Discover your local gems: try our 2023 Awards Finalist hit list
Culture, eating out, shopping, things to do, beauty, fitness… here’s your super-local guide to the Muddy Awards 2023 finalists in your area.
Do you love a decent coffee, an indie florist, the latest gastropub, an uber-motivational PT, a cute local theatre, a fresh-from-the-field farmshop, and a salon that’s less than 20 minutes away? Of course you do darling, you’re a Muddy reader!
Juuust in case you’ve missed a local hotspot, we’ve got your back. Here’s all of our fabulous local Finalists in this years Muddy Awards (sponsored by our local partner Keepers Cottages who celebrate their 10th anniversary this year), sorted by area so you can narrow down your new local gems. Basically, we’ve put together your summer hit list of boutiques, bookshops, day spas, destination pubs, family attractions… and more.
Go forth and enjoy…
SEVENOAKS, WESTERHAM, WROTHAM & SHOREHAM
- Life on High, Sevenoaks, (Bar)
- The Hart Spa, Sevenoaks, (Beauty Salon)
- The Samuel Palmer (Shoreham)
- Sevenoaks Bookshop, Sevenoaks, (Bookshop)
- The Eco Pantry, Seal, Sevenoaks (Sustainable Business)
- The Old Bank, Westerham (Restaurant)
- Reynolds Retreat, Sevenoaks (Day Spa)
- Flower & Glory, Sevenoaks (Florist)
- Gift Edition, Sevenoaks (Lifestyle Store)
- The Buttery & Glasshouse, Wrotham (Wedding Venue)
TUNBRIDGE WELLS, GROOMBRIDGE, BIDBOROUGH, SOUTHBOROUGH & RUSTHALL
- The Yoga House, Tunbridge Wells (Yoga/Pilates Studio)
- Sarah Gorman, Blendfit, Tunbridge Wells (Fitness Instructor)
- The Counter, Rusthall (Restaurant)
- Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, (Theatre/Arts Venue)
- Flow Yoga Studio, Tunbridge Wells, (Yoga/Pilates Studio)
- Kitch, Tunbridge Wells, (Women’s Fashion)
- Isabella Grace, Tunbridge Wells, (Bridal Store)
- Juliets, Tunbridge Wells, (Café)
- Luxe Vida, Tunbridge Wells, (New Lifestyle Start Up)
- Bora Studio, Tunbridge Wells, (Yoga/Pilates Studio)
- The Cove, Tunbridge Wells, (Florist)
- The Kentish Hare, Bidborough (Destination Pub)
- The Beacon, Rusthall, (Wedding Venue)
- Daily Bread, Rusthall (Café)
- RAW Copenhagen Jewellery, Tunbridge Wells, (Jeweller)
- Once Upon A Wish Events, Tunbridge Wells, (Children’s Business)
- Artique Gallery, Tunbridge Wells (Art Gallery)
- Fuggles Beer Café, Tunbridge Wells, (Bar)
- Royal Wells Beauty, Tunbridge Wells (Beauty Salon)
- Chomp, Tunbridge Wells (Children’s Business)
- Groombridge Farm Shop, Groombridge (Farmshop/Deli)
- The Gallery, Southborough, (Hair Salon)
MARGATE & WESTGATE-ON-SEA
- Buoy & Oyster, Margate, (Restaurant)
- The Classroom Children’s Bookshop, Westgate-on-Sea, (Bookshop)
- Sister Joan, Margate (Hair Salon)
GOUDHURST & HAWKHURST
- Rikke Line, Goudhurst, (Jeweller)
- Slap ‘n’ Dash, Hawkhurst (Children’s Business)
- Goupie, Goudhurst (Local Producer Food/Drink)
HEVER, CHIDDINGSTONE & PENSHURST
- Hever Castle, Hever (Family Attraction)
- The Leicester Arms, Penshurst (Boutique Stay)
- The Rock Inn, Chiddingstone (New Lifestyle Start-Up)
- My Time Pilates, Penshurst (Yoga/Pilates Studio)
CANTERBURY, WINGHAM & CHILHAM
- Bridal Boutique at Chilham, Chilham, (Bridal Store)
- Lilford Gallery, Canterbury, (Art Space)
- The Cave, Canterbury, (Hotel/Inn)
- Fringe & Ginge, Canterbury (Café)
- The Quaives Yoga, Canterbury (Yoga/Pilates Studio)
- The Falstaff Hotel, Canterbury (Hotel/Inn)
- The Malthouse Theatre, Canterbury, (Theatre/Arts Venue)
- Holly Finch, One Life Health & Fitness, Canterbury (Fitness Instructor)
- Rock Paper Scissors, Canterbury, (Lifestyle Store)
- Catching Lives Bookshop, Canterbury, (Bookshop)
- The Dog at Wingham, Wingham, (Destination Pub)
- The Night Yard, Canterbury (Wedding Venue)
- Wingham Wildlife Park, Wingham, (Family Attraction)
- Farmers Market & Food Hall, The Goods Shed, Canterbury, (Farmshop/Deli)
- Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, (Theatre/Arts Venue)
- The Pig at Bridge Place, Canterbury, (Hotel/Inn)
- Fitzgerald Jewellers, Canterbury, (Jeweller)
- Platform, Canterbury (Lifestyle Store)
- Wilmshurst Bakery, Wingham (Local Producer Food/Drink)
- Canterbury Cider, Canterbury (Local Producer Food/Drink)
