Spotlight

Yuletide edibles for the sweetest tree in town this ChristmasWhether the tree’s already up and supercharged with decorations, or you’re getting ready to pick out a festive fir soon, don’t forget to add a few edible handmade treats for that all-important personal touch. Cue the ultimate recipe from Essex chef Jamie Oliver to ensure you have a merry little Christmas…
Christmas gift guide: food & drinkFor fine foodies, greedy gobblers, gin-drinkers and sugar-heads alike, this is the ultimate 2021 food and drink gift guide. The turkey isn't the only thing that'll be stuffed this Christmas...
What’s on: welcome to your December-diary must dos!Yep, it’s officially the season to eat, drink and be merry – but what else should you be cramming into your social calendar right now? Here are 20 of the best events in Essex to book now!
Christmas afternoon teas to enjoy during the holiday seasonPinkies poised for a Christmas afternoon tea! Here are our favourite foodie hangouts to nibble festive fancies in Essex.
Christmas gift guide: for himWhat to buy the bloke who has everything (or 'wants nothing')? We've sorted his Christmas list with 25 cool gifting ideas from independent brands and businesses across the Muddy counties

Well, hello!

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

Gotta Have It

Keep calm and carry on! 7 stylish totes for shopping

With luxury designer Anya Hindmarch launching a bag for the big supermarkets, it's time to raise your shopper game. Check out these seven beauties.

Gotta have it

What’s on this month

Fancy doing something fun? Er, always! Read on for our curated picks of the best things happening near you right now

See What's On

Eat

Yuletide edibles for the sweetest tree in town this Christmas

Whether the tree’s already up and supercharged with decorations, or you’re getting ready to pick out a festive fir soon, don’t forget to add a few edible handmade treats for that all-important personal touch. Cue the ultimate recipe from Essex chef Jamie Oliver to ensure you have a merry little Christmas…
- Christmas afternoon teas to enjoy during the holiday season
  
  Pinkies poised for a Christmas afternoon tea! Here are our favourite foodie hangouts to nibble festive fancies in Essex.
- Winter walks in Essex that are worthy of a pub-lunch refuel
  
  Love a countryside hack and post-ramble pub lunch? Us too. Step forward our pick of the most picturesque winter walks in Essex – and nearby soul-warming watering holes – that promise a hearty foodie hit for the hardiest of hot steppers this season

Culture

Pass that remote! Six things to watch this week

It’s freezing! Definitely the only excuse you need to catch up on some sofa time. On our watchlist this week: Benedict Cumberbatch’s cowboy “career-best”, on-demand opera, award-winning BBC comedy, and more.
- What’s on: welcome to your December-diary must dos!
  
  Yep, it’s officially the season to eat, drink and be merry – but what else should you be cramming into your social calendar right now? Here are 20 of the best events in Essex to book now!
- 8 things to watch this week on the big and small screen
  
  What to watch this week, you cry? From Lady Gaga serving looks in her murderously glam new movie to tension in the tent with the Bake Off 2021 final, here are your eight must-watches.
- The Essex Christmas markets you won’t want to miss!
  
  ’Tis the season to shop, right? So where better to start (and stop) than some of the county’s most traditional and talent-filled Christmas markets? Here’s our edit of the top Yuletide pop-ups to hit this year for all your stocking-filler essentials from local artists, crafters and artisanal makers, plus a smattering of festive foodie favourites
- 7 new releases to watch on TV this week
  
  Sweeping fantasy, bouncy musicals, the second series of Tiger King…it’s all happening on the box this week. Get into something comfy, pop open the Pringles and settle in for a watch.

Little Black Book

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

Florence Geary Photography

Wood Cottage Tea Room, Felsted

Amanda's Beautiful Ceremonies

Creeksea Place Barns

Frasers of Egerton, Ashford

OLIVETREEHOME

WIVENHOE HOUSE, WIVENHOE

Alpine Rose Interiors

Chigborough Farm, near Maldon

Browning Bros Glamping, near Colchester

Jepcrack's Barns, near Maldon

Tiptree Tea Room, Osea Island

Travel

Cool yule! Muddy guide to Christmas in Edinburgh

Ice rinks, Santa Land, fireworks and castles…For cracking Christmas celebrations and a helluva Hogmanay, head north of the border this winter.
- The best Black Friday travel deals!
  
