Leftlion June 2025 Issue 184

#184 June 2025

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Featured Contributor

Credits

Nost-Al-gic Alan Gilby (alan.gilby@leftlion.co.uk)

Editor Head Designer Editor-in-Chief Sophie Gargett Natalie Owen Jared Wilson (jared.wilson@leftlion.co.uk) (sophie.gargett@leftlion.co.uk) (natalie.owen@leftlion.co.uk)

Editorial & Marketing Assistant Caradoc Gayer (caradoc.gayer@leftlion.co.uk)

Music Co-Editor Phil Taylor (music@leftlion.co.uk)

Music Co-Editor Karl Blakesley (music@leftlion.co.uk)

Environment Editor Adam Pickering (environment@leftlion.co.uk)

Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon-Harley (fashion@leftlion.co.uk)

Stage Co-Editor Ian C. Douglas (ian@leftlion.co.uk)

Stage Co-Editor Dom Henry (dom.henry@leftlion.co.uk)

History Editor CJ DeBarra (history@leftlion.co.uk)

Frances Danylec is an occupational therapist and a writer. In her work for the charity Sibs, she has written and co-ordinated an eBook, edited a collection of stories from siblings of autistic people and produced nine guides on topics such as mental capacity and managing care. She has been writing for LeftLion since November 2024 and loves covering stories relating to health and wellbeing. Each one takes her to a new corner of the city, to meet incredible people who are passionate about supporting their community.

Supporters These people #SupportLeftLion Screen Editor Sofia Jones (screen@leftlion.co.uk)

Literature Editor Andrew Tucker (literature@leftlion.co.uk)

Community Editor Rose Mason (community@leftlion.co.uk)

Food Co-Editor Julia Head (food@leftlion.co.uk)

Food Co-Editor Lucy Campion (food@leftlion.co.uk)

Photography Co-Editor Dani Bacon (photography@leftlion.co.uk)

Photography Co-Editor Sam Tariq (photography@leftlion.co.uk)

Art Co-Editor Charlotte Pimm-Smith (art@leftlion.co.uk)

Art Co-Editor Benjamin Kay (art@leftlion.co.uk)

Distribution Dom Martinovs

Cover art Lily Keogh Editorial Interns Talia Robinson Mary Carolan Writers Matteo D'Alesio Ben Macpherson Nadia Whittome Benedict Cooper Jo Herlihy Tom Hackett Frances Danylec Claire Spencer

Kieran Lister Tom Gensler Matt Blaney Photographers Paul Nix Collection Nottingham Hidden History Team Tom Podmore The Sparrow's Nest LGBT+ Collection Julian Woodcock Oliver Holms FoodCycle Maiko Only Charleigh Keemer Jason Thompson Phil Revels

Charlie Valentine Nick Archer Irina Holliday Fabrice Gagos Enda Bowe | BBC Tom Platinum Morley The Other Richard Sebastian Burford Comms Benedict Cooper Illustrators Beth Gillespie Bryony Loveridge Emily Catherine Jim Brown

123 Learning, 35A Creative, Aaron Murray, Alan Underwood, Alex McFarlane, Alison Gove-Humphries, Alison Hedley, Alison Knox, Anamenti, Andrew Button, Ant Haywood, Audrey & Lizzy & Margot, BadGrammar MakesMeSic, Barbara Morgan, Ben Martin Saxophone, Ben Stewart, Big Bob McPlop, Cat Kearney, Cerys Gibson, Chris Jarvis, Chris Underwood, Claire Foss, Clare Foyle, Colin Tucker, Cyra Golijani-Moghaddam, Dan Hemmings, David Knight, Dominic Morrow, Donna Rowe-Merriman, Eden PR, Erika Diaz Petersen, Fallowed, F C and E Ledger, GC, Gemma Barfoot, Grass Roots Garden Care, Graye Wilde, Half Moon Holistics, Harry Sutcliffe, Harry Turner, Hayley Howard, Heather Oliver, Holden Johnson, Holly's Merry Moggies, Ian Carroll, Ian Phillips, Ian Storey, Ian Yanson, Jack Moore, James Place, James Verran, Jane Dodge, Janine Lees, Jason Clifford, Jean Forsey, John Haslam, John Hess, John Holmes, John & Jackie Scruton, Jonathan Day, Joshua Heathcote, Julian Bower, Julian McDougall, Justyn Roberts, Kay Gilby, Kaye Brennan, Kayzi, Kiki Dee the Cat, Lawrence Poole, Laura Wilson, Leigh Woosey, Lilian Greenwood, Livi & Jacob Nieri, Louise Duffield, Louise Obuchowski, Marc Weaver, Mark, Mark Barratt, Mark Bond, Mark Dickson, Mark Gasson, Mark Jacobs, Matthew Riches & Justin Clark, MC, Mickey, Mike Carter, Miri Debah, Monica White, Nic, Nick Palmer, Nigel Cooke, Nigel King, NottingJam Orchestra, Paul, Paul Boast, Pearl Quick, Philip Renshaw, Rachel Ayrton, Rachel Morton, Raphael Achache, Richard Donovan, Richard Goodwin, Rob Arthur, Robert Wyles, Rose Harvey, Roy Manterfield, Russell Brown, Ruth Hoyland, Saara Maqbool, Sally Longford, Sam Fia, Sam Hudson, Sam Stiling, Sandra Pink, Sarah Manton, Selectadisc, Simon Evans, The Sparrows’ Nest, Steve Benton, Steve Holland, Steve Lyon, Steve Wallace, Sue Barsby, The Edgar Family, Tom Huggon, Tony Shelley, Tracey Newton, Vanessa Shaw, Will Horton, Richard Donovan.

