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The next stage: 25 years of the Nottingham Arts Theatre

For the past 25 years Nottingham Arts Theatre has been serving the city with a programme of local and touring indie stage shows in their iconic 200 year old Hockley building. We spoke to poet, and theatre Chair director Campbell Kay about the theatre’s journey, its role as an educational charity nurturing theatrical talent in Nottingham and their diverse range of shows…

Truth or Legend: The Case of the Ten O’Clock Horses

Our resident investigator of Nottingham weird history looks at how the 'ten o' clock 'hosses' came to be... 

Nottingham Comedy Festival 2026: chatting to the performers

Starting Friday 30 October, the Nottingham Comedy Festival is back, bringing ten days of national talent and hilarity to bars, pubs and clubs of Nottingham. We spoke to a few comedians involved to find out what’s so funny…

Beyond the senses: author Kerry Ward discusses her new publication This Book Will Make You Psychic

The concept of having psychic powers beyond our physical senses is one we often associate with movies – a rare talent reserved for a special few – but can these abilities be learned? This Book Will Make You Psychic is a new guide by local author and professional tarot reader Kerry Ward, created for anyone interested in tapping into their psychic abilities. We sat down with Kerry to have a chat about mindfulness, intuition, coincidence, and what lies beyond our physical senses…

Pick Six: JT Soar's Phil Booth

Ahead of JT Soar Fest #3 at The Old Cold Store on Saturday 31 October - Sunday 1 November, for this month’s Pick Six we turned to Phil Booth of DIY music venue and recording studio JT Soar.

Pedal to the Metal: envisioning how Notts could be transformed via sustainable transport

What could Nottingham look like if people, not cars, came first? This is a question posed by cycling groups throughout the city, including Critical Mass, Pedals and Ridewise, who demonstrate that cycling isn’t just a healthy, green and economical way to get about, but activism on wheels. Speaking to riders, campaigners and charity workers along the way, Finnuala Brett uncovers a city-wide movement bigger than any single ride.

Hoppy Birthday: Neon Raptor Brewery turns ten

Sneinton Market’s Neon Raptor turned ten years old this year. To celebrate they’re also opening another bar just over the road from their current taproom and brewery on Gedling Street. We caught up with Directors and Co-owners Josh Mellor and Tom Ainsley to reflect on the last decade and the changes they’ve seen both in Notts and in the beer industry over that time…

Digging through the archives: 200 issues of LeftLion

200 issues of LeftLion is a lot, to say the least. Back when co-founders, Jared Wilson, Al Gilby, and Tim Bates founded the mag in their 20s, both Notts and the world at large was very different, and lots of changes, and odd, unexpected parts of Nottingham culture, past and present, have been immortalised in our print mag. Here, we have a timeline for you – an alternate history of Nottingham culture, and some of the most intriguing things we’ve had land on our desks and in our inboxes, lots of which you might not expect… 

Dabbling in the Dark Arts: we catch up with organisers of the Dark Arts Market

It’s officially the spooky season, but for Fiona Holmes and Elyssa Fleming, the eldritch, strange and eerie is more than just an aesthetic that ends with Halloween. They talk to LeftLion about how they created The Dark Arts Market, a place where all ‘alt’ artists and creatives, at all stages of their creative career, can feel seen and supported. 

20 Years of Hockley Hustle

This month, Nottingham city’s biggest independent arts and music festival, the brilliant Hockley Hustle, is celebrating twenty years of bringing sound and colour to our streets. Showcasing an eye-watering array of genres and talent, the festival is more than just a good time – it’s raised over £250K for 27 local charities, as well as providing stages for thousands of artists from Nottingham and beyond. 

This year, the Hustle is back on Sunday 25 October, bringing 500 acts to fifty stages. You’ll be able to catch the carnival, chill to some acoustic sounds, dance at the silent disco, enjoy punk, soul, Hip-Hop, and more.

To celebrate, here’s what the Hustle’s massive team of promoters, mainstay artists, and central organisers remember most fondly about the last twenty years of music and mayhem…

Art Works: Natalie Coe on her new Notts Broad Marsh mural

For this month’s Art Works, Natalie Coe (aka Talia) tells us about her new public mural which features as part of the Broad Marsh redevelopment, in collaboration with Art Fest… 

Imara Charity Art Auction raises money for survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Ahead of the Imara Charity Art Auction, which previews this Saturday at Broadway Gallery, Isabel Scott spoke to Imara Fundraiser Kirsty K to find out more about the important work of the charity and why you should spruce up your walls with some of the art they have on offer.

Nadia on… Pride in Place

Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, discusses the Pride in Place community engagement and the Pride in Place programme in St Ann’s East, Broxtowe/Cinderhill and Clifton....