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Pick Six: Notts born athlete and Paralympian Richard Whitehead

For this month’s Pick Six we turn to Notts born athlete and Paralympian Richard Whitehead…

Gig review: Sunday (1994) at The Bodega

Novelist Alison Moore and LeftLion's Andrew Tucker Leavis talk connecting Notts to Melbourne in a month long digital residency

For all of its flaws, the internet has become a wonderful tool of cross-country collaboration, allowing the movement of ideas between far-flung time zones and territories. Last year, in a month-long virtual City of Literature residency, LeftLion Literature Editor Andrew Tucker Leavis took a virtual trip down under to explore the imagined meeting of outlaws Robin Hood and Ned Kelly. Here he recounts his experience and talks to fellow Notts writer Alison Moore about what they got up to.

Nottingham Restaurant Week Returns from 2-8 June 2025

Nottingham’s vibrant food scene is set to sizzle once again as Nottingham Restaurant Week makes its much-anticipated return offering deals and discounts in over 50 establishments...

Review: Opera Cocktail at Mansfield Palace Theatre

OperaUpClose return to Mansfield Palace Theatre with an hour-long show composed of translated operatic pieces, performed by a cast of lovers and friends sharing a picnic...

Stories, stages, and sharp needles: here's what's on events this week in Nottingham 19 - 26 May 2025

This week in Notts, dance meets discourse, literature leads the way, and the tattoo machines are buzzing...

We catch up with three city centre restaurants ahead of Nottingham Restaurant Week in June

Nottingham Restaurant Week is set to take place across the city from Monday 2 to Sunday 8 June. Organised by It’s in Nottingham, it’s a chance for you to access exclusive discounts and try out some new flavours from the city’s vibrant food scene. To mark the occasion, we caught up with representatives of three popular dining spots involved: Antonio Oriente from Pizzamisu, Amita Sawhney from MemSaab and Terry Hayfield from Fellows, Morton & Clayton.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #22: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Blackadder, Mollie Ralph and Set In Motion...

Comedian Matt Forde talks Notts, politics, podcasts and Forest, ahead of his upcoming Nottingham Playhouse gig

Nottingham’s own Matt Forde is a comedian, TV and radio presenter, writer, impressionist and more. He’s perhaps best known for his podcast The Political Party, where he interviews politicians. However, he’s also a regular on radio, TV and even voiced Donald Trump in the reboot of Spitting Image.

Collective Creations: we heard about the 1525 Collective at Nottingham Contemporary

Nottingham Contemporary is home to the 1525 Collective, a youth programme for Nottingham’s young creatives and has welcomed members such as local MP Nadia Whittome. From networking, to skill-building, workshops and projects, the collective extends a helping hand to the city’s creative youths. 

Art exhibitions, community events and legendary gigs: here's what's on events this week in Nottingham 12 - 19 May 2025

This week in Notts, explore our material world, take One Step At A Time for community, or listen to some big tunes shaking the Arena... 

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #10: Comedian Matt Forde on His Early Life In Notts, Kier Starmer, Spitting Image, Forest, Cancer and The End of An Era Tour

Originally from Lenton, Matt Forde is a comedian, TV and radio presenter, writer, impressionist and quite a lot more. He’s perhaps best known for his podcast The Political Party, but he's also a regular face on TV and currently on his End of An Era Tour...

Locating Lawrence: May 1925

Lawrence is living the good life on the farm with a cow, chickens and hummingbirds for company...

A Projectionist in Notts: The Savoy Cinema's Dave Cox recounts his career in pre-digital cinema

Since 2006, local Dave Cox has worked as the assistant manager of Lenton’s beloved local cinema The Savoy, but he also has decades of experience in the art of film projection, having started as a projectionist long before cinemas went digital. Delightfully, since the start of 2025, Dave’s used that skillset to facilitate The Savoy’s 35mm Films on Film showings. On learning this we were set-a-wondering: what was it like to work as a projectionist over decades, and how was it to return to that field after so many years? Dave was all too happy to tell us...

Experience different cultures, historical theatre, and homegrown Notts music: here's what's on this week 5 - 11 May 2025

This week in Notts, learn the Afro Brazilian martial art of Capoeira, experience Greek culture, check out some historical theatre or enjoy some lovely homegrown talent from local musicians...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #21: Notts music we're currently spinning

We're back once again with a pre-Bank Holiday edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens. This week, our music team reviews new releases from Swallowtail, highspeedpeach, MCØ and Drew Thomas...

LeftLion Issue #183 May 2025

Featuring 20 Years of Dot To Dot, comedian Matt Forde, boxer Leigh Wood, Igloo Hostel, Nottingham Restaurant Week, NottAlone, Dom Gourlay, the 1525 Collective, The Amazons, A Projectionist in Notts and more...

Festival Review: Beeston Film Festival

From Cornish mermaids to crazy golf tournaments, runaway factory robots and first date musicals, this film festival had it all.

Overheard in Notts: March 2025

From the Lion King to lost blueberries, here's what we overheard in Nottingham in April...

Exhibition Review: Money Talks: Stories from the Coins at Mansfield Museum

An exhibition about money featuring, amongst other things, a hoard of Roman coins that have gone on public display for the first time and date back to the BC era...

The halcyon days of printed matchday programmes and a long-forgotten 1980s Notts County football tournament

In an increasingly technology-driven era in football, Julian McDougall harks back to the halcyon days of the printed matchday programme and a long-forgotten 1980s football tournament Notts County took part in…

93-year-old Edna Owen recounts meeting her husband at The Palais in 1950

This month's cover, illustrated by our designer Natalie Owen, draws inspiration from the generations of dance at The Palais. Adding a personal touch, Natalie spoke to her grandma, Edna Owen, about how her grandparents first met there.

Soul Survivor: veteran DJ Jonathan on cutting his teeth at The Palais in the 1970s

Jonathan (aka Jonathan Woodliffe) has a long history of DJing in Nottingham. To many his name is synonymous to many with the early days of Rock City, but before that he cut his teeth as a DJ at The Palais. We asked Jonathan about his experiences of the Palais back in those halcyon days of the 1970s…

Big bands, Bingo and Bali Hai: A 100-year history of The Palais de Danse Nottingham

From a prison to PRYZM, we take a look through a century of dancing, drinking, entertainment and glamour at Nottingham’s The Palais de Danse…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #20: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this Easter weekend edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews recent releases from Katie Keddie, Joey Collins, Blu Syrup, Lace Thief and Karen Macleod...