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Theatre Review: Sleeping Beauty at Nottingham Playhouse

This year's Playhouse panto brings us a classic tale with modern twists. You may become spellbound but, unlike the princess, you most definitely will not fall asleep... 

Bon journal: writer Andrew Tucker Leavis on launching the New Nottingham Journal

All that Nottingham’s literary scene was missing, said poet Rory Waterman, was a “name-brand literary journal”. Grace Sanders speaks to Andrew Tucker Leavis, Editor-in-Chief of the New Nottingham Journal, about how he decided to rectify that issue, with LeftLion’s help…

Gig review: Home Counties at The Bodega, with My First Time

Home Counties dropped by The Bodega on their tour for their second album, Humdrum, which has been generating some serious excitement for alternative music fans across a range of genres. Joined by new kids on the block My First Time, a funked-up, energy-packed evening was in store for the Pelham Street punters…

In photos: Bored Marsh at The Bodega, with Mandibles

Theatre Review: Cinderella at the Theatre Royal

It's the latest festive romp from Nottingham's Theatre Royal, starring Craig Revel Horwood as the Wicked Stepmother...

Pick Six: Craig Revel Horwood from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing

For this month’s Pick Six, we heard from Craig Revel Horwood who stars as the Wicked Stepmother in this year’s Christmas panto at the Theatre Royal – Cinderella – and is also best known as a fixture on legendary TV show Strictly Come Dancing. 

Left Magpie: December 2025 - What are we Now?

Our Notts County columnist Julian McDougall, is back with a report of the last month of action at Notts County FC...

Gig review: Gary Numan at Rock City, with Raven Numan

Gary Numan was an experimental electronic music and gothic pioneer back in the 80s. He arrived like a pitch-black meteor onto the UK music scene, bringing with him a wave of influence and playful, performative darkness, and became one of the most influential and entirely unique acts this country has produced. Recently, Numan released the 45th Anniversary Expanded Edition of his 1980 album Telekon, and embarked on a huge anniversary tour, bringing along his daughter Raven Numan and her band to support. We joined the tour at the legendary Rock City...

Alessi Rose shares her secrets ahead of her Rock City show

Ahead of her 'homecoming' Rock City date on the Voyeur Tour, breakout pop singer-songwriter Alessi Rose spared some time to chat to LeftLion about the value of human connections, favourite Nottingham spots, and the road from the Derby to the rest of the world...

Gig review: Warmduscher at Rescue Rooms

For the third time in as many years, Warmduscher, the epitome of the phrase “chaos but good chaos”, paid Nottingham a visit. And, of course, LeftLion got in on the action...

Tattoo artist Maiko Only on her micro-realist designs and inspirations

In this month’s Artworks we hear from tattoo artist Maiko Only...

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…

The Thompsons on the Southwell Minster Lectern, the County Hotel, and the River Leen

Nottingham's most opinionated greengrocers on the Southwell Minster Lectern, the County Hotel and the River Leen

Early Christmas parties and dance music at The Model: Here's what's on in Notts this week, Mon 1 - Sun 7 December

December 2025 starts with a bang in Nottingham, as a host of occasions from the festive, to the musical, to the artistic, take place... 

A Magical Night Before Christmas at Belvoir Castle

LeftLion were delighted to be invited to the fairytale home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, for an exclusive preview of their enchanting new experience, A Magical Night Before Christmas.

Overheard in Notts: November 2025

Another month's instalment of Overheard in Notts and this time, greedily, we're honing in on battered sausages, packets of hobnobs and all you can eat buffets...

How local goth-punks Bloodworm built their profile with live shows

In the midst of their UK tour with fellow Nottingham band Swallowtail – which serves as preparation for their seventeen-date run supporting Suede next year – we met goth-punk outfit Bloodworm to chat about their upcoming appearance at a new Bodega festival – Paint by Numbers – as they close out a milestone year and look ahead to an even bigger one…

Left Brian: November 2025 - Three Bald Musketeers

Our Forest columnist Julie Pritchard, the creator of the classic nineties 'Brian' fanzine, seems delighted by the new dawn at Forest under Dyche, Woan and Stone...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #36: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2025, our music team reviews new releases from Marseille, Kelsey and The Embers, Richard Snow and ALT BLK ERA...

LeftLion Issue #190 December 2025

We speak to Unite Nottingham about proposed reforms on disability rights

Jo Kingsley sat down with Leigh Woosey of Unite Community Nottingham to talk about the proposed reforms on disability rights and their potential impact on the people of Nottingham...

Classical Music Review: The Aurora Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall

The Aurora Orchestra returned to Nottingham with four outstanding but contrasting classics. They also gave a demonstration of their unique performance style...  

Exhibition review: Ukranian Social Club at Backlit Gallery

Ukrainian Social Club is a collaboration between Backlit and the Nottingham Ukrainian Cultural Centre based in Carrington, Sherwood, focusing on Ciaran Spencer’s photography alongside artefacts representing Nottingham’s Ukrainian community across 75 years. It is an intimate, emotionally layered exhibition merging portraiture, film, textiles and tradition to tell a story of resilience across generations in the face of war and displacement.

We chat to Wheatus about dream collabs, favourite guitars and rumours of a covers album

Wheatus are an American alt-rock powerhouse, the unit behind one of the biggest songs of the early 2000s, Teenage Dirtbag. They never stop, with the band now celebrating the 25th anniversary of the self-titled album. We chatted to frontman Brendan B. Brown about the upcoming tour, the legacy of Teenage Dirtbag, and why he likes Biffy Clyro so much...

Breakfast of champions: Turkish-tinged cuisine at Bronte & Co

We went to Sherwood to visit Brontë & Co for a most exquisite breakfast platter…