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Out of time: a idiosyncratic history of adult cinemas and shops in Notts

Sex sells….or so we’ve heard. We take a look back at Nottingham’s history of ‘adult’ entertainment cinemas and shops.

From grassroots to Fields: we speak with rising local band Drury Hill

Nottingham born-and-bred Drury Hill are one of the emerging bands repopulating the local grassroots music scene with a softer rock, post-folk influenced sound. Transitioning between softly lilting, storytelling tracks and jangly, spirited choruses you find yourself humming days afterwards, the four-piece’s live gigs and recent EP Fields capture a fittingly self-described "soft rockin’, slacker poppin’’ voice. But their DIY, offbeat and grassroots ethos runs deeper than their distinct sound; Drury Hill have always been shaped by the band members’ shared adolescence in Nottingham. We met with Charley to talk about the ways a sense of place seeps into their songwriting, the nostalgia that infuses Fields, and the support of the grassroots music scene...

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #12: Writer James Graham on Dear England, Sherwood, Broadway, London theatre and writing for stage and screen

Our latest episode is a conversation with the Notts-born Showrunner of BBC TV's Sherwood, who is taking Notts to New York stages and returning home to celebrate the 160th Birthday of Nottingham's Theatre Royal...

Cara Thompson Announced As Nottingham's First Nature Poet Laureate

We speak to Cara as her new 18 month position with Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature begins...

Playwright Caroline Bird on writing The Last Stand Of Mrs Mary Whitehouse

The Playhouse continues its streak of consequential new plays with the upcoming The Last Stand Of Mrs Mary Whitehouse, starring Maxine Peake behind those infamous horn-rimmed spectacles. Caroline Bird speaks to Leftlion about how and why she wrote about the 'most dangerous woman in Britain'... 

Theatre Interview: Dan Lewis

Steptoe and Son ride again at the Nottingham Arts Theatre. Actor Dan Lewis shares his trip on the rag and bone cart as the curmudgeonly Albert... 

By youth, for youth: Nottingham celebrates 25 years of International Youth Day

This year marked the 25th anniversary of International Youth Day; we headed down to the pop-up shop organised by Nottingham City of Literature’s Youth Board to join in with the celebrations...

Under the microscope: who won NTU's Images of Research competition 2025?

What is this intriguing image you may ask? No, it’s not a distant vision of our universe or a throwback to an early 2000s screensaver. Each year the talented researchers at Nottingham Trent University – at which 86% of research is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent – are asked to submit one photo of their discoveries to the annual Images of Research competition. 

This year’s winner is Shraddha Bajpai, a Research Assistant in the School of Science and Technology, who took viewers deep into our genetic make-up with her image, Last Duct Standing.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #28: Notts music we're currently spinning

With summer at its height, here's what our music team has been listening to recently. In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, we review releases from Antonio Panzera, Marvin's Revenge, Richard Snow and EMiDORA & Darling I Dreamt

Hang Linton on making good trouble, second-hand iPods and playing Nottingham's woodworking studio

Ahead of their forthcoming gig at By Our Hands We Make Our Way this month, we caught up with Leeds-based interdisciplinary artist Hang Linton...

Art Works: Solomon Lewis Hunter, leader and costume maker at Inspire Urself carnival troupe

For this month’s Artworks, ahead of Nottingham Carnival, we spoke to Solomon Lewis Hunter, who leads and designs costumes for the local carnival troupe Inspire Urself. 

Left Brian: 2025 Season Preview

Our monthly footy columns are back and we are completely delighted to unveil Julie Pritchard, the creator of the classic nineties 'Brian' fanzine, as our new Nottingham Forest FC columnist...

LeftLion Issue #186 August 2025

Featuring... LGBTQI+ cabaret collective Niche Artefact, photographer Charlie Valentine, Palestine Solidary Nottingham, football commentator Colin Fray, football season previews, author Danny Scott, Wild.NG, supper club The Underground Table, Inspire Urself carnival troupe, Sonic Boom Festival and more...

Our July cover artist Beth Gillespie on her Major Oak inspired cover

This month’s cover artist Beth Gillespie talks about art, folklore and finding fantasy in reality.

What's in a name: the intriguing tales behind ten Nottingham place names

We walk along the streets of Nottingham every day without paying much attention to their names. They may be just words to us now, but street names were often originally descriptions, giving us information about important goings on in that area. Here are the meanings and history behind some of Nottingham’s streets that you may not have thought about before.

Counselling, community, and café cosiness: inside Maid Marian Way's new Pride Shop

This year will be the first Nottingham Pride since The Pride Shop on Maid Marian Way opened its doors to the public. More than just a shop, it offers a safe space to the LGTBQ+ community in Nottingham through support groups, events and counselling, as well as a cosy café. We spoke to founder Jake Hook about his motivations for setting up the business and its impact on the city.

Review: Miss Americana – A Tribute to Taylor Swift at the Nottingham Playhouse

A dazzling, high-energy tribute that captured the spirit, sparkle and soul of Taylor Swift. Xenna is a powerhouse performer who gave fans exactly what they came for, and more...

Theatre Interview : Laurie Owen, director of The Prince at the Lace Market Theatre

The Prince by Abigail Thorn is about to launch at the Lace Market Theatre. This ambitious show stars three trans women and merges Shakespeare with the modern world. LeftLion interviews the director, Laurie Owen, on the hows and whys...  

We built this city: celebrating twenty years of I'm Not From London with head promoter Will Robinson

Man about town, creature of the night, gig aficionado, and master of mayhem Will Robinson has been keeping Nottingham’s music scene alive and kicking for twenty years with promotion company I’m Not From London. As the fifteenth Waterfront Festival draws close on Saturday 2 August at the Canalhouse, anniversary celebrations in the works and a great roster of gigs coming up, we caught up with Will to hear some highlights from two decades of gigs.

Theatre Interview: Ifeanyi Felukwu

A local production of 1984 is about to debut at the Nottingham Playhouse. Does a play from the 1940s still hold relevance for today's young people. Ifeanyi Felukwu, who plays Winston Smith, shares his views... 

Interview : Film and Play Director Atticus Orsborn

He may be directing films and plays in New York now, but Atticus Orsborn grew up in Nottingham. Fiercely proud of his roots, he shares the journey with Left Lion...  

Theatre Review: AMPLIFY at the Nottingham Playhouse

We Review Nottingham Poetry Festival 2025

Callum Minford reflects on this year's Nottingham Poetry Festival and what it reveals to us about Nottingham's writing scene. 

We speak to this year's eight Future Sound of Nottingham finalists

The Future Sound of Nottingham returns to the Rock City main stage this Sunday 6th July. Eight Nottingham artists, living their dream and playing the most iconic stage in the city... plus there are two slots on the Splendour Festival main stage up for grabs! We had a chinwag with the eight finalists so you can get to know them a little better. Read on to hear from No Cash Refunds, Emily Alice, Megs, Molly in the Metro, Louie Walsh, Benji Romeo, Archy & The Astronauts and Saffron Gray...

We chat to Set In Motion about what drives them, Splendour Festival, and their playlists...

Set in Motion are one of the Nottingham music scene’s most promising bands. Noted for catchy indie hooks, powerful songs and incredible live performances, over the last two years they’ve made a name for themselves as a guitar music powerhouse act. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Alfie Wallace, guitarist Dillan Telford, bassist Niall Hopkins and drummer Joe Carnell - outside the Fox and Grapes - to discuss their imminent Splendour Festival set, their future plans and what they’re listening to at the minute...