Wow, what a night!

The cocktail glasses were overflowing as we toasted the Bucks/Oxon winners of the Muddy Awards 2024 in the gorgeous setting on The Dairy at Waddesdon Manor. It was superb to meet so many inspirational local businesses, and hopefully help them on their way to even bigger and better things. (From the convos we had, they’re already cooking up big plans, so watch this space).

Take a squizz at our video of the evening, above, to meet our worthy winners for yourself, and don’t be shy about putting yourself up for a 2025 award (it’s free to enter, as ever). This year’s awards reached a staggering 10 million people nationally over eight weeks and more than 500,000 votes were cast. It’s still as thrilling as ever to shine a light on brilliant lifestyle indies that make our lives so much more fun and vibrant. Hope to see you next year!

When our founder Hero Brown started the Muddy Awards back in 2013, she threw the winners’ party in her garden, serving up the three essential food groups of champers, coffee and brownies. Well, now the awards are 11 years old (don’t they grow up so fast?), things have, you know, matured.

We partied at the Rothschilds’ Waddesdon Estate in Bucks, taking over its stunning private events space, The Dairy, for a gorgeous summer do that spilled out onto to the alfresco terrace as the drinks flowed (thank you, weather gods).

Outdoor eye candy came c/o the giant pastel-hued wedding cake sculpture by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, and the Angus Fairhurst gorilla sculpture we spotted across the lake.

This year’s awards were sponsored nationally by Tide, the brilliant banking platform for small businesses, and we were thrilled to welcome back our local sponsor Lightfoots Solicitors for the fourth year.

A Muddy party relies on brilliant local businesses to give it the desired zsush, so we send a huge thank you to the rustically elegant arrangements by JF Flowers, run by the brilliant Justine Swerling from her family farm in Chalfont St Giles.

And a big shout-out to our event’s official stylist, Next Home, who gave the awards an interiors glow-up with pieces from their Pinterest-worthy lookbook.

Food and drink was catered for via the brilliant Bucks-based Cavendish Events, led by the seasoned hospitality pros Liz and Greg Panter. They’re the go-to caterers for the Henley Regatta and organized Henry Kissinger’s 100^th birthday bash, so it’s safe to say they know how to throw a party.

Gin-lovers also had a treat, with G&Ts courtesy of Bicester-based former Muddy Award winner Sky Wave Gin (they scooped Best Food and Drink Producer last year, so kudos!). There was plenty of rosé to quaff on a balmy summer’s evening too – our wine supplier was the Waddesdon Rothschild Collection!

Our guests set off home with our goodie bags full of local artisan treats (there’ll be no plastic keyrings at Muddy Towers). We say a big thank you to Levin Wines for their premium bottles of rosé; Abingdon Distillery for their Wild Oxon Spiced Rum; Henley Naturals for their Hand & Body Wash and Clementine Balm; and Cotswold Baking for their delicious, gluten-free brownies. Last but not least, we’re loving the bath salts and rubber duck from Lightfoots Solicitors. Quack!

Finally, a sincere thank you to all of you who took part and showed your support and love for local businesses in Bucks & Oxon this year. It’s your passion and involvement that continues to make our awards so different, personal, and relevant to our communities.

So, here’s a refresher of the worthy Bucks Oxon champions for 2024. Work your way through the list of these fab companies over the next year and enjoy!

Take a look at the rest of the Regional Muddy Awards winners here!

A night to remember! All the goss from the Bucks & Oxon Muddy Awards Drinks 2024

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