter after performing at the Isle of Wight festival. But in November, one quick-thinking local young musician (above) stopped West Meon resident Noel Gallagher, strolling quietly in Petersfield. After a chat and a snap, the plucky teen presented him with her guitar – and he duly signed it!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="773" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Timmy-Mallett-Jane-Austens-House.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25628" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Timmy-Mallett-Jane-Austens-House.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Timmy-Mallett-Jane-Austens-House-300x232.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Timmy-Mallett-Jane-Austens-House-647x500.jpg 647w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Timmy-Mallett-Jane-Austens-House-768x594.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Timmy-Mallett-Jane-Austens-House-679x525.jpg 679w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Pic: Jane Austen&#8217;s House</figcaption></figure>



<p>Also in the area, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JaneAustensHouseMuseum/photos/a.864457290239458/4818533068165174/?type=3">80’s legend Timmy Mallett popped in at Jane Austen’s House</a> near Alton, on a sponsored cycle ride from Winchester to Canterbury. The cheery entertainer was also prepared to put his hand in his pocket for a good cause and duly sponsored a roof tile. </p>



<p>And who was that spotted outside Petersfield’s Josie’s café (owned by former England Rugby Captain Chris Robshaw), in December? No, not Josh Hartnett this time but a certain silver fox with a different kind of Hollywood link. Yep, local spies tell us Great British Bakeoff celeb judge Paul Hollywood has also been seen around town. “Or if it wasn’t him, he looked just like him…”, says our source. We’ll take that.</p>



<p>Finally, descending on the Island this February, Bollywood super-star <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayushmann_Khurrana">Ayushmann Khurrana</a> joined <a href="https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/19902555.bollywoods-ayushmann-khurrana-fast-furious-cars-ventnor/">300 locals recruted as extras in grounding Ventnor to a halt filming ‘An Action Hero</a>’ – complete with stunt cars and action chases. Vroom vroom!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hot hotel reopenings</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="707" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Stanwell-House-Hotel.jpg" alt="Stanwell House Hotel" class="wp-image-25629" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Stanwell-House-Hotel.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Stanwell-House-Hotel-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Stanwell-House-Hotel-707x500.jpg 707w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Stanwell-House-Hotel-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Stanwell-House-Hotel-743x525.jpg 743w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Plans are finally in the pipeline to <a href="https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/19873103.plans-see-sandowns-eyesore-grand-hotel-restored/">restore The Grand Hotel in Sandown</a> on the Island. Although whether it will return to its glory days as a hotel or will be converted into flats remains to be seen. And we expect good things this summer when Lymington’s boutique <a href="https://www.stanwellhouse.com/">Stanwell House Hotel</a> (above) completes a major refurb. Watch this space!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cruise news</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="567" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Virgin-Cruises-scarlet-lady-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25626" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Virgin-Cruises-scarlet-lady-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Virgin-Cruises-scarlet-lady-1-300x170.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Virgin-Cruises-scarlet-lady-1-720x408.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Virgin-Cruises-scarlet-lady-1-768x435.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Virgin-Cruises-scarlet-lady-1-900x510.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It spent more than a month in Portsmouth last summer and just starred in the new series of BBC’s The Apprentice. Contestants onboard Virgin’s Scarlet Lady were tasked with coming up with their own cruise concept – although it was far from plain sailing in the boardroom (err, what <em>was</em> that logo about?!). </p>



<p>Now, ship watchers should look out for Virgin’s sister ship <a href="https://www.virgin.com/about-virgin/latest/join-virgin-voyages-on-valiant-ladys-mermaiden-voyage">the Valiant Lady</a>, an equally impressive vessel set to sail in and out of Portsmouth in March. <a href="https://portsmouth-port.co.uk/more-great-journeys-set-to-begin-in-portsmouth-this-year/">Also coming to Portsmouth International Port</a>&nbsp;in 2022 are maiden voyages from AIDA, Poseidon Expeditions, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn and Mystic Cruises. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="567" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Celebrity-Cruises-Sunset-bar.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25638" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Celebrity-Cruises-Sunset-bar.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Celebrity-Cruises-Sunset-bar-300x170.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Celebrity-Cruises-Sunset-bar-720x408.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Celebrity-Cruises-Sunset-bar-768x435.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Celebrity-Cruises-Sunset-bar-900x510.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Over in Southampton, Celebrity Cruises’ spanking new <a href="https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/cruise-ships/celebrity-beyond">Celebrity Beyond</a> ship is all set to sail its maiden voyage from our Hampshire mega terminal in late April. It’ll be helmed by Captain Kate McCue, America’s first female cruise ship captain. Muddy&#8217;s checked out the deckplans and there&#8217;s some seriously luxe features on this new super liner. We&#8217;re loving the sea-view spa and cool, Med-influenced sunset bar (above). </p>



