The urban guide to the countryside -

Well, hello!

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

Gotta Have It

Making plans? Find your perfect Pub, Inn, Hotel, Café, Restaurant or Bar across the Muddy counties.

October Half Term in Sussex25+ things to do in during the holidays from crafts to comedy lessons and spooky Halloween fun
Winter boltholesFind a cosy pub with a fire or woodburner and comfort food here in Sussex or on an overnighter across the Muddy counties.
Get spooked during Drusillas' Shriek WeekEncounter creepy crawlies, mummies (of the bandaged kind) and the Gruffalo this Halloween
Rathfinny's new vineyard restaurantEnjoy fine food with a view, and perhaps the antics of 'Kevin' the kestrel, at this new Sussex eatery

Fri 19 - Sun 21 Oct

Thurs 18 - Fri 26 Oct

October 2018

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Rathfinny’s new vineyard restaurant

Enjoy fine seasonal food with a view, and perhaps the diverting antics of ‘Kevin’ the kestrel, at this new Sussex eatery
- The Curlew, Bodiam
  
  Muddy visits one of Sussex's best restaurants - a double Muddy Award finalist! - for a real foodie experience
- Dorset Arms, Withyham
  
  Find Winnie the Pooh connections on the doorstep and great home-reared food on your plate at this Ashdown Forest pub, renowned for its organic meat.
- Sussex’s foraged gin
  
  Muddy takes a peek behind the scenes at a truly local gin made from ingredients gathered from beach, woods and Downs
- South Downs tea walk
  
  Walk this circular route from Firle, near Lewes, taking in the Beacon and a lovely hidden tea garden

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Winter boltholes

Find a cosy pub with a fire or woodburner and comfort food here in Sussex or on an overnighter across the Muddy counties.
- Girls’ weekend getaways
  
  Try these 30 awesome spas, inns, bars and retreats across the Muddy counties and reconnect with your bezzies in style.
- Park House Hotel & Spa, Midhurst
  
  Super spa - tick... fab food - tick... rooms with a view - tick... check out this country house-style getaway

Best boot forward

Comfortable, waterproof and stylish too. These everyday boots from new Cornish footwear brand Trailback will see you through Autumn to Spring
- Hooray for high-waisted bikinis
  
  Feel at your best on the beach this summer in a flattering high-waisted bikini. Suits you!
- Gotta Have It!
  
  Perfect beach or festival accessories, these cheery bracelets in a huge range of colours help empower women in Mexico

Blood Brothers visits Sussex

One of the most diverse audiences I’ve been part of for a long time gave Blood Brothers a standing ovation at The Hawth in Crawley this week. A coach load of teens plus pensioners, and those of us in between, were catching the West End hit on its tour. For many of us it was not […]
- Rain Man on stage
  
  We’re going back to the 80s this week in Brighton with well-loved film Rain Man making...
- October’s best reads
  
  Clear space on your shelves and Kindle! Muddy's pro bookworm, Kerry Potter, has some literary inspiration for you.
- Writing, Wine & Wild Swimming
  
  Muddy scribbles a sentence or two at Tŷ Newydd, Wales' national centre for literature.
- Dirty Dancing on stage
  
  A true-to-screen production of the well-loved film hits the stage in Sussex.

Books for back to work blues

Summer hols over and you’re sitting at your desk dreaming of greener grass? We’re here to help with five ace new self-help books
Kids
- Music for Aardvarks
  
  Music sessions for kids six months to five years that are actually fun for adults as well
- Get spooked during Drusillas’ Shriek Week
  
  Encounter creepy crawlies, mummies (of the bandaged kind) and the Gruffalo this Halloween

Horrible Histories talks to Muddy

The family favourite is back in Sussex. Muddy spoke to co-director Neal Foster about what grisly goings-on are in store
- My Favourite Places – Carole Manley
  
  The founder of charity-focused Brighton Sings shares finds in Hove and beyond that reflect her love of exploring
- My Favourite Places: Dog-friendly eateries
  
  Dr John Mason MBE is one of the founders of The South Downs Planetarium at Chichester, which...
- My favourite places: Republica’s Saffron Sprackling
  
  Republica frontwoman Saffron Sprackling, most famous for nineties hits Ready to Go and Drop...