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The Death of Disco: A Brief History of Nottingham Nightclubs

When it comes to nightclubs, Nottingham has more than its fair share of legendary venues from Rock City to NG One to Pryzm. There really is something for everyone. But there are many clubs that have had their last orders at the bar and closed the doors for good, leaving nothing but memories.

Some have become legends such as Isis, Bopp, Mario’s, Part Two, Media, Skyy Club, Kool Kat, The Garage and more. Hidden behind their new lives as solicitor’s offices, student accommodation or studios, here are four venues we have loved and lost.

Nadia on... Black History Month in Nottingham

In her regular column, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome talks about Black History Month in Notts

We Spoke With Veronica Pickering, Nottinghamshire’s First Black Female High Sheriff

Everyone has heard of the High Sheriff of Nottingham, but what does the job entail in the modern age? We spoke with Veronica Pickering, Nottinghamshire’s first Black female High Sheriff, about her truly fascinating career journey, her international and local community work, the changing nature of the public sector, and what she likes to do in her free time…

Celebrating Nottingham’s History of DIY Football Fanzines thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Two of Nottingham’s best loved football fanzines Brian and The Pie will be given a new lease of life thanks to a regeneration project by LeftLion, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund…

We Chat to Honey Williams About Being a Black Woman in the World of Art

Working as an artist, graphic designer, DJ and musical performer, it seems Honey Williams’ creativity holds no bounds, but the glamour of being a full-time artist comes with its ups and downs. Especially when your work centres on race, size and gender. We dropped in to see Honey at City Arts where she has a studio, to discuss art, creativity and being a Black woman in the art world.

Catherine Ross: Voices from Nottingham's Windrush Generation

To celebrate Black History Month and the 75th anniversary of Windrush we have been working with the New Art Exchange and their NAE YOUnity Commission funded by Freelands Foundation. Our aim is to highlight the voices of Nottingham's Windrush generation and some of the challenges they faced...

Bettina Wallace: Voices from Nottingham's Windrush Generation

To celebrate Black History Month and the 75th anniversary of Windrush we have been working with the New Art Exchange and their NAE YOUnity Commission funded by Freelands Foundation. Our aim is to highlight the voices of Nottingham's Windrush generation and some of the challenges they faced...

Nigel Best: Voices from Nottingham's Windrush Generation

To celebrate Black History Month and the 75th anniversary of Windrush we have been working with the New Art Exchange and their NAE YOUnity Commission funded by Freelands Foundation. Our aim is to highlight the voices of Nottingham's Windrush generation and some of the challenges they faced...

Donna Humphrey: Voices from Nottingham's Windrush Generation

To celebrate Black History Month and the 75th anniversary of Windrush we have been working with the New Art Exchange and their NAE YOUnity Commission funded by Freelands Foundation. Our aim is to highlight the voices of Nottingham's Windrush generation and some of the challenges they faced...

Here’s the Inspiration Behind Laura Decorum’s Black History Month LeftLion Cover

Laura Decorum designed the beautiful cover for Issue #164 of LeftLion. Here's what she had to say about it...

Richard Douglas (aka Joe Buhdha): Voices from Nottingham's Windrush Generation

To celebrate Black History Month and the 75th anniversary of Windrush we have been working with the New Art Exchange and their NAE YOUnity Commission funded by Freelands Foundation. Our aim is to highlight the voices of Nottingham's Windrush generation and some of the challenges they faced...

The Goose Is Back! Plus, Dizzee Rascal, The Queen Story, Black History And Much More. Here's What's On 2 October - 8 October...

Nottingham is providing yet again, we've got music, Black History, culture, arts and crafts and more. If you're stuck, LeftLion HQ are here to lend a helping hand, read below...

A History of the Films of Leftlion

Over the last decade, as well as producing lots of written journalism, LeftLion have also made a few films. To celebrate our 20th Birthday, we’ve decided to release some of the best things knocking around in our video archives for free on our website and Youtube channel so you - and the whole world - can all view them at your leisure. Here’s a few favourites we’d like to point you to…

Theatre Review: The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man

Ian C Douglas reviews The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man... 

Music Reviews: September 2023

This month, we review the music of Seas of Mirth, Melonyx, Dan Ottewell, Office Goth, and Fat Digester...

We Speak to the Founder of Five Leaves Bookshop as It Celebrates Its 10th Birthday

Tucked away in Swann’s Yard behind Primark, Five Leaves Bookshop has become a vital fixture in Nottingham’s literary scene, winning the British Book Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year in 2018. As it celebrates its tenth birthday, we had a chat with Five Leaves’ Scottish founder and manager, Ross Bradshaw...

Film Review: Red Black Green

Notts-based film director Naphat “Naps” Boonyaprapa has released a documentary on his favourite topic - table tennis. Here's what we thought of it...

The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man

A bold re-telling of the Elephant Man story – the man, not the specimen. Nottingham Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for their exciting autumn season headline production, The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man. This European premiere of Australian playwright Tom Wright’s acclaimed play is a fresh new telling of the story of Joseph Merrick. 

The Thompsons on Roman Abramovich, Brookside, DVDs and Cilla Black

For our 20th birthday issue we asked Nottingham’s most opinionated greengrocers about events from back in 2003…

A Brief History of Hip-Hop and Rhyme in Nottingham

On 11 August 2023, people from around the world will celebrate the 50th birthday of Hip-Hop (half a century since DJ Kool Herc’s famous ‘Back to school jam’ in The Bronx, NYC). Over the years Nottingham has also played a part in shaping its popularity in the UK. Claude Money goes through a brief history of Hip-Hop and rhyme in Nottingham.

Interview: Neil Fulwood

Ian Douglas chats with Neil Fulwood, the poet and performer behind the Open Book nights at the Organ Grinder... 

YARD Outernational: The Notts Dealers of Fashion Books, Zines and Art That You Need on Your Radar

We sit down with YARD Outernational, the Notts-based dealers of fashion books, zines, art, and printed merch, to hear all about how the project has evolved since its creation in 2020… 

We Chat About the 5-9 Albums of the Month Podcast with Its Nottingham Co-Host Karl Blakesley

With co-hosts located all over the country and beyond, the 5-9 Albums of the Month podcast is a go-to for discovering new music. We chat to Nottingham-based co-host Karl Blakesley to find out more about how the podcast came to be…

We Chat to Scott Taylor, the Brains Behind the We Share These Streets Podcast

Do you ever consider the streets you’re walking on? What happened on them hundreds of years ago? These are the exact questions Scott Taylor asked himself when he created We Share These Streets - the twenty-episode podcast exploring the days of Nottingham past…

In Photos: Cardinal Black and Tom Jenkins

Welsh alt-rock band Cardinal Black brought soul-soaked blues to Rescue Rooms...