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All is wells: a story of community planting in St Ann's

Pondering what’s giving him the positive feels going into 2026, our Environment Editor takes a walk (or more likely a cycle or skate) down St Ann’s Well to tell a small but inspirational tale of hope.

We chat to the people behind the Christmas Covers Party at The Bodega

Whether it’s grabbing a glass of mulled wine from one of the faux ski chalets in the Market Square or catching a screening of misty-eyed festive staple It’s A Wonderful Life at The Broadway, there are certain Yuletide traditions which are paramount in any true Nottinghamian’s December calendar. Another event high up on the to do list has been taking place for the last 22 years. First held at fondly-remembered Junktion 7 on Canning Circus in 2002, the Annual Christmas Covers Party has graced everywhere from Hopkinsons to The Maze over the last two decades and now resides at The Bodega. Ahead of this year’s event on 20th December, LeftLion caught up with three of the organisers and past performers, Alex Hale, Scot Lambert and Joey Chickenskin to garner intel on how it all works…

Life behind bars: with Matt Hinton, owner at Brew Tavern

For this month's instalment of Life behind bars, we speak to the man who looks after a claimant to being Nottingham city centre's smallest pub.

Life behind bars: with Aimee Harbison-Roper, owner at the Barrel Drop

For this instalment of life behind bars we reached out to Aimee, who looks after Hurt's Yard's chill and homely boozer...

The Malt Cross unveil their Christmas events, menu and offers

The much-loved Christmas celebrations return to Nottingham's historic Malt Cross this December, bringing festive cheer, delicious food, and live music to the heart of Nottingham once again...

Derek Jacobi, dark storytelling, beautiful photography, music, theatre and more: Here's what's on this week: 29 September - 5 October

The nights are rolling in, so time to book in some cosy evenings of storytelling or indulge in some beautiful photography. Here's what's on in Notts this week...

Life Behind Bars: With Jake Henson, bar staff at Angel Microbrewery

For this instalment of Life Behind Bars we reached out to Jake - who works at one of Hockley's most loved alternative pubs: The Angel.

Follow the stickers: Notts filmmaker Matt Watts on the stories behind sticker art on the streets

Hidden amongst the barrage of commercial advertisements and billboards that dominate our city landscape, the more curious among us may be drawn to some unusual markings; the plethora of quirky stickers plastered on lampposts, signs and electrical boxes. Follow the Stickers is a short film by Nottingham-based documentary filmmaker Matt Watts. Here he shares his journey of tangents, discovering artists, events and more obscure messages of the underground sticker world, and telling us why we should keep an eye out for them too… 

Whose streets are they anyway? How street art crossed the pond from New York to the East Midlands

Graffiti, tags, murals, stenciling, paste-ups… street art is a diverse artform with many subcategories and styles. While some might deride the practice under the blanket term of vandalism, for proponents of the artform, taking art out of the gallery and into the streets is about civil disobedience, ownership of space, and creative expression outside of the mainstream. We dip into the origins of graffiti in NYC and speak to artist Richie ‘Pops’ Baker about how the medium came to Nottingham in the 1980s…

Life behind bars: with Robyn Warwick, General Manager at Queen of Hockley

For the first instalment of our recurring feature Life Behind Bars we heard from Robyn Warwick, manager at Queen of Hockley.

Behind Rotari Bakes: A family run Nottingham bakery creating bespoke cakes, bakes and memories

In the heart of Nottingham, where creativity meets comfort food, Rotari Bakes was born; not from a lifelong baking tradition, but from an unexpected journey of reinvention and family ambition

Behind the curtain of Niche Artefact: the Notts collective combining cabaret, art, and storytelling

Studio 54, surrealism, mythology, erotica, the Golden Age of Hollywood… These are just a few of the intriguing themes of Niche Artefact, an artist showcase combining drag, cabaret, circus, art, and storytelling. Ahead of their two-year anniversary showcase next month, we spoke to founder Robin Da Silva to find out how they are bringing flamboyance, inclusivity, and creativity to the city’s creative LGBTQI+ scene…

What's in a name: the intriguing tales behind ten Nottingham place names

We walk along the streets of Nottingham every day without paying much attention to their names. They may be just words to us now, but street names were often originally descriptions, giving us information about important goings on in that area. Here are the meanings and history behind some of Nottingham’s streets that you may not have thought about before.

