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East Midlands Pamphlet Prize launched by Bad Betty, in partnership with Writing East Midlands and Nottingham Poetry Festival

Notts based independent publisher Bad Betty Press has announced the launch of the East Midlands Pamphlet Prize, a new initiative designed to support and platform poets living, working and studying across our region.

Out of time: a tale of two hotels on Derby Road

Two hotels once stood on Derby Road, and played roles in some unusual Nottingham history – one facilitated a dramatic confrontation featuring local suffragettes, the other housed a ‘mini Scotland’. Here’s the hidden history in those now-innocuous locations.

Ninja Sex Party

Book Review: The History Boys Part II by David Marples

Gareth Watts takes a leaf through a new book by Dave Marples' new book about more great goals seen at the World Famous City Ground...

Party Cannon & Internal Bleeding

Festival of Love presents… Spring Break Warehouse Party

LeftLion's Latest Listens #42: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from Leah Wilcox, Eyre Llew and Origin One & Snowy... 

Nottingham Climate Assembly Opens Applications for Paid Participants

Six years in the making, Nottingham’s first citywide Citizens’ Assembly is almost here - you could be one of the people paid to take part and shape the city’s environmental future.

A one way ticket to nostalgia: visiting Alfreton's 80s Video Shop

Right on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire sits the 80s Video Shop – a one-way ticket to the age of neon, fuelled by original Big Box Rental VHS Tapes. Owners Chris Annable and Rob Lane talk to us about the story behind this tucked away portal to another time… 

Gig review: Blackbeard's Tea Party at The Bodega

Starting out as an acoustic busking band in York nearly 20 years ago, Blackbeard’s Tea Party have evolved into a solid five-piece folk rock band whose live performances have included the legendary festivals of Glastonbury and Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. If you insist on your folk delivered in a traditional acoustic way complete with flat caps, then this may not the band for you. However, if you’re up for something a bit livelier, then check them out. We did, at The Bodega...

Gig review: Coach Party at Rescue Rooms

Parking up in Nottingham for the second stop of their Club Caramel 2026 tour, Coach Party delivered buzzing tunes, joy and a genuine sense of togetherness. Local band Marvin’s Revenge and honorary local Lizzie Esau provided solid support - and proof that rainy Thursdays can still be the best nights out…

Night Creatures Podcast #5: Adam and Rob Perkins from Boho Festival on organising Notts parties from the 90s to now

Night Creatures is a LeftLion podcast, shining a light on the promoters of Nottingham. Your host and interviewer is Beane, co-founder of Nottingham’s beloved Soul Buggin’ night and he brings with him two decades of experience of putting on great parties in the city.

Coach Party

Jack Rhodes: Part Time Wizard, Full Time Moron

Two Day Coma

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. 

Watch Party: World Darts Championship Final

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...

Night Creatures Podcast #4: Nate Coltrane from Mimm on 14 years of parties, Nottingham Street Food Club and Our Yard

Night Creatures is a LeftLion podcast, shining a light on the promoters of Nottingham. Your host and interviewer is Beane, co-founder of Nottingham’s beloved Soul Buggin’ night and he brings with him over twenty years of experience of putting on great parties in the city.

Karen's Christmas Party

We chat to the people behind the Christmas Covers Party at The Bodega

Whether it’s grabbing a glass of mulled wine from one of the faux ski chalets in the Market Square or catching a screening of misty-eyed festive staple It’s A Wonderful Life at The Broadway, there are certain Yuletide traditions which are paramount in any true Nottinghamian’s December calendar. Another event high up on the to do list has been taking place for the last 22 years. First held at fondly-remembered Junktion 7 on Canning Circus in 2002, the Annual Christmas Covers Party has graced everywhere from Hopkinsons to The Maze over the last two decades and now resides at The Bodega. Ahead of this year’s event on 20th December, LeftLion caught up with three of the organisers and past performers, Alex Hale, Scot Lambert and Joey Chickenskin to garner intel on how it all works…

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... 

The return of Unknown Era - One Night Only

Two Pints Podcast - Live! With Will Mellor & Ralf Little

Artworks: Anna Mylonas of Nine Two Five Silver

For this month’s Artworks, we hear from Anna Mylonas, a Notts-based silversmith who runs Nine Two Five Silver.