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Squirreled away down the alley next to Q Hairdressing in the Lace Market, you’d be forgiven for missing the Hockley Arts Club entirely if you didn’t know it was there. But wander down, climb the steps and stroll into a club like no other in Nottingham.
The main floor is a high-ceilinged bar that looks like a louche gentlemen’s club, comfortable booths at one end and murals on the wall. Several rooms are set off from this, all with their own character and decor. The one at the back where we parked ourselves was a treat, and looked to have been decorated after a Supermarket Sweep through a gothic library, a diner, the Royston Vasey art gallery and your nan’s front room. High-backed wooden thrones with leather upholstery face bright orange bucket seats across the same table, while fringed lamps straight from a seance mix with neon signage that proclaims ‘Tomorrow Is Here’. It’s great, and feels like you might actually deploy the word ‘eclectic’ to describe it and not look like a prat.
We started working our way through the excellent red wine menu with a glass of soft Plaimont merlot (£3.50) and a dry Gouguenheim pinot noir (£4.50), and were soon tucking into our starters: a ‘blitzed’ butternut squash with beetroot and goat’s cheese (£5.75) and a plate of sweet soy and ginger glazed pork belly (£6.50). The pork belly was delicious: tender, rich and generously portioned, and my partner reported that the squash was velvety smooth.
To follow, I ordered their rare steak sandwich with caramelised red onion (£9.95), wrapped in toasted focaccia that kept the whole package together while I attempted to fit it into a mouth that suddenly felt far too small. My partner chose the steak burger, topped with crispy bacon and cheddar cheese, barely contained in a griddled brioche bun (£12.95), and likewise faced the delicate problem of how to politely unhinge her jaw to take a bite. We struggled on heroically and polished off the lot, ably assisted by glasses of Rosso Di Montepulciano (£6.50) and Vicuna merlot (£3.90).
Finally, after adjusting our belts, we made room for a refreshing mixed berry and wine jelly with vanilla ice cream (£5.95) and a scrumptious, hot chocolate orange brownie and ice cream (£5.50).
The service was excellent, the atmosphere on a surprisingly busy Tuesday night was fizzy and fun, and the food tasty. Whether you fancy a decent meal for two or a round of cocktails after work, the Hockley Arts Club has you covered. Robin Lewis.
20A Carlton Street, NG1 1NN. 07469 977847 Hockley Arts Club website
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