The sun gods were on our side for the big event celebrating your brilliant local winners, which took place at The Orangery Tea Room at Ketteringham Hall – a fabulous lakeside venue surrounded by Norfolk countryside.

The Muddy Awards, in partnership with our fab national sponsor Beauty Pie, is a huge deal with over 77,000 businesses entered, 800,000 nominations and votes cast, and 1.6 million people interacting with the Awards across the Muddy counties. The competition in Norfolk was unprecedented so it was only right the victors had the opportunity to celebrate in style.

Glad rags were donned, stilettos were strapped on, and the tranquil surroundings were pierced with whoops of delight as the local winners of the Muddy Awards 2023 – as voted by you – gathered to celebrate being crowned the ‘best of the best’ in Norfolk.

Corks popped as your local champs – see them all here – turned out to collect their certificates. And what an afternoon it was. Here’s how it unfolded.

Strike a pose! Muddy Norfolk editor Nancy and commercial manager Jo

The fun kicked off at 5pm, with the winners making their way down the fittingly grand approach to The Orangery Tea Room where editor Nancy and commercial manager Jo were on hand to welcome everybody.

Let the party begin

Champagne and canapés by the trayful greeted the winners. The talented team at The Orangery Tea Room created an array of mini bites – all with a pink theme of course! – including beetroot cup with a whipped goats cheese, smoked salmon blinis, raspberry cheesecake profiterole, and ruby chocolate tart.

All this deliciousness was washed down with pink fizz adorned with fresh raspberries and Norfolk Cordials supplied by Sarah of Softley Events, who also lent her party planning panache.

The beautiful floral displays both inside and outside the venue were created by Libby Ferris of Niche Flowers, Norwich.

Speech!

After the mingling it was down to the serious business of more toasting! Nancy stepped up to thank everyone.

The cupcakes

Everyone took home a scrummy Muddy-themed cupcake, created by the talented team at The Orangery Tea Room.

The winners’ gallery

Muddy Awards Party 2023 Josie and Gareth

And then it was just time for the official photo opps, glittering certificates in hand. Our woman behind the camera for the day was talented local photographer Josie Tate of Love Tate Photography, a dab hand at making everyone feel at ease (yep, these are her awesome pics you’re looking at!).

And making us all feel like movie stars, our videographer was the amazing Gareth Gabriel of Film and Photo, who also captured some incredible aerial footage with his drone.

Here are a few of our stellar winners.

Best Destination Pub winners Nicola and Grace Colchester of The Recruiting Sergeant

Maddy Hall and Amy Marlow-King – winners of Best Bridal Store

Best Restaurant team Mark Dixon, Ryan Andrews, Daniel Morton and Jade Robinson of Kings Arms Fleggburgh

Leanne Fridd of Bookbugs & Dragon Tales, winner of Best Bookshop

Best Sustainable Business – Chet Valley Vineyard’s Bridget Hemmant and Hannah Partridge

Hannah Clark of The Scented Barn – Best Lifestyle Store

Best Children’s Business: Katie Ponton of Double Trouble Prints & Designs, with mum Sue Stillwell

Best Wedding Venue: Hockwold Hall – Selica Lee and Allison Desouza

Best Art Gallery – Maná Art’s Carolina Walker and Donna Parrot

Eleanor Kinder of Eleanor Rose Pilates – Best Yoga/Pilates Studio

Lynn Chambers-Dowe and Trevor Dowe of Chestnuts Coffee winners of Best Café

Sonia Burgess of Flower Folk – Best Florist

Neil and Lisa Plumb of Lisa & Neil
Wedding Photography – our Best Wedding Photographer

Charlotte Sims and Chloe Cutting of Charisma Beauty, Skincare & Aesthetics – Best Beauty Clinic/Salon

Howard Millman and Stuart Burgess of Time and Tide Museum – Best Family Attraction

Best Farm Shop: Bethany and Linda Willgress of Church Farm Shop

Lucy Scriven-Gowing and Nicky Bishop of Park Farm – Best Hotel

Best Fitness Instructor Matt Philpot with wife Emma

And finally…

Lastly, a huge thank you from myself, the editor, and Jo. Whether you were just nominated, a finalist or made it to top dog this year – you are all winners in our book!

Thanks for being part of it and thank you for voting.

It’s been an absolute ball… roll on 2024.

A big thank you to the awesome team at The Orangery Tea Room and Sarah of Softley Events

Pop the corks! Muddy Awards 2023 Winners Drinks

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