Wiltshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-warm-welcome-to">A warm welcome to&#8230; </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Hop-Pole-Inn-Ed-Schofield.jpg" alt="Hop Pole Inn Ed Schofield" class="wp-image-35642" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Hop-Pole-Inn-Ed-Schofield.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Hop-Pole-Inn-Ed-Schofield-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Hop-Pole-Inn-Ed-Schofield-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ed Schofield / Hope Pole Inn</figcaption></figure>



<p>Calling all pub-lovers! Limpley Stoke’s <a href="https://www.hoppoleinn.uk/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaa4XrSE78mxWmKaBrA5IkN5y0yhuYzbuQYFAktFlui2OokDgFZukKebrig_aem_FVavEXspGOG1McZjDnNHbQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hop Pole Inn</a> reopens on 25 Jan, and there’s much excitement over this community-owned gem. Volunteers raised nearly £1.2million to save it and now Charlie Rawlings and Hannah Randall have taken the helm. Expect friendly vibes and scrumptious food, much of which hails from chef Charlie’s family farm&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ibiza-rocks">Ibiza rocks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/London-Community-Gospel-Choir-by-Nedim-Nazerali-.jpg" alt="London Community Gospel Choir by Nedim Nazerali" class="wp-image-35643" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/London-Community-Gospel-Choir-by-Nedim-Nazerali-.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/London-Community-Gospel-Choir-by-Nedim-Nazerali--800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/London-Community-Gospel-Choir-by-Nedim-Nazerali--768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image by Nedim Nazerali</figcaption></figure>



<p>Hot off the press&#8230;. London Community Gospel Choir is set to join the Urban Soul Orchestra at<a href="https://www.classicibiza.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Classic&nbsp;Ibiza</a> this summer. Chances are you’ve heard them in action at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Glastonbury, or the Grammys. They’ve even recorded with the likes of Adele, Blur, Madonna and Gregory Porter – pretty impressive stuff. This year is Classic Ibiza’s 10<sup>th</sup> birthday, so it’s a biggie. If you haven’t bagged your tickets for Bowood House (18 and 19 July), we’d suggest booking pronto.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dine-with-a-difference"><strong>Dine with a difference</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/05/Ashcombe-Estate-WildKitchen-x-Carousel.jpg" alt="Ashcombe Estate WildKitchen" class="wp-image-33527" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/05/Ashcombe-Estate-WildKitchen-x-Carousel.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/05/Ashcombe-Estate-WildKitchen-x-Carousel-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/05/Ashcombe-Estate-WildKitchen-x-Carousel-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Great news for foodies <em>and</em> film buffs. Movie director Guy Ritchie is once again opening up the lakeside WildKitchen at Ashcombe, his Wiltshire estate. This year’s series of<a href="https://carousel-london.com/whatson/ashcombe-x-carousel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> dinners</a> kicks off in May, with a Michelin star-studded line-up that includes Alex Nietosvuori (Hjem) and Andy Beynon (Behind). With only 16 guests each time, this is a pretty exclusive affair. Fancy making a weekend of it? Book a two-night stay at his farmhouse too. Heaven.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fab-festival-news"><strong>Fab festival news&#8230;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Shindig-Festival.jpg" alt="Shindig Festival" class="wp-image-35586" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Shindig-Festival.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Shindig-Festival-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Shindig-Festival-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://shindigfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shindig Festival</a> is heading to Wiltshire in May 2025, fresh from Somerset. It&#8217;s taking up residence at Charlton Park near Malmesbury, which was previously home to WOMAD. This one is billed as a family-friendly festival for party people, so expect tons for the kids to get stuck into (think everything from circus skills to graffiti and breakdancing). The full music line-up is yet to be announced, but early revelations include Gilles Peterson, Seun Kuti &amp; Egypt 80, plus Ibibio Sound Machine. We’re in!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-big-shout-out-to"><strong>A big shout-out to&#8230;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/09/The-Great-Bustard-interior-Dave-Watts-1.jpg" alt="The Great Bustard credit Dave Watts" class="wp-image-34447" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/09/The-Great-Bustard-interior-Dave-Watts-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/09/The-Great-Bustard-interior-Dave-Watts-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/09/The-Great-Bustard-interior-Dave-Watts-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dave Watts</figcaption></figure>



<p>The Great Bustard earned a massive Muddy thumbs up when it opened a few months ago, and it’s now landed a well-deserved spot in the Michelin Guide. If you haven’t whizzed over to Great Durnford, we highly recommend you give it a go. Jordan Taylor’s food is divine – think Durnford Estate lamb, Hampshire venison and a mean Sunday roast. Check out our review, <a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/review-the-great-bustard-great-durnford-salisbury-hotel-near-me-wiltshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-raise-a-glass-at"><strong>Raise a glass at&#8230;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Untitled-design-2025-01-20T213346.179.jpg" alt="Witchmark Distillery" class="wp-image-35640" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Untitled-design-2025-01-20T213346.179.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Untitled-design-2025-01-20T213346.179-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/01/Untitled-design-2025-01-20T213346.179-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Prefer Ginuary to Dry January? So do we. <a href="https://witchmark.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Witchmark Distillery</a> in Fonthill Bishop is throwing open its (rather impressive) doors for tours. Check out how they make their whisky, gin and vodka, plus you’ll get to taste a few too. Their Grade II listed barn is a pretty lovely spot – plus it’s near the <a href="https://www.beckfordarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beckford Arms</a> if you work up an appetite.</p>


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