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Mending our ways: how two Notts locals founded a national repairs directory

Ally Booker and Gemma Broad are two repairs professionals in Nottingham, who in June 2025 founded We Are Repairs: an online directory of UK businesses which give products of all kinds a longer lifespan. Their aim was to shift the public mindset away from a careless ‘throwaway culture’ – they tell us about how the project’s gone since. 

Ay up me duck, best gigs, and The Park Estate: Talkin' with the Thompsons

Nottingham's most opinionated greengrocers on their best gigs of the year, The Park Estate and the origins of 'ay up me duck'

Locating Lawrence: December 1925

Like most of us, Lawrence is happy to get Chrimbo over and done with…

Left Stag: December 2025

This season, as I’ve stated before, is likely going to be one of those where we neither struggle at the bottom of League One, nor pull up any trees near the top. We’ll trudge along, winning some, losing some and ultimately ending up somewhere in the middle...

Pantomines, plays, art, and singing: Here's what's on in Nottingham during Christmas 2025

Season's greetings everybody! We know that around now is the time when lots of us get off work for a bit, and look for new, festive things to do around Notts with people that we care about. With that in mind, here are eight events happening through Christmas and New Year, in Nottingham, which we're certain are worth attending... 

Book review: The Unravelling of Mary Reddish by David Whitfield

We take a look at The Unravelling of Mary Reddish by David Whitfield, a novel about the blurred lines between sanity, control and women's autonomy, which is set against the backdrop of Nottingham General Lunatic Asylum - the first publicly-funded asylum in England.

Gig review: Divorce at Rock City

What a year it has been for Nottingham’s indie darlings Divorce. Since their historic four-night sold out run at The Bodega last September, they’ve released a critically acclaimed debut album in Drive To Goldenhammer, toured music festivals and venues all around the world and ended up on the cover of NME Magazine. Then to put a bow on an incredible 12 months, they closed out their headline UK tour at Rock City this past weekend with their biggest hometown show to date. Here’s what happened at their victory lap…

Wild About Sneinton 2025: how it happened on the day

Out of many opportunities, in our city, to get your hands dirty with soil while improving your local green space, annual community planting day Wild About Sneinton continues to stand out – bringing together volunteers and creatives to get local people properly in touch with their green souls. Joe Callow attended the 2025 edition, and learned about how the event is benefitting people

Evil Scarecrow, sing-a-longs, family theatre and late night parties: here's what's on this week in Notts 15-21 December 2025

Twas the week before Christmas and all through Notts, festive parties and happenings are afoot! Here's some of our top picks of the week...

Carol singing, Christmas markets, doom-tinged gigs and the return of Divorce: here's what's on this week in Notts 8 - 14 December 2025

Can we officially say it's time to get festive this week in Notts? From carol-singing and Christmas markets to doom-tinged gigs and the return of Divorce - here's our top picks of what's on...

Gig review: Don Broco at Motorpoint Arena

With stellar support from Magnolia Park, YONAKA and State Champs, a headline Nottingham Arena show from Don Broco saw a cathartic reminiscence of where they've been - and where they're heading next...

Gig review: Deafheaven at The Palais

Deafheaven are a band with multiple two sides, having roots in shoegaze as well as bringing in elements of darker, heavier to their developing musical catalogue. As we headed down to The Palais on a dark Sunday evening, we were excited to find out which side we would see...

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...

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

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

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... 

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...

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...

Locating D.H. Lawrence: November 1925

DH Lawrence is back in Italy and enjoying domestic chores…

Festive light trails and markets, Notts alt rock and dark cinema: Here's what's on in Notts this week 24-30 November 2025

This week, enjoy a live concert of Amy Winehouse's original band, adore the new festive light trail at Wollaton or take yourself and the family down to the Nottingham Christmas Market. Let the festivities begin! 

Gig review: Baxter Dury at Rock City

Baxter Dury returns to the East Midlands just as sharp, as he enters his dance-pop era. The last time we saw him in Nottingham was hitting supporting duties for Primal Scream back in April. Now, with his ninth studio album in tow, Dury gets to do it all again. But this time as the leading man...

Theatre Review: Ordinary Decent Criminal at Lakeside Arts

Mark Thomas returns to Lakeside in a one-man play by Fringe First winner Ed Edwards. Telling the tale of Frankie, a writer and drug dealer with a history in political activism, who is serving his first prison sentence.  A terrifying prospect, considering his ‘lack of a right hook’... 

Danny Donnelly on the importance of young carers being seen and heard

Across the UK, millions of unpaid carers face invisibility every day. Statistics prove that three in five adults will become a carer at some point, and two-thirds of young carers receive no support at all. Following his own personal experience as a young carer, Notts local Danny Donnelly set up CreatewithCare, a project using creativity to support the wellbeing of carers, raise awareness, and connect people to local support. He tells us about his journey and work…

Gig review: Dea Matrona at Rescue Rooms

In a big week for overseas acts playing in Britain, with Lorde, Mac Demarco and Alex G making stops across the country, Nottingham closed out the week with a band from slightly closer to home. Belfast’s blues-rock duo Dea Matrona played to a packed audience at Rescue Rooms, marking their first headline stop in the city. After opening for Swedish band Royal Republic at Rock City last year, the band are back and ready to run their own show, delivering a confident set that could sway even the toughest of crowds...