Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/12/Lewis-Moody-Helena-M-Photography-1.jpg" alt="Lewis Moody" class="wp-image-35386" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Helena M Photography</figcaption></figure>



<p>From winning the Rugby World Cup in Australia to touring with the British &amp; Irish Lions, Lewis Moody has seen a fair few corners of the globe. But 14 years ago, the former England captain touched down in Bradford-on Avon, and he hasn’t looked back. We nabbed him for a natter at an exclusive event at Farleigh House, aka Bath Rugby HQ, courtesy of <a href="https://www.jennatravers.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jenna Travers Property Search</a>.</p>



<p>Here, Lewis spills the beans on cocktails, coffee and his secret lunchtime spot…</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-did-you-come-to-call-bradford-on-avon-home"><strong>How did you come to call Bradford-on-Avon home?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/12/Lewis-Moody-Annie.jpg" alt="Lewis Moody and Annie copyright Lewis Moody " class="wp-image-35381" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lewis with wife Annie</figcaption></figure>



<p>I moved from Leicester Tigers to <a href="https://www.bathrugby.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bath Rugby </a>in 2010, which was controversial at the time because the clubs are fierce rivals. My wife Annie and I fell in love with the area and when I retired from rugby two years later, we decided to stay. We’ve since talked most of our family into joining us in the south west. My mum now lives in Bradford-on-Avon, and when Annie’s parents relocated from New Zealand they moved nearby. It’s very much home now and it’s all our sons Dylan, 16, and Ethan, 14, have known.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-so-great-about-the-area"><strong>What’s so great about the area?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/09/Bradford-on-Avon-Visit-Wiltshire.jpg" alt="Bradford on Avon Visit Wiltshire" class="wp-image-34345" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Visit Wiltshire</figcaption></figure>



<p>When we first moved to Bradford-on-Avon it felt like we were moving to a holiday destination, and that feeling has never really gone away. We live in a townhouse, with neighbours all around us, and we can access anything, from coffee shops to great food, schools and theatre. We’re a 10-minute train journey from Bath, so the kids can get the train&nbsp;to&nbsp;school&nbsp;or the rugby. It’s a great spot.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-are-your-favourite-foodie-haunts"><strong>Where are your favourite foodie haunts?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/12/Ravello.jpg" alt="Ravello" class="wp-image-35380" /></figure>



<p>If I was taking my mum or Annie out, we’d go to<a href="https://ravelloboa.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Ravello</a>, a lovely Italian in Bradford-on-Avon. We’ve been going there ever since we moved and the food and hospitality are both great.</p>



<p>We also love <a href="https://www.pizzeriaamiciboa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amici</a>, a pizzeria that’s been in the same family for generations. It’s a quirky little gem – there are probably only four or five tables – and the kids adore the pizza and calzone.</p>



<p>If we’re eating on the go in Bath, it has to be a rotisserie chicken or pork bun from the <a href="https://www.greenstreetbath.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Green Street Butcher</a>. The chicken comes with rocket, mayo and caramelised shallots, and it’s to die for. Word is obviously spreading though, because last time I went people were queuing down the street.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-if-you-re-after-a-caffeine-fix">And if you’re after <strong>a caffeine fix?</strong></h2>



<p>We’re lucky in Bradford-on-Avon, we seem to have more coffee shops and cafes than anything else. I have two favourite stops on the morning dog walk – <a href="https://www.doghouse.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoqIHGrE1xotmU4vwQqbty5vDeHluRQYHNyu-_krbSlokh2ORz8G" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Doghouse,</a> and <a href="https://www.little-rituals.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Rituals</a>. They both&nbsp;do really&nbsp;great coffee.</p>



<p>I didn’t really drink coffee when I played rugby, but that all changed when I discovered <a href="https://www.instagram.com/colonnacoffee/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colonna and Small’s</a> in Bath. I met Max, the owner, and he told me all about the different ways of roasting and serving it. It was a revelation, and he is solely responsible for me now drinking about seven cups a day.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-would-you-head-for-a-party"><strong>Where would you head for a party?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/12/Bath-Sophie-Barton.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35382" /></figure>



