Spotlight

Psst! Check out the cool newness in BerksExtra, extra! We've got gossip on celebs spotted in Berkshire (cooey David Tennant), Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant in Reading and all the awards news.
Headline walks in Berkshire and beyondLooking for a walk worthy of front page news? Check out these 13 headline-grabbing walks from the highest points and best views to the coolest landmarks.
Fun incoming! 20 fab things to do this weekVintage treasures, more top comedy than your can shake a tickling stick at, exhibitions and a saucy ventriloquist... it's all going on in our 'hood this week.
How to supercharge your kids learningAre there educational bumps in the road ahead? Why a roadmap of schools advice, academic support and mentoring could supercharge your child's success.
Bakeries we love in honour of GBBOBake Off is back on TV so time to drag out the food mixer. Can’t be bothered? No, quite right. Here are some brilliant bakeries instead.

Well, hello!

I'm Rachel, editor of Muddy Berkshire, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

Gotta Have It

Bake-Off is back, baby (C4, 21 Sep at 8pm to be exact)! Get in the GBBO zone by throwing a few of these fab baking accessories in the mix for show-stopping cakes and bakes.

Gotta have it

The results are in! Meet your Muddy Awards 2021 winners

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

View Our Winners

Eat

Bakeries we love in honour of GBBO

Bake Off is back on TV so time to drag out the food mixer. Can’t be bothered? No, quite right. Here are some brilliant bakeries instead.
- 23 perfect pub late summer lounging
  
  Summer ain’t over yet! Here’s to alfresco basking and plenty of booze. These are the best pub gardens in Berkshire from snazzy pods to our favourite local beer gardens. Cheers!
- Muddy eats: Pán, Wokingham
  
  Fun, foodie and on fire! Or so we’ve heard. Pán in Wokingham serves Asian tapas – but would this stylish, under the radar restaurant spice up our life?

Culture

Feet up! What to watch on TV this week

Don’t miss our weekly round-up of the best things on the box. Iconic panel show reboots, big-budget sci-fi, and a cheeky little baking competition… here’s what to watch this week.
- 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.

Little Black Book

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

The Old Court, Windsor

Live & Love By Maxine

Just Brows Inc

The Big Plant Nursery

Pán Restaurant, Wokingham

The Gilded Bird

Oakdale Bees

MADE by Tamalia

Blooming Fabulous Flowers

easyStorage Berkshire

Norden Farm Centre For The Arts, Maidenhead

Bucklebury Farm Deer & Safari Park

Travel

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.
- Muddy reviews: The Swan at Streatley
  
  This boutique hotel in the village of Streatley, West Berkshire, with its slick styling and stunning riverside location is the ultimate weekend escape.
- 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.

Home

Get set! 10 brilliant Baking buys

Bake-Off is back, baby (Tue 21 Sep at 8pm to be exact)! Get in the GBBO zone by throwing a few of these fab baking accessories in the mix for show-stopping cakes and bakes.
- 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).
- Is this the UK’s best interiors fair?
  
  You decide! Mood boards at the ready, there are 180+ top dealers taking part in the Henley Decor Fair next month. Here are eight of our favourites to whet your appetite.
- 10 super spa days in Berkshire
  
  A little pampering goes a long way especially as we head into the colder darker months. Here’s the best spa days in Berkshire. And relaaax.
- The boutique fitness boom reaches Berks
  
  Lost your fitness mojo? Slip into your Lycra, were off to try boutique gym The Movement Barn. No intimidating machines, just small, friendly classes who tolerate my wheezing.

Life

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).
- The Abbey School, Reading
  
  One of the UK’s best girls’ day schools, The Abbey is producing globally-minded young women with a ‘can-do-anything’ attitude who consistently achieve top marks on results day.
- How to supercharge your kids learning
  
  Are there educational bumps in the road ahead? Why a roadmap of schools advice, academic support and mentoring could supercharge your child’s success.

Instamuddy

Fashion

There’s a lion in the linen department…

… and other bonkers tales from the history books of Camp Hopson – a department store celebrating 100 years and have pretty much seen it all.
- 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, including our picks from two fab local boutiques
- All that glitters! Bonkers sequin tote bags
  
  Don’t know about you but our jogging bottoms/tatty jumper combo that has seen us through lockdown is now losing its appeal. Time to get some sparkle back in our lives. First step: this Anya Hindmarch bag.
- 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
- How to get that perfect sun-kissed glow
  
  Forget pale and interesting… we’re channelling the St Tropez vibe, minus the orange tint. Here are some lotions and potions for a natural-looking tan without the UV damage

People

Berkshire’s Olympic giants going for gold

Addicted to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics? With Maidenhead’s Tom Dean winning gold, meet your local Team GB stars medal hunting in Japan.
- Muddy meets celeb ventriloquist Paul Zerdin
  
  He won America’s Got Talent and is finally back on tour. Muddy talks to ventriloquist Paul Zerdin about weird fan mail, dressing up as Maggie Thatcher and his beef with Barney the Dinosaur.
- 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.