  Staying in a gorgeous hotel or lying on a tropical beach never fails to make us happy, which is why we’re excited to bring you all the best discounts around the world. Just think of us as your BFF when it comes to BF!
- Escape by rail to these 7 heavenly new hotels
  
  No flight, no faff… hop on the train to these gorgeous new hotels from the newest Pig Hotel to a Peaks treehouse and a cheeky little number in Paris

Home

Anja Dunk’s Advent bake: the perfect Christmas biscuit

The Insta-star chef has brought out a gorgeous festive book of baking. Not only has she shared a delish (and pretty) recipe with us, but she’s offered three copies of her latest cookbook to Muddy readers!
- Ten bulbs to plant now for a dreamy spring garden
  
  Want to know how the Wormsley Estate in Bucks looks so fabulous come spring? Head gardener Charlotte Tremlin reveals her secret for glorious beds and baskets.
- Deck the doors! Christmas wreath-making workshops
  
  There’s nothing like a wreath-making workshop to let off some creative steam and get into the festive mood with some buddies. And before you say it’s too early, they’re selling out already, sweetie! Get your tickets now for these crackers.
Wellbeing
- Your health questions answered!
  
  Don’t understand why the weight won’t shift? Have a back that’s reminiscent of Quasimodo? Muddy puts your questions to Healthily’s chief medical officer, Professor Maureen Baker
- 8 amazing coastal walks across the county
  
  Fancy stretching your legs and filling your lungs with fresh sea air? Then stroll on over to Muddy’s definitive guide to the best coastal walks across Essex.

Life

Five gripping reads to give your working life a boost

What better inspo for giving your career a shake-up than the story of a creative genius who defied her generation and became a living legend. We’ve found the best books that embrace the Clarice Cliff spirit…
Kids
- ’Tis the season for a rip-roaring panto!
  
  From Brian Conley as Buttons in Cinderella to a live musical score in the Queen Theatre’s Aladdin, you can’t beat a loud, proud panto to ring in the joy of Christmas.
- 20 things to do with kids this October half term
  
  Half term’s looming but don’t be afraid – we’ve sorted the fun with 20 brilliant things to do in Essex to keep everyone from littlies to teens spook-tacularly entertained!

Instamuddy

Fashion

Where to rent, repair and sell gorgeous designer clothes

Madonna’s cone bra is now available to rent! It’s ethical, eco and everywhere… here’s where you can rent, repair and sell-on stylish clothes, from Christmas party outfits to eye-catching clutch bags
- 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.
- All that glitters! Bonkers sequin tote bags
  
  Lockdown uniform of jogging bottoms and tatty T losing its appeal? Time to get some sparkle back. First step: this bag from Maldon native Anya Hindmarch.
Beauty
- Hair transformation! Muddy goes ‘petrol’
  
  Time for a new ‘do? From subtle styling to bold design (read on!) Haringtons has you covered with slick service and skill. See what happened when Muddy sat in the salon chair…
- 5 nail polish shades we’ve fallen for this autumn
  
  Here’s how to update your autumn look for under £10, and be bang on trend to boot. Our five fave nail polish shades, from sparkles to berry to mustard.

People

Meet the maker: Dantes Ceramics

From potters and painters to stylists and chefs, Essex is awash with creative talent and in this new culture series, we meet the skilled artisans who deserve championing. First up: Isabelle Taylor-Jones of Dantes Ceramics in Wivenhoe
- 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.
- Naked weddings and tigers: stories from a celebrant
  
  Celebrants will do a wedding any way you want, which means they have all the best tales. Muddy sniffed out the juicy bits from local celebrant Amanda’s Beautiful Ceremonies.
- 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.
- Shazia Mirza is back in town
  
  She’s an ex-science teacher (“I hated them, they hated me”), yet former pupil Dizzee Rascal still calls her Miss. We chat with this fierce comedian as she takes her tour on the road