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Bulwell author Charles Towlson talks his new novel Creep

Bulwell based author Charles Towlson tells us about his latest novel, Creep, a psychological story about a guy called Zeek who lives in a basement, which explores connection, memory, and the enduring impact of people from our past… 

Life behind bars: With Tommi Levitt, General Manager at Loose Ends

We chat to Tommi, who manages Loose Ends: a colourful coffee and cocktail joint that greets people on their walk up to the Castle... 

Safety, dignity, choice: how POW Nottingham advocates for sex workers and other vulnerable people

Having been awarded £500,000 in National Lottery Funding, enough to financially support the organisation for the next three years, POW Nottingham has announced its reopening. As a safe space in Nottingham, they support the rights of sex workers and those at risk of being exploited. We chatted to CEO Helen West about their impact, vision and the value of specialist services for those in the sex industry.

Game on: The Dice Box Board and Brick Lounge recommends some cosy games to play this winter

If you are looking for cosy ways to spend your evenings as the nights roll in, look no further than The Dice Box in Sneinton Market. The board and brick lounge (they have games to play and Lego) which opened in May has over 700 games to play, from the competitive to the co-operative, and family friendly and to more complex titles. Along with a social drop-in event on Thursdays, you can book a table to chill with friends in their fully-licensed cafe, and lots of titles are available to buy and take home.

Here co-owner David Walden gave us some of his top picks to play or buy at The Dice Box this winter…

Art works: Bea Giaquinto's multi medium exhibition marking Framework's 25th anniversary

For this month’s Art Works we hear from Bea Giaquinto, the artist behind a forthcoming exhibition about homelessness at St Mary’s Church, which marks the 25th anniversary of local charity Framework. 

How the Secret Tart Club is bringing professional women together in Notts

When we first heard of a mysterious Secret Tart Club bringing women together across Nottingham, we didn’t know what to expect. Lucy Campion attended the club’s summer soirée and spoke to founder Sabrina.

About time: Pete Dexter on maintaining the Emett Clock before it returns to its former location

It’s almost time! The Aqua Horological Tintabulator, or the Emett Clock – a pride of Notts city centre created by 20th century inventor and cartoonist Roland Emett – is returning to its original ground floor spot in the Victoria Centre: the place where lots of us have treasured memories of it being. Since 2011, retired engineer Pete Dexter has been its designated caretaker, and he’s in his third stretch of maintaining it in his workshop under the Centre. Pete told us how it’s coming along… 

Gig review: Deaf Havana at Rock City, with The Dangerous Summer

Fifteen years on from its release, Fools and Worthless Liars still means a hell of a lot to a lot of people. Judging by the queue outside Rock City and the packed room long before the headliners appeared, tonight wasn’t just another anniversary show for Deaf Havana. For many in attendance, it was a chance to reconnect with an album that sound tracked a particular chapter of their lives...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #55: Notts music we're currently spinning

Welcome to edition 55 of LeftLion's Latest Listens! This week, our music team reviews new releases from Panchiko, Keane Baldwin, Cathedra and Emily Ashberry...

Pick six: Charlie Dean, co-owner of Sneinton Market plant sanctuary Watered Garden

For this month’s Pick Six, we heard from Charlie Dean, co-owner of Sneinton Market plant shop The Watered Garden, which hosts terrarium and festive wreath workshops in November and December. 

Theatre review: Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) at Nottingham Playhouse

The Laurence Olivier Award winning Pride and Prejudice (*sort of) is at Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 7 November, bringing an audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s classic with added pop hits.

How the Nottingham Folklore Society are bringing people together through tradition

If you feel as though algorithms, emails and newsfeeds are dominating your life, perhaps it’s time to take a step away from the screen, hark back to our ancestors and consider some slower traditions. Set up this year, The Nottingham Folklore Society is here to help you do just that. An informal evening of talks and conversation, their popular get togethers weave together calendar customs, storytelling, crafts and more. We spoke to founders Nikki Millar and Jake Epton to hear what they’ve got in store for the winter months…

Theatre Review: High Society

The singing is beautiful, the dancing fun, the costumes on point

Gig review: The Big Moon at Rough Trade

A stripped back show at Rough Trade gave The Big Moon a chance to fully show off their talents. Despite being one member down (for a very special reason), the band stunned with honesty and a super-connected approach to their music...

