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Common Ground: Alan Lodge's upcoming exhibition documents protests, parties and festivals over the last fifty years

Opening this month at Bonington Gallery is Common Grounds: Counterculture & Confrontation since 1976, a retrospective of the work of Alan ‘Tash’ Lodge. One of the UK’s most prolific photographers of alternative lifestyles, Alan’s work gives a vivid first person insight into the new age traveller movement and the 90s free-party scene, raising questions about the right to gather, policing, surveillance and community.

18 of the best independent places to eat in Nottingham on a Monday

Mondays in the city can be a bit of a culinary minefield. After a busy weekend, plenty of independent restaurants and cafés take the day off – and quite rightly so. But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a sad meal deal when the Monday hunger starts calling. Whether you’re starting the week with a catch-up over coffee, looking for a proper lunch, or fancy treating yourself to dinner, our Food Co-editor and Nottingham Food Guide founder Julia has rounded up eighteen of the best places to eat in Nottingham on a Monday.

Undercover artist: Iulia Matei celebrates creative pastimes with our September 2026 cover

This month’s cover artist Iulia Matei talks comics, creativity and letting things figure themselves out.

Make your mark: ten creative opportunities coming up in Nottingham

Nowadays, it’s not always easy to be creative in the UK, especially if you don’t have the money or family connections for the strongest possible head start. Luckily, our city’s ‘do-it-yourself’ culture has given rise to various creative opportunities, competitions, training projects, and free showcases. Here’s ten of the best in Nottingham, which if you're a creative person might be just what you were looking for…

Pick six: Notts folk artist Daudi Matsiko

For this month's Pick Six we feature Notts folk artist Daudi Matsiko who plays at Sneinton Market's By Our Hands We Make Our Way in 19 September.

Breaking Ground: how Nottingham Forest Women are scaling up their ambitions

As Nottingham Forest Women prepare for a new Women’s Super League 2 (WSL2) campaign, Head of Women's and Girls’ Football Amber Wildgust tells us about their new manager Tom Mallinson, recruitment strategy, a landmark pre-season tour to Canada, and why they want to become the destination club for emerging talent.

Exhibition review: 86:26 LGBTQ+ Film, Heritage and Archive this week at Backlit

A collaboration between BACKLIT Gallery and the British Film Institute, 86:26 explores queer history and heritage in Nottingham. Under the direction of CJ De Barra from the Notts Queer History Archive, the exhibition is taking place in the BACKLIT main gallery from 24 August until 30 August.

Gig review: Antony Szmierek at Rough Trade

By now, there's a good chance you will have heard of Antony Szmierek - the Mancunian poet who has gained a massive following with his mix of electronic beats and spoken word verses. His debut album Service Station at the End of the Universe stood out among all the great music that graced last year. Now, supporting his follow-up offering Decoding Birdsong, Antony has gone on a record store tour giving new and established fans an increasingly rare chance to see him in intimate venues...

Safe hands: the vital work of Nottinghamshire Hospice and how to keep it going

Nottinghamshire Hospice is one of the most important charities in our county, providing palliative and end of life care and support for the loved ones of those who need it. Sadly, there’s a lot of financial adversity facing organisations like them, but they’ve also got a hardworking fundraising department to help them. Frances Danylec finds out more about the work that they do, and how people around Notts can support it in diverse and often enjoyable ways. 

The Route to Cappyness: Notts filmmaker Sharon Walia on her brand new documentary

Nottingham filmmaker Sharon Walia’s work has covered a variety of topics – from guinea pigs to refugees. With her newest documentary, The Route to Cappyness, she looks at how the world’s largest rodent could be the key to positivity across the globe, from Brazil and Japan to the USA and Wheelgate Park. We spoke to Sharon about why the capybara is important, how she made the film, and her travels across the UK, USA, Brazil, and Japan. 

Nottingham Book Festival 2026 is coming to Broadway Cinema

For the first time in ten years, Nottingham is celebrating all things books. The Nottingham Book Festival will call Broadway Cinema home this year. LeftLion turns the page and delves into the small print…

Out of time: Nottingham's history of opium

Content warning, substances and the historical passing of children

Although it’s hard to believe today, in early to mid-Victorian Britain, it was possible to walk into a chemist’s and pick up a bottle of laudanum (opium) or cocaine, with or without a prescription. Even stranger than that, you might do so with the intention of giving it to your baby. You might even send your oldest child to go and pick it up for you. 

Gig review: Mystery Jets at Rough Trade

Following a six-year studio album hiatus - which could be seen in dog years in recording terms - indie-rock Londoners Mystery Jets are about to put their collective heads above the parapet once more with their seventh offering, A Hole To See The Sky Through. Rough Trade played host to the band for the Nottingham date of their promo tour...

Preview: Our Story at Nottingham's Libraries.

Our Story is a creative heritage project currently touring our local libraries that celebrates the lives of the county's trans and gender diverse people. Rosalie Spring the Project Producer and Director Jo Tyabji talk Left Lion through the event...

Exhibition review: Pieces of Me at the National Justice Museum

Made by artist Elahè Raofi and built by the stories of members of Refugee Roots, a free exhibition at the National Justice Museum creates a space that says, ‘all are welcome’, while tackling themes of work, identity and belonging.

Undercover artist: Lucy Holt on music industry design and her August 2026 cover for LeftLion

Our August cover artist Lucy Holt talks about projection art, previous projects and inspiration…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #50: Notts music we're currently spinning

We have reached the 50th edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens! Thanks to all our writers who have contributed since our first edition in 2024, and a very big thank you to all the Notts artists who have made our lives better with their music. In this edition, our music team reviews new releases from Di$mal, Wayne Banks, Rainbow Frog Biscuits, Laura Williams and ronnietoldus...

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…

Gig review: Man/Woman/Chainsaw at Rough Trade

It was a baking hot Tuesday in mid-August, the nation was awaiting an eclipse, and Man/Woman/Chainsaw were in the mood for dancing. Rough Trade Nottingham provided the venue...

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...

Locating Lawrence: August 1926

Grouse shooting is ‘an event for those that shoot, and a still bigger one for those that get shot’... Here's what DH Lawrence was up to 100 years ago this month.

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...

Gig review: Keyside at Rough Trade

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.