We came, we partied and then we wanted to say ‘thank you’…

On the 7th July we at Bloom Stays helped to host the 2022 Muddy Stilettos awards for the Kent region at Great Higham Barn just outside Faversham and what a night of fun and new friends it was.

Muddy Stilettos’ Awards are now one of the best recognised and engaged small and local business awards in the UK. Run regionally, we supported the Kent version so we had the opportunity to meet a bevvy of winners from across the 27 categories that the awards honour. From hairdressers to arts spaces, children’s entertainers to cafes, hotels, bars and personal trainers, they were all worthy winners and represent the best of what’s available locally. Importantly they are all voted for by their clients and customers who give them nod via the weight of the online voting.

And vote they do – in their thousands! This year more than local independent businesses were involved than ever in the Muddy Kent Awards. Over 1,200 individual businesses took part in the first, nomination round, of the award and 17,000 nominations were cast. In the final round, a further 25,000 votes decided who went on to be crowned winners in the 27 different categories.

Bloom Stays now has over 80 holiday homes across Kent and one of the best reasons for supporting the Muddy awards we felt was to use this amazing opportunity to make friends with all the shortlisted and winning companies involved. We always share our best recommendations with our guests and only by getting to know these places can we be sure that we’re endorsing the best. We may know Kent really well, but we have to keep on top of everything that’s happening too.

The awards were perfect for that. We chatted to everyone on the night trying to pick up what they were doing and asking how Bloom Stays guests could engage with them. One of our best Bloom Stays’ properties was chosen to host this auspicious occasion – Great Higham Barn. It’s certainly one of our largest, sleeping 44 people over multiple properties, and with the main barn showing off it’s huge internal dimensions and dining table as well as its beautiful grounds including a pool, tennis court and hot tub in its own woods, our Muddy Stilettos guess had plenty of inspiration on the night for self catering get aways in Kent.

As you’d expect the food and drink had a quality, classy and ultimately brilliantly local flavour to it. Biddenden Wines supplied the Kentish bubbles and the food was innovatively served in small, grazing ‘boats’ containing local cheeses and cured meats, roasted vegetables and delicious cracker breads. Plenty of ideas for parties served up here.

From the Marlowe theatre to Sissinghurst’s pub, The Milk House; The Bee Hive in Ashford; The Bookshop in Sevenoaks; Anemone Florists in Ashford – and everyone else… Thank you all for coming and we had a great time making some new friends. Let’s go spread the word for Kent, local businesses and celebrating everything fantastic we find here.