Midnight sun: a new exhibition of the late and loved Notts artist Sarah Cunningham's work

Nottingham Contemporary celebrates the work of late Nottingham artist Sarah Cunningham with Midnight Sun, the largest presentation of her work to date. Senior Curator Katie Simpson and Senior Marketing Manager Catherine Masters tell us about bringing Sarah’s work home, remembering the artist behind it, and creating an exhibition that feels like stepping inside one of her paintings.

Theatre review: Once Upon a Time in Sokoto at Nottingham Playhouse

In Once Upon a Time in Sokoto at Nottingham Playhouse, tense beaten rhythms intertwine with the voices of joyous ululation as relationships are continually tested in Northern Nigeria at the turn of the 20th century.  Zinara and Nafisa juxtapose their tales about the slaver and the enslaved, husband and wives, the Boko language and cowrie shells - all of which are underpinned by the power and riches of the colour indigo.

In bloom: Notts ambient rockers Eyre Llew talk their new second album and their show at The Nest

Notts ambient rockers Eyre Llew became local heroes in Notts in the late 2010s, and went on to tour their immersive sound across continents. Now, they’re back with their second album: Bloom, and a show this month at The Nest, which is set to be truly spectacular… 

Soft launch social: the Notts speed dating event for friendships

Making friends as an adult is hard – despite loneliness being a common issue, it is rarely talked about openly. Enter Soft Launch Social: a speed dating event for friendships that was set up earlier this year and takes place at Bustler Food Hall in Sneinton Market Avenues. We spoke to founder Meigan to hear about the curation of the event, how the event unfolds, and the impact it’s already having on the community in Nottingham. 

Work in progress: comedian Arthur Smith on his show at the Nottingham Comedy Festival

Arthur Smith, grumpy old man and famous comedian, is one of the headliners of the Nottingham Comedy Festival. What comedic treats does he have in store for us? 

Gig review: Ibibio Sound Machine at Rescue Rooms

Ibibio Sound Machine have very quickly become pioneers within the world music scene and have some extremely admirable accolades to their name. To frequent shows such as Later… with Jools Holland as well as having one of the worlds biggest bands (Coldplay) asking you to support them on their stadium tour suggests that you not only need to be releasing music to an impeccable standard, but you also need to deliver a live show like no other. And as Rescue Rooms saw last Saturday night, Ibibio Sound Machine did just that...

Theatre Review: Nottingham Operatic Society - Chess The Musical

A musical tale from the cold war that will give you goose bumps

In the club: Club Jok are bringing global cultures to big screens in Notts

Club Jok is a Nottingham-based film curation team that is bringing cultures from around the world to the big screen through films both new and old. We speak to film enthusiast and Club Jok’s lead programmer Samuel Leary, to hear more…

Left Brian: Forest Men & Women October update

Our resident Nottingham Forest columnist Gareth Watts is back with his thoughts on both the men & women's teams performance over the past month...

Gig review: Skindred at Rock City

On the first night of the You’ve Got This tour, and the first of two sold-out shows at Rock City, Skindred arrived in Nottingham with their unparalleled force that turns a gig into a full-body workout. For more than two decades, the Welsh ragga-metal pioneers have built a reputation as one of the most electrifying live bands around, blending crushing riffs and reggae grooves with frontman Benji Webbe’s unstoppable charisma. A Skindred show always promises high-energy and opening night of the tour was no different...

Comedy Review: Kiell Smith-Bynoe’s Kool Story Bro at the Nottingham Playhouse

Kiell Smith-Bynoe (star of Ghosts, Taskmaster and Stath Lets Flats) fronts the Kool Story Bro, which is renowned for inventive, off the hoof improvised comedy with a bevy of surprise celebrity hosts. But will they deliver tonight, and who is the special guest...