Essex


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/3-3-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Gallery Maldon Jo Milne" class="wp-image-21233" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/3-3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/3-3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/3-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/3-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jo-how-did-you-go-from-living-in-sussex-to-essex">Jo; how did you go from living in Sussex to Essex?</h2>



<p>I was born in Hastings but as a child we moved around a lot. My first home was in Cambridge followed by London, before we decided after 12 years of city life to move to Coggeshall, finding a gorgeous Grade II listed house that we&#8217;ve spent the last three years renovating.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-own-the-gallery-in-maldon-how-and-why">You own <a href="https://www.thegallerymaldon.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gallery</a> in Maldon – how and why?</h2>



<p>At school I studied Art &amp; Design – but became a singer travelling the world! After having kids I got a job, but was furloughed so started to paint again. Realising how much I missed it, in 2024 we opened up to exhibit my paintings with other UK artists. So far the feedback&#8217;s been great.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-let-s-move-on-to-essex-where-do-you-go-to-eat-out">Let&#8217;s move on to Essex. Where do you go to eat out?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/4-4-1000x667.jpg" alt="Talbooth Restaurant " class="wp-image-21234" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/4-4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/4-4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/4-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/4-4.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The <a href="https://www.milsomhotels.com/talbooth-restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Talbooth Restaurant</a> in Dedham, a lovely restaurant by the riverside. The food&#8217;s delicious and the service is great, plus they cater well for me as I&#8217;m vegetarian. I also love how the options are a little different than the usual mushroom risotto I have to eat in most other places!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-want-to-pamper-yourself-where-do-you-head">You want to pamper yourself. Where do you head?</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.halohairholistics.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Halo Hair Holistics</a>, a small home salon in Heybridge Basin offering hairdressing and holistic healing treatments. I’ve been going here for a while, and their reiki healing is amazing. They also offer reflexology and chakra fusion – you come away floating on a cloud!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-time-for-a-tipple-do-you-have-a-go-to-bar">It&#8217;s time for a tipple. Do you have a go-to bar?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/5-2-1000x667.jpg" alt="Rupert's Coggeshall" class="wp-image-21235" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/5-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/5-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/5-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/5-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://sg-brewing.com/tap-rooms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rupert&#8217;s</a> in Coggeshall for definite. A new cocktail bar and tap room, we’ve been several times and it’s now our favourite place to have a drink – and not just because it’s a one minute walk from our house! It’s really stylish and the cocktails are great, especially the Espresso Martinis.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-support-any-other-indie-business">Do you support any other indie business?</h2>



<p><a href="https://maldonbooks.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maldon Books</a>. They have a great range of titles for children and adults, and in recent months they&#8217;ve added a secondhand record shop within the store called Novel Sounds. I love how they also have various events on, whether it’s a book launch or talks with authors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-wise-it-s-surely-got-to-be-the-gallery">Art-wise: it&#8217;s surely got to be <a href="https://www.thegallerymaldon.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gallery</a>.</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/2-5-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Gallery Maldon" class="wp-image-21236" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/2-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/2-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/2-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/2-5.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Yup! <a href="https://www.thegallerymaldon.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gallery</a> is unique as I support emerging and established abstract artists nationwide, all of which is meaningful and cohesive. There&#8217;s ceramics, pottery and sculptures, too – plus the free bubbly we serve on the first Saturday of each month is a lovely way to start the weekend!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-you-go-for-a-spot-of-culture">Where do you go for a spot of culture?</h2>



<p>I love the nostalgia of a steam engine, so it&#8217;s got to be <a href="http://www.museumofpower.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Museum Of Power</a>. It includes &#8216;Marshall&#8217; – which is apparently the largest steam engine in Essex – and there&#8217;s also a cute model village, mini railway and tearoom with cakes and lunch menus.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-what-about-a-spot-of-fresh-air">And what about a spot of fresh air?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/6-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Markshall Arboretum &amp; Gardens" class="wp-image-21237" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/6-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/6-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/6-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/6-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We love to wander around <a href="http://www.markshall.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Markshall Arboretum &amp; Gardens</a> with our dogs for their lakes and woodland walks. They&#8217;ve recently added a <a href="https://mrssalisburys.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mrs Salisbury&#8217;s</a> tearoom in the barn with delicious food and drink. They even stock doggie sausages to fill our two up after a long walk.</p>



<p><em>Visit Maldon&#8217;s <a href="https://www.thegallerymaldon.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gallery</a> for its paintings, ceramics and sculptures, being sure to also follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564941766214" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_gallery_maldon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>. And don&#8217;t forget to find out <a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/thegallerymaldon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more about the gallery here</a>.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/1-5-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Gallery Maldon shopfront" class="wp-image-21238" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/1-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/1-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/1-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/02/1-5.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>


My favourite Essex places: Maldon’s The Gallery owner Jo Milne

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