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Contents 13

14

16

Words to Live By Local poet and producer of the Nottingham Poetry Festival Ben Macpherson tells us why the event is central to Nottingham’s literary community.

What It Feels Like For a Girl Local actor LaQuarn Lewis tells us about his part in the new BBC series based on the Paris Lees memoir: What It Feels Like For A Girl.

Three Days of Darkness and Light Two years on from when tragedy struck our city and three lives were taken, Benedict Cooper pays homage to those affected by the Nottingham attacks of 2023.

19

Setting the Stage We speak to the Nottingham Playhouse’s artistic director Adam Penford about how he and his team earned a ‘theatre of the year’ award in January.

31

Lost Nottingham The Nottingham Hidden History team’s Joseph Earp talks about his new book tracking the stories hidden in nooks-and-crannies of old Nottingham buildings.

22

You Okay Mate?

We visit The Fox and Grapes pub to meet local blokes challenging the stigma around discussing men’s mental health.

37

Future Makers The director of Colwick design studio Future Makers, Tristan Hessing tells us about sustainably reinventing the plastics industry.

24

Craft Work The leaders of three beloved local breweries, set to appear at Nottingham Craft Beer Festival, talk to us about the state of beer making today.

38

The Lenton Centre Currently celebrating twenty years of community ownership, the team who look after The Lenton Centre tell us about providing for the people of NG7.

26

These Streets Are Ours Sophie Gargett takes a look at Sherwood’s independent shopping strip Haydn Road and contemplates the value of shopping locally.

39

Breaking Bread We take a trip to meet FoodCycle, a charity that tackles food waste, poverty and loneliness, whilst making delicious communal meals.

28

Festival Season With the summer festival season in-and-around Nottingham bigger than ever this year, we give the lowdown on the best occasions to get your fix of sunlight, street food, and good tunes.

44

Clowning Around Derbyshire actor-director and affiliate of the Broadway Cinema community, Ada Player talks about creating comedy for the screen.

Editorial Greetings readers, and welcome to the June installment of LeftLion! Once again, there’s too many interesting things in Notts to share with you, so this month we have another bumper edition for you.

In May I was very excited to get a preview of Paris Lees’ upcoming series What It Feels Like For A Girl, a coming of age drama largely set in Hucknall. I had a brilliant chat with actor LaQuarn Lewis who plays podium-dancing hellraiser Lady Die, which you can read on page 14-15 or listen to as a podcast via our website. It’s a brilliant watch, reminiscent of Skins, Adolescence and It’s a Sin, all with a Notts twang, so keep a look out.

Since the summer seems to finally be here, we thought we’d check out some of the best festivals in the area on page 28-29.

Carrying on Nottingham’s longstanding love affair with ale, we spoke to three of Nottingham’s independent breweries ahead of the Nottingham Craft Beer Festival (p.2425), and on page 13 we spoke to the witty wordsmith and Nottingham Poetry Festival

producer Ben Macpherson. Whatever your jam, I hope you all manage to find a festival, event or slice of Notts culture to brighten your days this month.

wheres this?

"The Temple

While the summer days bring good times, for some in Nottingham June will always be marked by memories of those lost in the tragic attacks that happened two years ago this month. On page 16-17 Benedict Cooper gives a heart-rending account of the sombre days that followed, when Nottingham came together to grieve.

As always, a big thank you to all of our wonderful contributors and Patreon supporters who help us keep going at LeftLion. I hope you’re reading this with blue skies above and some fun planned ahead.

Until next time,

Sophie Gargett

Last Month’s answer: Nottingham Castle

LeftLion Ltd is a carbon neutral company, having reduced our direct emissions by 99% since 2018. We offset the rest via direct air capture from Climeworks. LeftLion Magazine is fully recyclable and compostable, made from recycled or FSC® certified (C015932) sources, and printed using renewable energy.

The emissions of this paper are offset via the World Land Trust. leftlion.co.uk/issue184 5

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Album: Self Titled by Jarrod Lawson This is a brilliantly lyrically conscious album that has a beautiful feel to it. He has a wonderful smokey, smooth and soulful voice that moves me and his music is a combination of jazz and soul niceness. You can hear the influence of Stevie Wonder and Donnie Hathaway, two musical geniuses in his vocals and music style. I was blessed to interview and see Jarrod Lawson perform most of this album live… A lovely guy with musical skills.