PADDOCK WOOD & MARDEN
- Turners Cider, Marden (Local Producer Food/Drink)
- Emily Brown Photography, Paddock Wood (Photographer)
- Tom Jarrett, Brigade Fitness, Marden, (Fitness Instructor)
- The Little Marden Farm Shop, Marden (Farmshop/Deli)
TONBRIDGE, HILDENBOROUGH
- Emma Jeffery, Postnatal Personal Trainer, Hildenborough (Fitness Instructor)
- EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge, (Theatre/Arts Venue)
- Zilch – Zero Waste, Tonbridge (Sustainable Business)
- Victoria Green Photography, Tonbridge (Wedding Photographer)
CRANBROOK, GOUDHURST, HAWKHURST & STAPLEHURST
- Odyl, Cranbrook, (Women’s Fashion)
- The Glasshouse, Cranbrook (Sustainable Business)
- Slap ‘n’ Dash, Hawkhurst (Children’s Business)
- Rikke Line, Goudhurst, (Jeweller)
- Goupie, Goudhurst (Local Producer Food/Drink)
- Frankie’s Farmshop, Staplehurst (Farmshop/Deli)
FAVERSHAM & SHELDWICH
- Tales on Market Street, Faversham, (Bookshop)
- Charlotte Shaw, Top to Toe Fitness, Swale, Faversham, (Fitness Instructor)
- Sheldon Spa, Sheldwich, (Day Spa)
- Macknade, Faversham, (Farmshop/Deli)
- Huckleberry Woods, Faversham (Family Attraction)
- Simon Hawkins, Faversham (Wedding Photographer)
ASHFORD, GREAT CHART, EAST BRABOURNE & STOWTING
- Green Farm Spa, Ashford, (Day Spa)
- Leo & Sage, Ashford (Café)
- Five Bells Inn, East Brabourne (Destination Pub)
- Frasers of Egerton, Ashford, (Boutique Stay)
- Eastwell Manor Hotel & Spa, Ashford, (Hotel/Inn)
- Granary Spa, Great Chart (Day Spa)
- Justine Cullen Jewellery, Ashford (Jeweller)
- Made in Ashford, Ashford, (Lifestyle Store)
- The Tiger Inn, Stowting, (Destination Pub)
- Mrs Page Aesthetics, Ashford (Beauty Salon/Clinic)
- Anemone Blue Florist, Mersham le Hatch, Ashford, (Florist)
- Beehive, Ashford, (Women’s Fashion)
- Navette Jewellery Studio, Ashford (Jeweller)
- Bare Bazaar, Ashford (Sustainable Business)
- Lauren Potter Photography, Ashford (Wedding Photographer)
MAIDSTONE, WEST MALLING & SITTINGBOURNE
- Cocoon & Bloom, Maidstone (Florist)
- Kent Academy of Musical Theatre, Maidstone (Children’s Business)
- Vinetta Flower Gallery, Maidstone (Florist)
- The Orangery, Maidstone (Wedding Venue)
- Blond-E Hair Salon, Sittingbourne (Hair Salon)
- Coco & Bloom, West Malling (Florist)
- Dressed by Dee, West Malling (Women’s Fashion)
TENTERDEN & BENENDEN
- Skin & Beauty Clinic, Tenterden, (Beauty Salon)
- Vicki’s Bridal Boutique, Tenterden, (Bridal Store)
- Raffman & Huckster, Tenterden (New Lifestyle Start-Up)
- The Carriage Hair Studio, Benenden (Hair Salon)
FOLKESTONE, HYTHE & ALKHAM
- Rocksalt, Folkestone (Restaurant)
- Gaia Homeware, Folkestone (Sustainable Business)
- The Pilot Beach Bar, Folkestone (Bar)
- Fourth Wall, Folkestone (Art Gallery)
- Hide & Fox, Saltwood, Hythe, (Restaurant)
- The Hythe Imperial, Hythe, (Hotel/Inn)
- The Folkestone Bookshop, Folkestone (Bookshop)
- The Marquis of Granby, Alkham (Boutique Stay)
- Moo Like a Monkey, Folkestone (Children’s Business)
- Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone (Theatre/Arts Venue)
DEAL & SANDWICH
- The Rose, Deal (Boutique Stay)
- Hut 55, Deal (Café)
- Tamarisk, Deal (Women’s Fashion)
- Don’t Walk Walk, Deal (Art Gallery)
- Bijou Bridal Studio, Sandwich (Bridal Store)
- Betteshanger Country Park, Deal (Family Attraction)
- Matt Cook Photography, Deal (Wedding Photographer)
ROCHESTER, BROMLEY, WILMINGTON & DARTFORD
- Cooling Castle Barn, Rochester (Wedding Venue)
- Together Forever Bridal Boutique, Dartford, (Bridal Store)
- Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa, Wilmington (Day Spa)
- Under the Rainbow Events, Bluewater, Dartford (Art Gallery)
- Dorothy & Marshall, Bromley (New Lifestyle Start-Up)
BROADSTAIRS & RAMSGATE
- REIGN Bar & Lounge, Broadstairs (Bar)
- We Are Salon, Ramsgate (Hair Salon)
WHITSTABLE & ISLE OF SHEPPEY
- Porto Wine Bar, Whitstable (Bar)
- Beauty Lounge, Whitstable (Beauty Salon/Clinic)
- Tankerton Smokeshed, Whitstable (Local Producer Food/Drink)
- Basil & Co, Whitstable (New Lifestyle Start-Up)
- Elmley Nature Reserve, Isle of Sheppey (Boutique Stay)
ROMNEY MARSH
- Alpaca Annie, Burmarsh, Romney Marsh, (Family Attraction)
Winners announced 21 June!