From painting to dating: what's happening at the Malt Cross until September 2025?

The next three months are set to be a busy few for the Malt Cross: Nottingham's buzzing, preserved Victorian music hall, on St James' Street. If you're looking for a weird or wonderful event that will get you socialising with all kinds of different people, they've probably got you covered. Here are some highlights, which we've picked out...

Cherelle Fulton tells us about Behind Closed Doors: a program spotlighting creative women in Notts

Over at New Art Exchange, Behind Closed Doors is creating a new space for women in the creative industries to connect, collaborate and reshape the scene in Nottingham. Co-ordinator Cherelle Fulton discusses what fuelled her projects, including live music night Can’t Stand The Rain, the importance of community and connectivity, and creating safe spaces for women.

“Not behind a tree, I wouldn’t do that”: Overheard in Notts June 2025

Banksy, beavers and nine thousand pound fish all feature in this month's Overheard in Notts - 

On the Road again: The story behind Igloo Hybrid, Nottingham's sole hostel accomodation

Tucked away in a quaint courtyard just off Wheeler Gate, Igloo Hybrid is Nottingham’s only hostel accommodation for visitors to the city. After thirty years of welcoming guests from around the world, owner B Kristiansen is getting ready to sell up and return to her native Denmark, but not before finding a buyer that will keep the heart of Igloo beating. We spoke to B to find out what kept her in Nottingham for so long and what goes into running this local establishment.

Film Review: The Return

We review The Return, a stripped back take on Homer’s classic The Odyssey…

Our picks from the 2025 event calendar of the Malt Cross: Nottingham's preserved Victorian music hall

There are few locales near Old Market Square quite like the Malt Cross. As a nearly perfectly preserved Victorian music hall, the building toes the line between its status as a treasure trove of architectural history, and an epicentre of some of the city's most enjoyably 'out-there' occasions. Below, we've provided a rundown of what they have coming up this year...

We meet Emma Moore, the mind behind local tie making business Arsenic and Old Lace

Notts tie maker Emma Moore has been redefining the humble neck tie for almost a decade, with her statement handmade ties serving the perfect eye-catching piece to complete any outfit. Fashion editor Addie Kenogbon-Harley caught up with her to find out more about her business Arsenic and Old Lace, and how she’s putting her spin on this timeless classic with her collections inspired by Midlands towns.

Standing In This Place: Artist Rachel Carter tells us her inspirations behind a new sculpture for Nottingham's Green Heart park.

With just 17% of statues in the UK depicting women and only 2% dedicated to people belonging to ethnic minorities, there is a clear need for more varied representation in public art. Luckily, one local artist is looking to change this in Nottingham, whilst also representing the long and diverse history of our city’s textile industry. 

Standing In This Place, a sculpture by Rachel Carter will be erected in the Green Heart park in February. We asked Rachel to tell us more about the piece, how she became an artist, and what it’s like to work as a sculptor.

Spinning Yarns: The Woolly Tellers talk storytelling in Nottingham

For fifteen years, storytellers Mick Whysall and Dave Brookes have brought history to life. As The Woolly Tellers, their atmospheric performances whip up scenes of misty cobbled streets, mysterious highwaymen, fen giants and deals with the devil. We met them for a chat prior to their event Dark Tales for Dark Nights at the Fox and Grapes, and heard all about the tricks of their trade...

Lost City Adventure Golf hits the bullseye with new 'interactive darts'

Lost City Adventure Golf has a new addition to its offering this Christmas, throwing interactive darts into their entertainment mix…

Behind the curtain: How Kino Kolo are spotlighting Eastern European cinema for East Midlands audiences

Launched one year ago, Mansfield based community cinema project Kino Kilo Notts, has been covering exciting Eastern European cinema throughout the entirety of Nottinghamshire. Screen Editor Autumn Parker spoke to two of the members Liam Skillen and Lila Yakimova about their work so far and their big ambitions to bring various communities together throughout the whole region.

The hidden history behind Nottingham's Express Building

Many people pass by the Tesco Express on Parliament Street in Nottingham every day, unaware of the rich history behind this iconic building. Known simply as the Express Building, this early Gothic-style masterpiece stands as a testament to the brilliant vision of renowned British architect Watson Fothergill. For over a century, it has been a distinctive feature of Nottingham’s cityscape - serving multiple purposes, adapting with time, and telling the story of a city in transition.