<p>If we’re in Bath, Annie and I would head to <a href="https://www.vinovinowinebar.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vino Vino</a>, which has lovely outdoor seating. We’d start with a couple of cocktails, or Annie would have a rose. When it comes to cocktails, <a href="https://darkhorsebar.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dark Horse</a>&nbsp;if the&nbsp;absolute nuts, it’s pretty special. If I was doing a crawl around town, which we did not long ago, we’d also head to <a href="https://hideoutbath.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hideout</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-or-to-just-chill-out"><strong>Or to just chill out…</strong></h2>



<p>When I was playing rugby, I’d often go to the cinema the night before a game. It&nbsp;gave me a bit&nbsp;of escapism and helped me switch off from the pressure. My eldest son Dylan loves the cinema too, so we go to the<a href="https://www.everymancinema.com/venues-list/g01vt-everyman-bath/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Everyman</a> in Bath. We recently went on a family outing to see the new Gladiator movie.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-your-boys-both-madly-into-rugby"><strong>Are your boys both madly into rugby?</strong></h2>



<p>My youngest, Ethan, is out-and-out rugby and a big Bath supporter. I also coach his Under 14 team. My oldest, Dylan, is into football, and he’s just signed a scholarship to Southhampton FC. He’s there full time now, he’s an amazing goalie.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-you-stay-fit-these-days"><strong>How do you stay fit these days?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/12/Lewis-Moody-North-Pole-1.jpg" alt="Lewis Moody Foundation" class="wp-image-35383" /></figure>



<p>I play for a local touch rugby league, which is a lot of fun. I run around Bradford-on-Avon and I do the Bath Half every year for <a href="https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/the-lewis-moody-foundation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lewis Moody Foundation</a>. Annie and I started the foundation in 2014, to support families affected by brain tumours, and we’ve raised over £2.5million so far. Over the last 10 years we’ve done challenges, including treks to the North and South Pole, and a 1,000 mile bike ride through Vietnam and Cambodia.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-inspired-you-and-annie-to-start-the-lewis-moody-foundation"><strong>What inspired you and Annie to start the Lewis Moody Foundation?</strong></h2>



<p>Shortly after I retired from rugby, I got a handwritten letter from a man called Graeme, telling me his son Joss Rowley-Stark had a very rare form of cancer. I jumped on a train to Sheffield to meet him, and took a load of rugby kit with me. Over the next 18 months I got to know the family well, but Joss very sadly died in 2013, aged just 16. He inspired Annie and I to funnel all our charitable work into one foundation. Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer in children and adults under 40, but they only receive 2% of funding.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-about-your-most-memorable-fundraiser"><strong>Tell us about your most memorable fundraiser?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2024/12/Lewis-Moody-North-Pole-2-1.jpg" alt="Lewis Moody Foundation " class="wp-image-35384" /></figure>



<p>&nbsp;Our first challenge was a trek to the North Pole, and it was like nothing you could imagine. I was totally unprepared, but it was brilliant. I took two of my World Cup winning teammates, Danny Grewcock and Josh Lewsey, and we were dropped onto a floating ice sheet in the ocean. There’s nothing but white as far as you can see and at night, when you’re sleeping in your tent, all you can hear is the ice creaking. With temperatures of -50C all you want to do is stay inside your tent, but reaching the North Pole was pretty special. You’re only actually there for a nanosecond though, because the point itself is at the&nbsp;bottom the&nbsp;ocean, and you’re standing on a constantly shifting ice platform.</p>



<p>I’ve just got back from a five-day trek across the Sahara, which involved scorching heat, painful blisters and sleepless nights. It was an incredible experience though!</p>



<p>With thanks to <a href="https://www.jennatravers.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jenna Travers Property Search</a></p>


Muddy meets rugby icon Lewis Moody

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