Wiltshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-say-hello-to">Say hello 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/19/2024/04/The-Duke-Hotel-Hilmarton.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33360" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/The-Duke-Hotel-Hilmarton.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/The-Duke-Hotel-Hilmarton-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/The-Duke-Hotel-Hilmarton-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Duke Hotel </figcaption></figure>



<p>It’s all about foodie feasts and quaffable cocktails over in Hilmarton, as Brandon and Matteo take over <a href="https://www.dukehotelhilmarton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Duke Hotel</a>. The food is already going down a storm &#8211; we love the look of this tarte au chocolat, served with coffee infused Chantilly and two-ways caramelised pecans. The drinks look every bit as tempting too. Try the Cloud Lily, a sublime combo of violet gin, Triple Sec, lemon juice and egg white. There are five boutique hotel rooms incoming too, so do keep an eye on the <a href="https://www.dukehotelhilmarton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> for updates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loaf-alert">Loaf alert </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/19/2024/04/Lark-Bakery-resized.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33356" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Lark-Bakery-resized.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Lark-Bakery-resized-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Lark-Bakery-resized-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Calling all loaf lovers! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lark_bakery/?locale=en_AE%202" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lark Bakery</a> has just opened in Bradford-on-Avon. We ventured in early one morning to find artisan baker Fred doing a roaring trade –  around 100 loaves and some 250 pastries are flying out the door every day. There’s coffee on offer too and the bakery ingredients, like milk and flour, are locally sourced. No soggy bottoms here&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lights-camera-action">Lights, camera, action</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/19/2024/04/Mary-Berry-Bayntun-tulips.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33357" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Mary-Berry-Bayntun-tulips.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Mary-Berry-Bayntun-tulips-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Mary-Berry-Bayntun-tulips-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bayntun Flowers</figcaption></figure>



<p>She may be a baking icon, but Mary Berry is also a huge gardening fan. So much so that she hot-footed it over to Wiltshire, to visit friend and tulip pro Polly Nicholson at <a href="https://www.bayntunflowers.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bayntun Flowers</a>, for its National Garden Scheme open day. If you missed out on tickets to visit Bayntun, near Calne, you can catch Polly in action at Dyrham Park on 2 May. She’ll be giving a talk on tulips and signing her gorgeous new book, <a href="https://www.phaidon.com/store/home-and-garden/the-tulip-garden-growing-and-collecting-species-rare-and-annual-varieties-9781838667689/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Tulip Garden</a> (Phaidon, £29.95).</p>



<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/19/2024/04/Judi-Dench-at-Wiltshire-Wildlife-Hospital-copyright-Claire-Spelling-and-WWH.jpg.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33364" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Judi-Dench-at-Wiltshire-Wildlife-Hospital-copyright-Claire-Spelling-and-WWH.jpg.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Judi-Dench-at-Wiltshire-Wildlife-Hospital-copyright-Claire-Spelling-and-WWH.jpg-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Judi-Dench-at-Wiltshire-Wildlife-Hospital-copyright-Claire-Spelling-and-WWH.jpg-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Claire Spelling / Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital</figcaption></figure>



<p>Meanwhile, Dame Judi Dench also made a star appearance in Wilts. The Oscar-winning legend has a massive passion for animals (she grew up with 17 cats&#8230;), so much so that she opened the new building at <a href="https://www.wiltshirewildlifehospital.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital</a>. The hospital, near Salisbury, is pretty impressive stuff – it helps over 4,000 orphaned or injured animals each year, including this rescued barn owl. You can’t visit, but you can offer your <a href="https://www.wiltshirewildlifehospital.co.uk/donate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">support</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restaurant-revamp">Restaurant revamp</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/Lucknam-Park-David-Christopher-Photography.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33377" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/05/Lucknam-Park-David-Christopher-Photography.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/05/Lucknam-Park-David-Christopher-Photography-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/05/Lucknam-Park-David-Christopher-Photography-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Walled Garden / David Christopher Photography</figcaption></figure>



<p>Lucknam Park has been teasing us over the opening of the new <a href="https://www.lucknampark.co.uk/walled-garden-restaurant-menus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walled Garden</a> restaurant for some time, and the moment has finally arrived. The bistro has had an oh-so-stylish makeover, and the menu is dreamy. Think grilled meats, hot smoked salmon with sourdough and epic salads. We’re in!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hip-hotel">Hip hotel </h2>



<p>Epic news for Corsham. The <a href="https://www.beckford.group/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beckford Group</a> has unveiled plans for a Beckford Bottle Shop, Bistro, Bramley Spa AND boutique hotel, on the high street. The finer details are being kept firmly under wraps for now, but we come December we can expect great things at <a href="https://corshamhouse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corsham House</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-fantastic">Food fantastic </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/19/2024/04/The-Rectory-at-Crudwell.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33353" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/The-Rectory-at-Crudwell.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/The-Rectory-at-Crudwell-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/The-Rectory-at-Crudwell-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Rectory </figcaption></figure>



<p>Two months into his tenure at <a href="https://therectoryhotel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Rectory Hotel</a>, the incredible Jake Simpson is more than making his mark. Earlier this year the hotel caused a ripple of excitement in foodie circles, when it announced that Jake would be joining, fresh from his tenure as head chef at Soho’s Bocca di Lupo. The recently-released lunch menu is sublime – we can’t wait to dive into clams and mussels with ham, broad beans and sherry. Alongside a compulsory side of fried potato cakes with wild garlic aioli, of course.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comedy-capers">Comedy capers</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/19/2024/04/Tweedy-Craig-Sugden.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33352" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Tweedy-Craig-Sugden.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Tweedy-Craig-Sugden-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/04/Tweedy-Craig-Sugden-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tweedy&#8217;s Massive Circus / Craig Sugden</figcaption></figure>



<p>Missing Tweedy’s superb slapstick humour, now he’s sadly departed Gifford’s Circus? Well, we have excellent news. He’s coming to Coombe Bissett in June, with his new show, <a href="https://underbelly.co.uk/show/tweedys-massive-circus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tweedy’s Massive Circus</a>. Expect clowning chaos from the comedy legend, in a tiny big top. The tour kicks off at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 24 May, before heading across the south west.</p>


Superflashy newsflash! The latest local gossip in Wilts

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