The wine was chilling…

The certificates were gleaming…

Laura Fulner and Lisa Buckland Muddy Devon party — Laura Fulner and I – welcome to my home (I wish!)

And the pink stilettos were finally out.

It could mean only one thing – time for Devon’s magnificent Muddy Awards 2025 Partaaaaay!

Muddy Awards Devon winners party at Bovey Castle Dartmoor Devon

The wonderful Muddy Awards 2025 winners had left their brilliant Muddy Award-winning businesses for the afternoon to come from all over the county to raise a glass and celebrate their well-deserved success.

And muck about having our pictures taken!

bovey castle blue sky — Credit Bovey Castle

Our host was the award-winning jewel in Dartmoor’s hospitality crown, Bovey Castle Hotel & Spa, and our venue the knock-out Cathedral Room with its impressive fireplace, vaulted ceiling and wood-panelled gallery.

Catedral Room Bovey castle — Credit Bovey Castle

I cannot recommend it enough if you’re looking for an upmarket Saltburn kinda-place to party. The hotel and spa is place to be totally spoilt, with two restaurants, a spa with an indoor pool and treatments rooms, and a whole array of opportunities for outdoor pursuits, from golfing to falconry. It’s a must-see.

Muddy Awards Devon canapés at Bovey Castle

Our esteemed winners had a chance to mingle with a glass of fizz and Bovey’s tasty handmade canapés.

Muddy Awards winner party at Bovey Castle Devon

The lifestyle business owners were across 21 lifestyle categories, from Best Farm Shop (hello Fordmore!)…

…to Women’s Style (two-times winner and National Muddy winner Deni from Identity Fashion on Royal William Yard)…

The Edgy Therapist and Gem Yoga at the Muddy Awards Devon party at Bovey Castle

…to Best Yoga Studio (hi Gem!) and a new category for 2025 Best Wellbeing Specialist (The Edgy Therapist).

Your marvellous Muddy editor stepped up to bumble through her speech (which for once, she hadn’t left at home on the printer) with a few surprises in store.

Rhys Babyrockers Best Children's Business Muddy Awards Devon 2025

In a first for the Muddy Awards, we had a musician winner, Rhys of Best Children’s Business Babyrockers, who delights the babes and mums (also babes) of Devon with his music classes for tots. So instead of rocking to the sounds of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, we properly rocked to the sounds of Blur (Pram Life, obvs) and a bespoke Muddy Awards toon just for us. Take a bow, Rhys!

Next, it was huge thanks to our Devon sponsor, Tors Park, a super-stylish self-catering stay on the Exmoor Coast, which revels in eye-popping views of Lynmouth, Lynton and the ocean waves. They’ve just opened a brand-new Wellness offering with spa treatments, outdoor yoga classes, and an al fresco sauna and ice bath with views of the sea. I have been three times with family and friends, it’s that good. But don’t take it from me – do try it yourself.

It was a huge thanks to the local business who had provided treats for the winners’ goody bags, including Sandford Orchards, Princetown Press, Luscombe Drinks, Black Dog Gin and Nicola’s Chocolate.

The bag also contained details of Muddy’s Crowdfunder business initiative where businesses can win up to £10,000 cash and promotional support from Muddy to give your business a real boost. The bag that keeps on giving.

Nicola from Nicola's Chocolate at Muddy Awards Devon at Bovey Castle

Running a Crowdfunder herself, Nicola from Nicola’s Chocolate took the floor to tell us about her genius plan to create a chocolate factory from where she will make her delicious bean-to-bar choc and run chocolate-making classes. Look to your laurels, Wonka.

Denise Cakes at the Muddy Devon Awards 2025

As you know, we quite like scoffing and quaffing on Muddy, so it was also a massive big-up to Denise’s Little Cake Company who had pulled out all the stops to make 50 pretty-in-pink Muddy-themed cupcakes in super-speedy time.

Mel Pacoe Bovey Castle Business Development Manager

Mel Pascoe, Bovey Castle’s Business Development Manager congratulated the winners, rightly drawing a comparison between their unique style and utter brilliance and that of Bovey Castle’s. We’ll drink to that.

I thanked ace Devon wedding photographer, Jo Cunningham Photography, herself a former Muddy Award Winner, for stepping up for the umpteenth year to capture our best sides. Thank you, Jo, you’re a marvel – especially for how quickly you turned around the pics the next day.

Devon Muddy Awards winners 2025 at Bovey Castle

Devon Muddy Awards 2025 winners at Bovey Castle

Finally, it was outside to the terrace to capture the winners in all their glory, so now I’ll let Jo’s gorgeous pictures do the talking. Thanks to everyone for making the Muddy Awards 2025 a brilliant success and see you all in 2026!

South Hams Devon Muddy Awards winners — L-R South Hams winners: Kenyon Deli & Wine, The Pigs Nose Inn, Apothespa, Pennywell Farm

L-R Dartmoor winners: Hayne Devon, Gem Yoga Teacher Training

L-R Plymouth winners: The VOT, The Box Museum & Gallery, Heyl Bakery, Identity Fashion

L- R Teignbridge and Torbay winners: Babyrockers, Compton Pool Farm

Muddy Awards Devon winners 2025 — L-R Mid-Devon winners: Fordmore Farm Shop, Pure Hair & Aesthetics

L- R Exeter winners: Crave Restaurant, The Edgy Therapist

Woohoo! All the goss from the Devon Muddy Awards’ 2025 winners’ party

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