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Book Review: 'Huckleberry Dreaming' by Brooklyn Beaumont

A charming coming-of-age novel about what it means to grow up and find family amongst strangers, set against the backdrop of a dystopian regime and shaped by themes of drug abuse, gang violence, and personal responsibility. 

Wok This Way: The Seafood Guy Brings Hong Kong to Notts

There’s a new café in town serving Hong Kong classics. Our Food Co-Editor, Julia Head, AKA Nottingham Food Guide, met up with owner Johnny Tam to find out how he brought the flavours of Hong Kong to Nottingham with The Seafood Guy.

Gig review: PINS at The Bodega

As PINS make their triumphant return to The Bodega, after 10 years away, LeftLion's Kieran Lister immerses himself in their wondrous songs again, and reflects on how much can change in a decade - and how much stays reassuringly the same... 

Seven great Notts spots for thrifted and vintage fashion

In celebration of Second Hand September, fashion editor, Addie Kenogbon-Harley gives us the lowdown on how to grab a bargain, look after the planet and get your hands on the best thrifted treasures this month.

Gig review: Midnight Rodeo at The Bodega

We recently described Midnight Rodeo as the kind of gang "you’d trust to soundtrack your life, crash your cousin’s wedding, and still make your nan a lovely cuppa the morning after." That said, the prospect of their hotly-anticipated homecoming gig at The Bodega was too much to resist. We headed down to 23 Pelham Street for another quick chat - and an outstanding performance...

Left Brian: September 2025: Did I miss much?

Julie Pritchard, the creator of the classic nineties 'Brian' fanzine, is back to detail an ever so smooth sailing September at Forest and to get excited about European adventures once again...

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.

In photos: Leah Wilcox at The Grove, with Josie Beth and Cara Flynn

Theatre, gigs, poetry and art: here's what's on this week 22 - 28 September 2025

Whether you fancy indulging in some playful art, enjoying some excellent theatre, checking out some chap hop or getting inspired by poetry, there's plenty on in Notts this week...

Perfect Harmony: talking the power of communal singing with the Nottingham Harmonic Choir

While a couple of decades ago the word choir may have brought to mind stuffy scenes of Sunday’s Songs of Praise, in the past ten years group singing has had quite a reputation change. Not only does group singing increase wellbeing and happiness, it has also been shown to release neurochemicals that aid in pain-relief. With this in mind, as the autumn sets in, Frances Danylec went along to check out the Nottingham Harmonic Choir, and learn about their nearly 170 year history…

Exhibition review: Relic at 28 Broad Street

Kid30 and friends bring you an immersive, bleak and humourous take on the future in this pop-up exhibition showing this weekend only in Nottingham City Centre...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #31: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Sancho Panza, Parisa East, Fools & Sages and Blackadder...

TV legend Steve Backshall on his upcoming Deadly Live show at Motorpoint Arena

If you've ever wondered what kind of person willingly dives headfirst into crocodile-infested waters, wrestles with giant anacondas, or casually points out how a tarantula could melt your face off — meet Steve Backshall. Adventurer, presenter, author, and all-round animal maniac (the loveable kind),

Steve has spent the last couple of decades getting way too cosy with the kind of animals most of us would sprint away from. We caught up with Steve ahead of his Deadly Live! show at Motorpoint Arena, to find out what thrills and spills audiences can expect from the show, how he handles those hairy moments (literally), and deep dive into some of Steve’s favourite animal experiences.

How the Sound Sanctuary is keeping Notts ravers safe

A lover of music and the underground rave scene, Magda realised the parties they were attending were under-delivering on safety. In 2023, they began The Sound Sanctuary: a travelling stand, a bunch of supplies and a few passionate people providing first aid and drug education to help partiers feel safe in the rave… 

Life without liquor: the best activities for teetotal people in Notts

“What’s your drink of choice?” No, sadly I’m not Emma D’Arcy, instead a thirty-year-old who’s chosen to live alcohol-free for the past two years. So I’ll take a lime and soda, or a ginger beer if I’m feeling a little bit fancy. Truth be told, it’s one of the best things I’ve done; I feel far from the ‘boring one,’ in fact it’s the opposite - there’s such an abundance of alternative activities to do, right here in Nottingham, so grab a 0% brew and get comfy... 

Live Q&A: Saint Etienne in conversation at Rough Trade

Saint Etienne graced Rough Trade for a Q&A about their final album, International - a release which marks the last chapter in the band's career after 35 years in the industry....

Locating D.H. Lawrence: September 1925

In another life, D.H. Lawrence could have worked for Thomas Cook...

In photos: No Peeling at JT Soar

Gig review: Black Country, New Road at Rock City

Black Country, New Road's Forever Howlong tour kicked off at Rock City for what was - shockingly - the first headline gig for the band in the city. One of the best exports from The Windmill Brixton scene proved once again why they’re worth the hype...

Comedy Review: Nightmare! Nightmare! Kill! Kill! at the Lord Roberts

Benthic Zone and Doxxie Phisher are back and with a UFO theme. Will the audience be probed?  

Lola Young, Day Fever and the Festival of Food and Drink: Here's what's on in Notts this week 15-21 September 2025

Nottingham is hosting a diverse range of events this week, from back-to-back musical performances arranged by Rough Trade to a majestic murder mystery dinner night and a 2000s emo festival. Be it enjoying comedic nostalgia with Friends on stage or witnessing an epic confrontation between local poets, there is something for everyone and this week's top picks from our city are...

These streets are ours: Sneinton Market Avenues

For this instalment of These Streets are Ours we celebrate the creative hub of Sneinton Market Avenues…

Night Creatures Podcast #1: Felix Coulton (aka OK Flex) on founding Swing Dash Radio and opening Movers in Hockley

Night Creatures is a new LeftLion podcast, shining a light on the promoters of Nottingham. Your host and interviewer is Beane, co-founder of Nottingham’s beloved Soul Buggin’ night and he brings with him over twenty years of experience of putting on great parties in the city...

Left Stag: September 2025 Stags away, I like it! 

Our Mansfield Town FC writer, Josh Osoro Pickering, is back with tales of a well-travelled period for the Stags... 

Theatre Review: The Last Stand Of Mary Whitehouse at the Nottingham Playhouse

Today's youth might think Mary Whitehouse was some cartoonish figure-of-fun. A prude and a bigot, leftover from the Victorian era. Not at all. Known as the most dangerous woman in England at the time, she wreaked havoc. The Playhouse's brand new play shares the horror...