The urban guide to the countryside -

Well, hello!

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

Gotta Have It

Meet the Muddy Awards Finalists!Thousands of you voted for your favourite local businesses in the first round of this year's Awards. Want to see who made it through to the Finals? (OK, that's a stupid question).
Keep on running!Muddy tries out the Runner's Full MOT at all-new The Kent Running Coach and finds it to be brilliantly practical and not at all preachy - and you can get 30% OFF here!
Festival Fever'Tis the season for drinking too much cider and getting sunburnt in a field under the guise of being a live music fan. Here's our pick of the best local music festivals. See you down the front!
Superflashy Newsflash!Hear ye! Hear ye! Your favourite digital town crier has got all the goss. Clickety-click through for the lowdown on your locale.
Review: Marlborough House SchoolAn exceptional all-round prep school in Hawkhurst, where the focus is on nurture and a high standard of teaching - oh and they're developing their facilities too! Sounds like a recipe for happy boys and girls...
Want to intern at Muddy?Muddy Kent is looking for a brilliant intern for writing, researching and generally enjoying being part of the team. Could it be you, or someone you know?

FRI 17 - SUN 19 MAY 2019

MON 13 - SUN 19 MAY 2019

MAY 2019

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Eat out: Draper’s Arms

Artisan bakery, coffee house and pub in the heart of medieval Canterbury. It’s recently changed hands so in the name of research, Muddy went to try it out…
- Eat Out: The Leicester Arms Hotel, Penshurst
  
  Loved by locals, Sunday lunchers, cyclists, dog walkers, history lovers, over-nighters and...
- Eat out: Powder & Magazine
  
  Muddy tries Rochester's new hidden gem - a casual gastro dining restaurant for discerning food and drink fans. You’ll love the cool historic setting in the old Royal Navy Ordnance Depot.
- Afternoon Tea Treats
  
  Looking for a sweet treat for your mother, mother-in-law or your good self this Mothering Sunday? Here's our guide to 10 of the best...
- Eat out: Raspberry Room, Brasted
  
  This gorgeous new tea room is bringing a bit of glamour, a splash of colour and a taste-buds...

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

For the best things happening in Kent

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Family-friendly rentals

Whether it’s Easter, half term or summer holidays, we all need time to reconnect with the fam…Ta-da! 30 gorgeous places to stay across the Muddy counties!
- Booking your family hols?
  
  Don't do anything till you've seen Flight Centre's first Family Adventures brochure - and put yourself in the running for a £20k dream trip!
- Kids in chaaaarge!
  
  Let my kids pick our family holiday? Errr, really? Call me a cynic, but this, I had to put to the test...Read on to see the result!

Well, Hello You!

How has Keanu Reeves not aged in 30 years?! The laconic Hollywood star is back in a fashion campaign that’s got social media a-swooning. Shall we examine the evidence?
- Spring Wardrobe Update
  
  This sunshine yellow tote bag is the perfect addition to your spring wardrobe - and here's a Muddy 10% off this, plus other goodies, from The Alex Edit.
- Twinning is Winning
  
  A bit of fun for Mother's Day - leopard print twinning - handmade by local, luxury organic brand, Mint Rainbow.

Need a brilliant new read?

A stunning debut novel, a futuristic thriller and an exquisite memoir are among books editor Kerry Potter’s marvellous May picks.
- 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.
- How He Does it
  
  *The* iconic modern male dancing role is the Swan in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake - so what does it take to make it? Max Westwell reveals all. AND there's still a few last tickets remaining for this weekend's show at the Marlowe Theatre.
- Need a new book?
  
  You're in the right place - Muddy's pro-bookworm Kerry Potter has picked this month's seven sexiest reads.
- Feb’s Best New Books
  
  It was still the dog days of winter last time I checked so there's only one thing for it - let's hunker down with a compelling new book. Cue February's must-read tomes, as chosen by Muddy's books editor Kerry Potter.

Sexy Stationery

Stationery is one of my specialist subjects. And – whoop! – it’s National Stationery Week. Check out this sexy lot. Hubba bubba!
Kids
- School review: Sacred Heart
  
  Muddy has unearthed a hidden gem of a school that offers many of the bonus points of a prep without the usual price tag.
- Easter Guide
  
  Release the little people! Your thumper bumper Muddy Guide to the best 26 things to do with the kids over the hols.

How to flex your life

Is life an exhausting loop of sleep, work, chores, repeat? Yep. Need to make a change but now sure what or how? Er, yes. Read our interview with hot new self-help author Annie Auerbach. She has the answers!
- No, Tom, Noooooo!
  
  Is this the most excruciatingly cringey celebrity advert ever? Quite possibly Mr Hiddleston, quite possibly!
- Muddy meets Tom Kerridge…
  
  ... and talks Pub in the Park (Basement Jaxx, people), his favourite local eateries, and work life balance issues - yup, he has them too!
- Claire’s Chrimbo shape up
  
  TV actress and Sleeping Beauty panto star, Claire Sweeney, tells Muddy how she's going to lose weight by Christmas
- ‘It’s a real action-hero, ‘Marvel’-like play’
  
  Super-stylish rising RSC talent Amber James on Gregory Doran's Mad-Max-style futuristic dystopian vision of Troilus and Cressida.