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The wondrous world of Ruby D’Woo: meeting Nottingham’s own burlesque and cabaret star

From workshop classes in Haus of Ruby D’Woo, to hosting top-notch live burlesque and cabaret shows across the county, Ruby D’Woo is Nottingham's award-winning burlesque and cabaret artist. Ahead of the Cosy Cabaret coming up next month, she tells us what brought her to the burlesque stage, how she crafts performances, and why burlesque has become a journey of self-expression, confidence, and empowerment for so many…

Theatre Review: Anybody For Murder at Theatre Royal Nottingham

Murder, mayhem and mistaken identities are all tangled together in a cynical comedy from two of British TV’s finest writers, as part of this year's Classic Thriller Season...

Gig review: Kid Spirit at The Grove

Kid Spirit took to the stage last Saturday night at The Grove for an intimate gig showcasing songs from their debut EP, Morning Star...

Art works: White Falcon I by Marcus Rowlands

For this month’s Art Works we heard from Marcus Rowlands, whose intricate wooden mandalas are on display at the New Art Exchange’s Open exhibition throughout this month.

How Kino Koło Notts Is Bringing the Stories of Eastern Europe to Nottingham

From the Baltics to the Balkans, Eastern Europe is a region rich with diverse cultures, histories and creative voices. Kino Koło Notts is helping Nottingham audiences discover the stories behind the stereotypes, bringing together film screenings, workshops, food and conversations that celebrate the people and traditions of the region. We spoke with the team about community cinema, challenging perceptions and their vision for a more connected cultural landscape in Nottingham.

Putting down roots: the story of the Windrush Generation and St Ann's Allotments explored in a new book

Colin Haynes’ book, Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners, tells the story of men whose love for gardening gave them much more than callaloo and oxheart tomatoes. It shares the true story of a group of Windrush residents who turned the neglected, overgrown Hungerhill Gardens, or St Ann's Allotments, as they would become known, into a Caribbean-inspired culinary and horticultural haven.

MOIST: A Publishing Press with a Difference

Based at Primary in Lenton independent press MOIST is smaller than traditional publishing houses, but for both readers and authors, this smaller size can bring certain advantages. Georgia Hamblett went down to find out more...

Left Magpie: The 2026 Season Preview

Freelance Careers That Keep the UK's Creatives Running Safely

From health and safety consultants to cybersecurity experts and fire risk assessors, these careers demonstrate that creativity and safety go hand in hand...

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning at the Savoy

We've had a chat with the folks behind The Loft Movie Theatre, who will be bringing Saturday Night and Sunday Morning back to Nottingham. The screening is taking place on 15th August at the Savoy.

Left Brian: The 2026 Season Preview

The Classic Thriller Season Returns to Theatre Royal Nottingham

The Classic Thriller Season is a long-running annual summer repertory tradition at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, featuring live stage performances of comedy murder mysteries and psychological thrillers. It's back this month with three plays that will offer your annual quota of puzzles and adrenalin rushes...

Nadia on… Nottingham’s maternity services

Nottingham East's Labour MP Nadia Whittome discusses Nottingham's maternity services.

Content warning: baby loss, death.

Left Stag: The 2026 Season Preview

August sees the new football season begin for our three local league teams: Mansfield Town, Notts County and Nottingham Forest. Following a summer of World Cup action it’s back to the day-to-day and hopefully hydration breaks, interference from Donald Trump and middle of the night kick-offs will all be a thing of the past. Our regular fan columnists Josh, Julian and Gareth are all on the case to let you know what you can expect from their teams… 

Pick Six: Just The Tonic founder Darrell Martin

This month we feature Darrell Martin, who founded Just The Tonic Comedy Club in Nottingham in 1994, which has since grown to host comedy nights nationwide and at Metronome every Saturday. At this month’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival they will be promoting 215 shows across nineteen performance spaces…

Art, gigs, Bowie, European parties, and family festivals Here's what's on this week in Nottingham Monday 3 - Sunday 9 August

There's lots happening this week to kick off August's event schedule, from European parties to family festivals and events - here's our top picks...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #49: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this 49th edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Richard Snow, Emily Ashberry, Pillow Fort and CATHEDRA...

Food review: Ramen worth raving about at Shobu

While ramen might not be the most obvious choice for summertime, living in Nottingham means out of season weather is practically guaranteed. Shobu, a little Japanese restaurant on Friar Lane, is the perfect antidote to a dreary day....

The New Toolkit Behind Small Business Marketing In West Norfolk

The way small businesses market themselves in towns like King's Lynn has quietly transformed over the past few years. The hand-drawn poster in the window and the leaflet through the door still have their place, and always will, but the bulk of the work of attracting customers now happens on a screen. What has changed most is not where the marketing happens, which has been drifting online for a long time, but the tools that local traders are now using to produce it. Those tools have become dramatically more capable and far more affordable, and the effect on small businesses is real.

Gig review: Playback launch showcase at The Carousel

Luke Brennan, the creator of Playback, wants to change the music industry for the better to help support the local scene. The first Playback showcase took place at Notts grassroots venue, The Carousel, and was completely sold out with 100% of ticket sales going towards the artists performing - proving that change is possible for the industry...

Gig review: As It Is at Rough Trade

Rough Trade Nottingham feels more intimate than usual tonight, with bodies packed shoulder‑to‑shoulder and buzzing with the kind of anticipation that only comes with a long‑awaited return. As It Is are back with their new self‑titled album, their first release since 2022, and the room carries that shared understanding that this isn’t just another in‑store, it’s something that many fans thought they would never see - a chance to see As It Is again and what the band look like in this new era...

From The Kitchen: with Kushi-ya Head Chef & Owner Simon Carlin

Simon Carlin, Head Chef & Owner at Japanese small plate restaurant Kushi-ya, talks fried mochi skewers and favourite restaurants...

Festival review: Splendour goes out in style

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. For 18 years, Splendour Festival has been one of the highlights of the summer here in Nottingham, a community celebration that brings together UK music legends with some of the very best up-and-coming local bands. It began in 2008 with names including Kate Nash, The Charlatans and Ocean Colour Scene on the bill. However, with the event no longer able to viably continue, the 2026 edition marked the end of an era for our city's premier two-day festival. Determined to go out on a high, here is what took place at the last ever Splendour…

Gig review: Yard Act in-store at Rough Trade

Despite Yard Act having performed at Rock City a few years ago, LeftLion their fans jumped at the chance to see the band in the much more intimate setting of Rough Trade, and even get the opportunity to meet them afterwards at the album signing...

Exhibition review: Physical Culture and And The Soul is for the Birds at Nottingham Contemporary

Two very different exhibitions are currently displayed at the Nottingham Contemporary. In one, classical sculptures intersect with modern fitness culture. In the other, a Brazilian artist creates an imagined folklore…