The urban guide to the countryside -

Berkshire

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

Venturing out into your garden for the first time this year? Here's all the cool cooking and homeware kit you need to jazz it up for summer. BBQ round mine, everyone!

Making plans? Find your perfect Pub, Inn, Hotel, Café, Restaurant or Bar across the Muddy counties.

What's On

This Weekend

Looking for as weekend of fun? Head to London for the Mary Quant exhibition at the V&A, or enjoy Edinburgh comedy award winner Adam Riches a Norden Farm and bluebell walks galore.

This Week

What’s on this week? Broadway smash hit Avenue Q arrives in Reading, the brilliant Sadgrove Supper Club, see bluebells at their very best this week and it’s London Marathon weekend.

spiky blue Glass flower surrounded by trees kew chihuly festival

This Month

APRIL 2019

Little Black Book

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Eat Out View more

Sun’s out! 18 fab pub gardens in balmy Berks

It’s going to be scorchio this Easter bank holiday weekend, so here’s where to soak up some rays with a chilled glass of rosé to hand. Cheers!
- Three star thriller
  
  The Roux's Waterside Inn in Bray boasts 3 Michelin twinklers, river views, classic cookery and you don't have to sell a vital organ to eat here. *Dabs napkin*.
- Clink! 8 of the best bars
  
  Because sometimes we want something with a bit more pizzazz than a country pub, right? Make mine an Porn Star martini, cheers.
- That’ll Roux nicely
  
  It may have the name Roux over the door (and on the floor) but Roux at Skindles is not hunting for Michelin stars. This is gallic, comfort food at its best.
- Top 10 afternoon teas
  
  We don’t need any encouragement to scoff cake, but we like to go the extra mile for afternoon tea. Do we know anywhere nice? Of course we do!

School Reviews

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Read the reviews

Little Black Book

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

View the businesses

Travel View more

This way to the beach

Scorchio! The sun has got his hat on (at long last) so we’re thinking impromptu daytrip to the coast. Who’s in?
- The dreamiest new hotels
  
  In need of an indulgent weekend away? Er, ALWAYS. Here's our pick of the best new - and downright desirable - hotels to book pronto.
- Family-friendly rentals
  
  Easter's approaching, you need to reconnect with your fam, and we have just the thing to help - 30 gorgeous self-catering cottages across the Muddy counties!

Fashion View more

Cool kicks

Kick off spring in style with a pair of super-cool new season trainers. Here are our 9 faves – plus how to wear them when you’re not heading to the gym.
Beauty
- Natural skincare + bio-active science = RESULTS
  
  Two sisters, one multi-award winning beauty brand and - oh hello - 10 Balance Me bundles worth a total of £1200 to give away!
- Six hangover hiders
  
  In the interests of not being mistaken for a dug-up corpse this festive season, behold our five favourite morning after skincare saviours.

Arts & Culture View more

Bag your own masterpiece

Looking for a bargain to brighten up a blank wall, or a masterpiece to make a statement? Here’s Muddy’s pick of the affordable art at Newbury’s Contemporary Art Fair.
- Review: High School Musical
  
  High School Musical is relentlessly cheerful, squeaky-clean fun with all the energy of an enthusiastic puppy. You can't help but get sucked in.
- April’s best new books
  
  Quick, spring-clean your bedside table or Kindle to make room for Muddy books editor's Kerry Potter's awesome April picks. And Brucey bonus - one lucky bookworm will win the lot!

Instamuddy

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Home View more

- How to be a canapé queen
  
  Does your usual party snack planning involve opening a bag of Kettle Chips? Here's how to raise your game with three easy recipes.
- Salad days are here again
  
  I declare salad season officially open! This hearty chicken one is easy-peasy to make but packed with flavour.
Wellbeing
- Nail your work/life balance
  
  The juggle is real - and not going anywhere - so how the hell can we to get it right?! Let's ask the work/life balance experts for some help.
- A new spa for 2019
  
  New year, new spa and Warbrook House balances relaxation and recharging with bubbles and gin. We likey.

Work View more

Muddy makes the Daily Mail

What have we got here then? The 50 most inspirational women in the UK – including Keeley Hawes, Dina Asher-Smith, Jaqueline Wilson, Thomasina Miers, and *splutter* Muddy’s high priestess Hero Brown.
Kids
- Queen Anne’s, Caversham
  
  Muddy says: A top girls' school set in 34 acres with cracking facilities, including a super-cool 6th form, a can-do ethos and great results.
- St George’s Ascot
  
  Muddy says: A small, friendly girl’s secondary boarding/ day school in Berkshire, where kindness, confidence and ambition are celebrated.

People View more

No, Tom, Noooooo!

Is this the most excruciatingly cringey celebrity advert ever? Quite possibly Mr Hiddleston, quite possibly!
- What’s up doc?
  
  Can't get an appointment at your local GP surgery? Go see one on tour instead! Dr Michael Mosley is rocking up in Wycombe and is on hand to answer all your impertinent questions. Muddy meets him.
- Hair today for a greener tomorrow
  
  If you're an anti-plastic ninja, eco warrior princess who wants super-sexy hair meet Jo of Gilded Hair, a woman who's big on style and sustainability.