<p>A slight surprise however that Hollywood&#8217;s Gwyneth Paltrow, founder of ‘<a href="https://goop.com/">goop</a>’, is confirmed as wellbeing advisor. The ship will have Goop products in the rooms and a special Gwyneth-recipe onboard smoothie, blending swampy-sounding algae with more palatable berries, peaches, ginger. But is it just us that really can&#8217;t forget Gwyneth&#8217;s VERY personal <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/jan/13/why-is-gwyneth-paltrow-selling-a-candle-that-smells-like-her-vagina-goop">vagina-scented candle</a>?!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New and refurbed restaurants </h2>



<p>Last but by no means least, no Superflashy would be complete without a roundup of the best new and updated places to scoff and quaff. </p>



<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/17/2022/02/The-Grazing-Rooms-bar-at-Sky-Park-Farm.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25631" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Grazing-Rooms-bar-at-Sky-Park-Farm.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Grazing-Rooms-bar-at-Sky-Park-Farm-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Grazing-Rooms-bar-at-Sky-Park-Farm-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Grazing-Rooms-bar-at-Sky-Park-Farm-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Grazing-Rooms-bar-at-Sky-Park-Farm-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Catching our roving eye, the smart <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Grazing Rooms (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.skyparkfarm.com/index.php/our-food/" target="_blank">Grazing Rooms</a> at the Sky Park Farm near Petersfield (above) has won a strong following since it opened in October, with a superb local-sourcing policy. Watch this space &#8211; Muddy&#8217;s booking in soon!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="988" height="667" src="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Ashbys-Winchester-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25637" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Ashbys-Winchester-.jpg 988w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Ashbys-Winchester--300x203.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Ashbys-Winchester--720x486.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Ashbys-Winchester--768x518.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/Ashbys-Winchester--778x525.jpg 778w" sizes="(max-width: 988px) 100vw, 988px" /></figure>



<p>Officially Winchester&#8217;s pinkest café, brunch spot and bar, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Ashby's (opens in a new tab)" href="https://ashbyswinchester.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ashby&#8217;s</a> (above), is new on Thomas Street. It opened in December close to one of our fave boutiques, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="H&amp;B Style (opens in a new tab)" href="https://hants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/hb-style-winchester/" target="_blank">H&amp;B Style</a>. And coming soon &#8211; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.gigglingsquid.com/restaurant/" target="_blank">The Giggling Squid</a> Thai restaurant is about to open in the city too!</p>



<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/17/2022/02/The-Bugle-Bar.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25669" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Bugle-Bar.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Bugle-Bar-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Bugle-Bar-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Bugle-Bar-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/hants/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2022/02/The-Bugle-Bar-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Southsea has a spanking new and rather appetising-looking vegetarian and vegan restaurant, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mangosteensouthsea.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mangosteen</a>, opened at the end of January. And Hamble&#8217;s oldest pub, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Bugle Inn (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.idealcollection.co.uk/venues/the-bugle/" target="_blank">The Bugle Inn</a>, has just reopened its doors after a major refurb. </p>



<p>The super-characterful, original interiors (above) have got a smart new look. And there&#8217;s a new menu with loads of great locally-sourced produce from around Hampshire. Yep &#8211; you guessed it, more to follow!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Got any new openings or celeb gossip to share? Comment below or email heidi.ruge@muddystilettos.co.uk!</h3>


Superflashy! Celeb goss and hot openings

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