Muddy Stilettos Award Winner Drinks 2023 with view at Yotes Court — Photography by Mollie Manning

The Muddy Stilettos Awards 2023 is closed, the culmination of six weeks of cheer-leading, sharing the love and voting for the most brilliant local businesses across 28 Muddy counties, in partnership with our fab local partner Keepers Cottages.

This year, across all 28 Muddy counties, an astonishing 77,000 businesses nominated and 800,000 total votes cast in 2023. And in Kent alone, there was a total of 25,000 votes cast in the Final to decide who was crowned winner. I know, bonkers!

So our 2023 Kent Muddy Stilettos Awards winners gathered together for an evening of celebration this week at Yotes Court set between the picturesque villages of West Peckham and Mereworth. We’re big fans of this up-and-coming, cool winery with style and sustainability at the heart of its ethos – plus Vineyard Tours and Guided Wine Tasting experiences on offer – there’s so much to love.

There’s a horse racing connection – hence the wonderful pink spotted statue that greats you on arrival, just another fun dimension to the venue. Not to mention with some of the best views in Kent!

Frankly, the whole thing was a blast from beginning to end. Getting to meet inspirational, creative people – after all finding brilliant local businesses is right at the heart of Muddy and we really do love it.

Running a business requires great effort and to make it a successful one that brightens up our daily lives, adding to our community, is no mean feat. So it’s an honour to be able to celebrate this on behalf of hard-working business owners across Kent.

Bottles of Yotes Court wine in a cooler with ice

And these winning businesses should feel proud. ALL the Finalists were a hugely talented bunch and the battle to reach the finals was insane. So to then win is an incredible achievement, with hundreds and hundreds of businesses nominated from all corners of the county, from teeny-tiny villages, to our bigger towns.

But without you lovely readers there would be no party and no awards, so it’s a big heartfelt THANK YOU from me and the Muddy team for taking your time to vote and give your local favourites a pat on the back, you’ve really shown how in love with local you are. Your support means everything to them.

We all enjoyed a glass (or three) of something chilled and pink – the recently launched and delicious ‘Best Turned Out’ Pinot Meunier Rosé 2021 – thanks to the wonderful Yotes Court who generously donated drinks for the night and our sensational soft drinks were donated by award-winning Roughway Farm (pictured above).

There was also sensational tasty bites from events catering experts The Curious (pictured above) plus we enjoyed some handmade bespoke chocolates from the gorgeous Atelier who nailed the Muddy pink colour! (Check them out below).

It’s all over for another year, but we’ll see you in 2024 for more fun and games. Until then, huge congrats to the Muddy Awards Winners 2023!

A table of Atelier Bespoke Chocolates — Bespoke Muddy treats from Atelier Chocolate

One final thank yous to our brilliant creative team we had on the evening!

Photographer Mollie Manning capturing the story of you and your business so well (take 1 min out to look at her website and you’ll see what I mean.) She’s worked with some great local brands and influencers.

Plus our drone operator and videographer James Cross from Cross Visuals who went above and beyond (literally!) to capture the beautiful evening and we can’t wait to share soon!

I just want to take the opportunity once more to say a massive CONGRATS to everyone who found themselves nominated, a finalist and eventually a winner.

The warmth in the room really hit home to me how much talent, character and good-feeling there is here in Kent. I’m not sure my blithering speech did you justice, but the sentiment is definitely there!

Here’s some pics of our lovely winners, clutching their certificates (we even gave them window stickers too – the lucky sausages…) What a glamorous, joyous group of individuals they all are!

The Muddy Awards Winners Drinks 2023 – clink!

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