Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-billy-lockett-makes-it-to-number-1">Billy Lockett makes it to Number 1!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="746" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Billy-Lockett-Gavin-Wallace-002.jpeg" alt="Billy Lockett The Voice" class="wp-image-50355" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Billy-Lockett-Gavin-Wallace-002.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Billy-Lockett-Gavin-Wallace-002-300x224.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Billy-Lockett-Gavin-Wallace-002-768x573.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Gavin Wallace</figcaption></figure>



<p>Did you watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxFfQh8dxII" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Voice on ITV</a> on Saturday? If you did, you&#8217;ll have seen none other than the darling of the Northampton music scene, Billy Lockett, get four turns from the judges and a song from McFly&#8217;s Tom and Danny, who pretty much begged Billy to be on their team, not to mention being serenaded by LeAnn Rimes. Billy absolutely wowed the judges with his performance, in which he sang his original song, <em>I Could Use A Friend</em>, and has subsequently made it to the Number 1 spot in the iTunes chart, briefly beating Coldplay, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. Well done Billy! You can read our <a href="https://northantsleicsrutland.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/muddy-meets-singer-songwriter-billy-lockett/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent interview with Billy here</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-press-esc">Press Esc</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="838" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Esc-Silverstone-838x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-50387" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Esc-Silverstone-838x1024.jpeg 838w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Esc-Silverstone-245x300.jpeg 245w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Esc-Silverstone-768x938.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Esc-Silverstone.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px" /></figure>



<p>You&#8217;re not likely to just stumble across the newly opened ESC restaurant at <a href="https://escapade.silverstone.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Escapade Silverstone</a>, as access is exclusively via the high security entrance to the circuit, a looong drive around the outside of the track and then through an electric gate that requires a booking to get through, so pre-booking is essential and we highly recommend giving it a whirl. I went for dinner last weekend and it really is an incredibly special spot and beautifully styled with F1 themed artwork. Try and get a table at sunset while the timing still works as it boasts beautiful views across the track. Or, if you go for lunch, you might even be lucky enough to catch some testing. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cafe-society-all-change">Café Society &#8211; all change</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="719" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Eleven-Long-Buckby.jpg" alt="pastries at Elenen Long Buckby Ten Hands Daventry" class="wp-image-50365" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Eleven-Long-Buckby.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Eleven-Long-Buckby-300x216.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Eleven-Long-Buckby-768x552.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Born and Bread bakery in Long Buckby has been closed for a revamp in August and is set to re-open its doors under a brand new name. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eleven__lb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eleven Long Buckby </a>will be  opening 6 days a week (Tue-Sun) from 11 Sep with an increased seating capacity inside and out, serving up amazing coffee, cakes and pastries, with new foodie developments on the horizon. Can&#8217;t wait.</p>



<p>And on that note, the team behind the absolutely amazing <a href="https://www.tenhands.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ten Hands</a> café in Towcester have taken up the reigns at what was Born and Bread&#8217;s second site on Daventry&#8217;s Sheaf Street. They&#8217;ve been working hard behind the scenes to give the place a snazzy re-brand and are also set to open on 11 Sep. Good luck in the new venture guys!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cocktails-in-theatreland">Cocktails in Theatreland</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="869" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Lolas-Bar-Northampton.jpeg" alt="Lolas Bar Northampton" class="wp-image-50373" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Lolas-Bar-Northampton.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Lolas-Bar-Northampton-300x261.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Lolas-Bar-Northampton-768x667.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Earlier in the summer we bid a sad farewell to one of our favourite remote working spots and cheese toastie specialists, John Franklins on Guildhall Road in Northampton, but the good news is that Bad Butler Hospitality, the creative powerhouse behind Saints Café and Pala restaurant, have taken up the mantle, with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lolastapasbar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lola&#8217;s Bar</a>, a gorgeous new mid-century look we are very much here for. Expect cocktails and small plates coming your way very soon &#8211; the perfect spot for pre-theatre drinks and nibbles. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sound-the-horn">Sound the horn!</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="988" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Admiral-Hornblower.jpg" alt="Admiral Hornblower Oakham" class="wp-image-50380" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Admiral-Hornblower.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Admiral-Hornblower-300x296.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Admiral-Hornblower-768x759.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.hornblowerhotel.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Admiral Hornblower</a> in Oakham, is set to re-open on 11 Sept, having been closed since Feb following a fire in the hotel’s kitchen. Owners of the hotel, Proper Pubs Ltd, who also own the National Muddy Award Winning <a href="https://www.finchsarms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finch’s Arms</a> at nearby Hambleton, took the temporary closure as an opportunity to give the listed building a significant spruce up in their signature country chic style, along with a new menu and kitchen team, led by head chef Liam Brewer.&nbsp;So looking forward to visiting very soon &#8211; stay tuned. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat-out-for-less-at-pizza-express">Eat out for less at Pizza Express</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/pizza_express1-1.jpg" alt="A girl eating pizza at a table wearing a Pizza Express chef's hat." class="wp-image-167438" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Instagram @pizzaexpress</figcaption></figure>



<p>If the summer holidays have taken a rather large bite out of your bank account, then help is at hand. Pizza Express is running a promo for cash-strapped families this month (from&nbsp;<strong>5-26 Sept</strong>) with its appetising 2-4-1 deal. In a nutshell: buy one classic pizza and get the second for £1. Well, every little helps (please note that T&amp;Cs apply). In our ‘hood there’s the newly refurbed PizzaExpress in Stamford, or branches in everywhere from Rushden Lakes and Northampton Derngate to Leicester Highcross, Baxter Gate in Loughborough and Market Harborough.</p>


Superflash! A Number 1 hit for Billy Lockett and fab new eateries a go-go!

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