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Theatre review: Take Flight at Lakeside Arts is an aerial treat for parents and babies

Following a mother and baby bird through the early stages of parenthood, Take Flight by local theatre company Rebel Sparks came to Lakeside Arts this weekend, uplifting early years theatre to new heights. Izzy and Bobby Bradley went down to check it out...

Take Flight: Ria Ashcroft tells us about her circus theatre show for 0-2 year olds which comes to Lakeside Arts this weekend...

Blending theatre and aerial silks, Take Flight is a multi-sensory, interactive show from local theatre company Rebel Sparks. Coming to Lakeside Arts this weekend, we sat down for a chat with co-artistic director Ria Ashcroft from Circus Hub to hear more about this unique form of children's entertainment...

Class of 2026: six local music acts set to take Notts by storm in 2026

2025 in Notts music was mostly defined by awards. Rave-metal sister duo ALT BLK ERA won a MOBO award, rapper Jayahadadream won two Youth Music Awards including the Rising Star prize – and beloved venue The Bodega was crowned Grassroots Champion at the LIVE Awards.

Locally, we also saw the return of Splendour Festival with the Future Sound of Nottingham winners Saffron Gray and Archie & The Astronauts opening the festival main stage. This got us thinking – who are the next breakout stars from Nottingham and who can we expect to shine in the year ahead? After much deliberation, here’s six artists we expect to have a big 2026…

Rage against the running machine: local class Rockfit's alternative take on fitness

Looking to shake off the ‘toxicity’ of the festive season, let your ‘bodies’ hit the floor, and get ‘one step closer’ to your fitness goals? Well, if you have a penchant for alternative music, get yourself down to RockFit, Nottingham’s alternative fitness class where friendly metal fans rock out to work out. We spoke to Nottingham instructors Jack ‘Kastor’ Wilkinson and Sam ‘Blu’ Rynne to discover what it’s all about…

Hal Cruttenden: Can Dish It Out but Can't Take It

Palop Takeover

Museum Takeover Day for Refugee Week

Have You Got What It Takes To Be Nottingham’s New Nature Poet Laureate?

Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature has announced an open call for a Nature Poet Laureate...

Chicago takes over Notts, unleash your Primal Scream, get creative with Collage N’ Cocktails, and lots more: here’s what’s on in Nottingham this week 7 April - 13 April 2025

With BBC Introducing’s Tom Hewitt and Riley Marsh making appearances in Acoustic Rooms, to 130 years of War of the Worlds and a Broadway classic making its way to Nottingham's Theatre Royal, there is a lot going on this week in Nottingham so make sure to clear your calendars…

Northern Lights: Inside the queer 90s North and Midlands with the Linden Archives

We go back to the hedonistic 1990s of Nottingham and the North of England with former photographer, Stuart Linden Rhodes, who comes to Nottingham on February 6 to launch his new book Linden Archives.

Moving on Up: 10 new hobbies to take up in Nottingham for 2025

Once again, January has sprung upon us like an unwelcome morning alarm. The new year, with its best intentions of changing habits and fresh starts, can seem cruelly placed back to back with the gluttonous festivities of December, but once the Christmas debris has been cleared and desire for revelling abated, it’s time to look ahead and see how you can decorate your days over the upcoming year.

Want to run away with the circus in 2025? Fancy brushing up on your Spanish in time for your next holiday? Feel like it's time to learn those outdoor survival skills for when the revolution comes? Look no further. In Nottingham there are dozens of classes, courses and groups to join, offering valuable skills and time well spent in the company of likeminded people. To brighten up the dark nights as we trudge towards spring, we thought we’d shine a light on some of the things you can get stuck into.

Queer Up Duck! New LGBTQ+ Arts Festival Takes Over Nottingham

A brand new LGBTQ+ Arts Festival is taking place across Nottingham from 21 October to 2 November, celebrating the diversity and creativity of LGBTQ+ artists and communities. We took a closer look at some highlights of this very special celebration of queer arts and culture. 

CommuniTree Festival (Ft The Dhol Foundation, Sidiki Dembélé Ensemble & Take 1 Dance)

Rock City gives Lemmy a new home

The roar of engines and unmistakeable smell of petrol fumes signalled the arrival of a Harley Davidson convoy descending on Nottingham’s Talbot Street last night, as the ashes of Lemmy Kilmister of celebrated band Motörhead were delivered to Rock City...

Re-take That

In photos: Take That at The City Ground

This weekend, Take That chose Nottingham Forest's City Ground stadium to host two nights of their This is Life tour. Our photographer Laura Patterson dropped in to get some shots...

Food review: Saltbox X Mollis Takeover

This summer Nottingham's favourite fried chicken masters Mollis are bringing their banging burgers, wings, and tenders to gig-goers and hockey fans with a takeover of the kitchens at live music and sports bar Saltbox in Bolero Square. 

Theatre Review: Take Flight

On Saturday 18 May, Silvia was the youngest reviewer for LeftLion at 17 months old, where we went together as a family to see Take Flight, a theatre production especially made for 0-2 year olds by The Gramophones at Lakeside Arts…

Take Flight

Elevating voices of the Global Ethnic Majority with Transform, a city takeover by New Art Exchange

With aims to celebrate and amplify the leadership, creativity, and broader cultural stewardship of the Global Ethnic Majority in Nottingham through music, film, talks and more, pioneering Forest Fields art gallery New Art Exchange is soon to launch Transform, a City Takeover. We spoke to CEO & Artistic Director Saad Eddine-Said and Associate Artistic Director Saziso Phiri, about this new festival.

We take a look at the history of zines, including many homegrown mini-mags made right here in Notts

From its roots in 30s sci-fi fan fiction and 70s New York punk, the illustrious medium of the zine has sprouted many fascinating publications, with many homegrown mini-mags made right here in Notts. Let us take you on a whistlestop tour of this curious corner of culture…

Nottingham Residents Invited to Take Part in World-First Citizen Assembly Initiative at New Art Exchange

New Art Exchange (NAE) is setting a global precedent for community-led arts delivery with the launch of the VOICE Assembly, a permanent citizen assembly to be included within the diverse arts organisation's leadership structure. The initiative invites forty local residents to represent the wider community and directly shape NAE’s neighbourhood strategy and investments. NAE is developing a blueprint for cultural institutions worldwide, championing citizen-led decision-making in arts and culture.

Joe Danks “Take Courage” Tour

Cheap Thrills X Sound at Central Takeover

We Take a Fresh Look at National Ice Centre - The Big Local Venue With Room for Everyone

Having opened in April 2000, you might think by this point that you know all about the National Ice Centre. But that’s far from all that’s going on at their extensive base on Bolero Square...