Honiton: Quirky new café set to open soon on Honiton high street

After months of late nights painting, decorating and organising the space, Muddy Good Grub is due to open for its first customers in the next few days.

Customers can expect a range of treats including waffles, home-made cakes and milkshakes.

Sophie Mudd, 35, the cafe's owner, told Nub News: "I'm quirky, weird and wonderful and my café will be too!"

Currently living on a pig farm in Stockland, Sophie is originally from North Yorkshire. She moved to Devon in 2018 because of her husband's job and she is really enjoying life in the countryside.

She has always been creative but struggled to decide what she wanted to do and for years Sophie worked in recruitment and HR.

About five years ago she and a friend started selling their crafts and baking, and the idea of 'Muddy Good Grub' was born, but it wasn't the right time to start the business.

During the lockdowns in February 2021, Sophie started selling chocolate brownies as something to do during the pandemic. She then started offering afternoon teas, and from there the business grew into a successful catering business. She's driven as far as Weymouth to drop off her food for customers.

Sophie has also been hosting events, such as hen parties and baby showers, in the café prior to its opening.

About the café

The inside of the café is fitted with large mirrors, an impressive flower wall with bespoke signage, a unique pink phone box and pink walls. Everything has been carefully thought through - Sophie even had her coffee machine custom made so it was pink.

There are attractive window seats which look out onto the high street, a small area with children's toys and upstairs there is a gift shop and a room for private functions.

Sophie said: "I'm always on Instagram and forever standing on tables taking photos of my food, so I wanted that kind of vibe.

"I want to create somewhere that people would want to come to, somewhere special – to have a nice bit of food, a couple of drinks or a great cup of coffee, and somewhere that looks nice and is a bit extra.

"This is my dream; this is my baby! It's really snowballed, and I couldn't be prouder of the business.

"It is a real pinch me moment - I can't quite believe it. It will hit me when we open and I'm proud that I've achieved everything I have wanted to.

"I've already taken table bookings and we're not even open yet!"

Muddy Good Grub will be serving an imaginative range of food and drinks, and everything will be made by Sophie.

The food will include brunch platters, bottomless lunches, homemade cakes, crepes, waffles and sandwiches, as well as freak shakes.

They will also offer a full afternoon tea every day because Sophie noticed that lots of other places require a booking, or they don't serve it many times a week.

The menu will change every day: "If I've managed to source something special, or I've had a great idea, I will make it and add it to the menu. I'm going to be very flexible."

Sophie praised the support she has received from other small businesses in Honiton, including Porkies, JK's Bistro and James' Patisserie. "They've given me lots of advice and offers of help. That's what it's about really. It's supporting everybody and my door is always open."

"I can't wait to get started!"

You can find out more about Muddy Good Grub here and it is located here.