It’s a genuine privilege to help the worthy winners celebrate their success at the Dorset, Somerset & Bristol Muddy Awards winners’ drinks party. Some have been in business for years; others are newbies but each and every one is an inspiration. The Awards reached 10 million people nationally over eight weeks (I know, mind-blowing!), with over 515,000 votes and nominations cast nationwide – the competition in Somerset, Dorset & Bristol was unprecedented, by the way – making it the most popular Muddy Awards ever. So to win an Award really is a massive achievement.

This year we were lucky enough to hold the event at the wonderful Wraxall VIneyard, with super-talented photographer Suzy Slemen on hand to capture the day. Located on a south-facing hillside near Shepton Mallett, not only is the vineyard one of the oldest in Somerset (vines were first planted here in 1974), but they produce award-winning wines and have their own – stunningly designed wine bar The View@Wraxall.

Contemporary rusted metal, glass, with a grass roof and sun-drenched terrace – not at all what you’d expect deep in the Somerset countryside. Mind you, you don’t expect a vineyard like this either.

You can buy wine, take tours and guided tastings, book yourself in for lunch at The View@Wraxall, got to all sorts of events involving wine, pizza, music and more, or even make a weekend of it by staying in one of their pretty cottages (basically you never have to leave!).

David and the team at Vineyard did us proud, with glasses of their chilled wine and delicious canapés to get everyone in the mood.

There was wine tasting on the terrace, and up on the grass roof.

Everyone was on top form.

Very handily, the Vineyard is surrounded by fabulous artisan food producers.

There was all sorts of goat’s cheese from award-winning White Lake Cheese, who are five minutes up the road (I’m a big fan – always buy rellies a selection at Christmas) and fermented and pickled goodies from Cultjar, made at Worminster Farm.

Barber‘s are the oldest surviving cheddar cheese makers in the world.

Delish Buffalicious ice cream from a herd of water buffalo just outside of Yeovil.

There was Wraxall wine to take away.

Here are the wonderful winners, starting with Best Arts, Culture & Theatre, Black Swan Arts, an exciting gallery and art centre – with a great café – in Frome.

Serving up killer cocktails in a secret location in Frome (hint: just look for the eagle) is Best Bar Hydeaway.

Best Beauty Salon/Clinic, Callie Ann Lashes and Brows (that’s glam Callie on the right), are keeping everyone looking stunning in the cool Southbourne area of Bournemouth.

Where’s the place to go for tip top coffee and cake in Somerset, Dorset and Bristol? The Best Café, Blackmarsh Farm Café, is located on a working dairy farm with a brilliant kids’ play area on the edge of Sherborne.

Natural parenting shop and support space Bronwyn’s Baby in Wells won Best Children’s Business.

The Red Lion Inn in the village of Babcary has atmosphere, fantastic food – a la carte, pub classics and wood-fired pizza oven in the pretty gardens – and chic bedrooms. No wonder it was voted Best Destination Pub.

Get married, throw a party at Best Event Venue Coombe Lodge, a gorgeous Jacobean-style country manor house in 20 acres of landscaped gardens in Blagdon, just outside Bristol.

Best Family Attraction is Seal’s Cove, an indoor adventure centre in Bridport with soft play and climbing walls. Can adults have a go too? (The answer is yes!)

Best Farmshop is always a very hotly contested category and Newton Farm Shop – shop, butchery, café, events – in Newton St Loe near Bath, are the very well-deserved winners.

Best Fitness Instructor Bath-based Ro Feilden-Cook runs an innovative online fitness programme for women called The She Collective. I’m thinking of signing up – you too?

Florist and flower farmer supremo Georgie Newbery of Common Farm Flowers in Charlton Musgrove is Best Florist.

Best Hair Salon Salon Fish are the guys responsible for keeping Sherborne well-coiffed.

Moonfleet Manor, the luxury, super-family friendly Georgian manor hotel overlooking Chesil Beach, near Weymouth was voted Best Hotel.

Wells-based English Pink (who would have guessed?) who produce a Provence style rosé with a touch of English glamour are Best Local Food and Drink Producer.

The Best Wine & Beer Specialist is Poundbury’s independent wine merchant, The Dorset Wine Company, who stock an eclectic range of wine, beers, spirits – and cigars!

Finally, The Best Yoga/Pilates Studio is the inspiring Robyn’s Yoga Studio in Bath.

All our winners, along with winners from the other Muddy counties, will go through to the 2024 National Awards with the ‘Best of the Best’ Winners crowned in July 2024 – so watch this space!

See all the worthy champions across Dorset, Somerset & Bristol for 2024. Print off the list, work your way through them, and enjoy! Love from Annie and Sue.

Pop the corks! Behind the scenes at the Dorset, Somerset & Bristol Muddy Awards 2024 drinks party

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