Notts Spot: Peggy’s Skylight This is a wonderful venue where not only do you get to hear great music from local and international artists but you also get to experience delicious food. My first experience of Peggy’s Skylight was to interview, as well as see the performance of, Tank and the Bangas, which has to be one of the best gigs I’ve been to. The quality of performers are second to none, the staff are all amazing, professional, attentive and friendly.

Kemet FM DJ Jackie P is hosting the One World Acoustic Stage at Mansfield Carnival on Saturday 21 June. We asked her to choose half a dozen of her favourite things…

Sayings like "the understatement of the year" are often overstatements

Book: Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins If, like me, you are interested in how the world ticks; how only a small selection of the population gains wealth while the rest labour in vain; environments being destroyed; how economies thrive or collapse - then this is the book for you. Perkins was an economic hitman - the aim was to destabilise countries. He tried to write this book about four times, his life was threatened, and three letter organisations tried to bribe him to stop the press. It’s a book that connects dots that you didn’t even know existed.

words: Dani Bacon

Holiday destination: Seville This place was amazing, each street lined with beautiful orange trees which you can sample in produce like marmalade and gin. It’s heavily influenced by the Catholic religion, boasting one of the largest churches in the world but it’s also steeped in North African culture, portrayed in the architecture, monuments and food.

The city is easy and safe to get around, with the Guadalquivir river running through it, which is the only navigable river in Spain. Did I mention the food?

Well… It was that good!

Notts meal: Rakki Rakkas Delicious Turkish food, that is accompanied by salads and breads that are mouth watering.

The staff are friendly and very accommodating, wanting to make your experience memorable in a good way. The fish and meat dishes are incredible, they also cater for vegetarians and vegans. It is all reasonably priced and the portions are generous. You can sit in or take away, either does not detract from the quality of the food which is consistent.

A great place to experience culinary excellence.

Film: The Equalizer I love every one of The Equalizer films but the first one is my go to movie. It’s one of those films I will never tire of.

The film stars a very dangerous and unassuming Denzel Washington. I love action movies and this is packed with it, as well as morals. The character is like a modern day Robin Hood, not robbing from the rich to give to the poor but seeking fairness and justice by any means necessary… Don’t try this at home folks.

For more information about Mansfield Carnival visit mansfield.gov.uk/carnival25

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 7

Part of the University of Nottingham

MATERIAL WORLDS

Image: Creatures of the Mappa Mundi – Epiphagi, 2018-19 by Yinka Shonibare © the artist

Contemporary Art and Textiles

Saturday 17 May – Sunday 31 August Djanogly Gallery, Lakeside Arts, NG7 2RD Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday, 12noon-4pm

lakesidearts.org.uk/MaterialWorlds @LakesideArts

FREE

EXHIBITION

Material Worlds has been curated by Caroline Achaintre. A Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition from the Southbank Centre, London. Supported at Lakeside Arts by Leonard Design.

Poets Corner For the Speculators.

The price of hope has gone down again.

You can buy twice as much now, as a year ago, Untouched by inflation They’ve even halved the duty.

This helps the man in the street and builds a better Britain I claim hope as a business expense.

Every millilitre used was registered with HMRC, A tax deductible.

Off-setting luxuries like comfort and peace of mind.

Hope is bought and sold by the barrel, Every decision I make for work burns it. primes the creative economy.

Covers the mechanics to keep it running smooth Pumped out of deep wells by Barons and magnates I don’t know if it’s non renewable but I’m not going to be dealing with the consequences So for now, whilst hope is cheap Go for broke.

Ben Macpherson

(Read our interview with Ben about the Nottingham Poetry Festival on page 13) nottinghampoetryfestival.com

UNDERCOVER ARTIST This month’s cover artist Lily Keogh talks about festivals, neurodivergence and perfectionism.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Lily Keogh. I am an illustrator and recent NTU graduate, living in Nottingham with one of my best friends. My work is celebratory, considerate and provocative. I use my illustrations to make a fuss and start conversation, taking a fun and cheeky tone whilst I express my views and observations of the world around me. I loveeeee drag and burlesque and everything that shakes up the status quo. My current goal is to make sure I stay soft and nourish my inner child when the world feels so unpredictable and heavy.

What is the story behind the cover?

I love putting little pockets of narrative in my work, so this cover concept was perfect for that. I wanted to capture the essence of the bustle and vibrancy of a festival, and treated each character with care. When we go to a festival, we come together as a community and take a little reprieve from our everyday lives. I wanted this illustration to feel that way too, and bring those vibes to the nooks and crannies of Nottingham. I hope someone will pick up the magazine and connect a memory to the illustration.

What inspires you as an artist?

People inspire me. Being neurodivergent, people have been a case to solve my entire life, and that has resulted in a complete fascination with how we all behave. I love community, I create for that experience and to be a part of something bigger. I want to share my message - whether those are my raging feminist views, or my love for the smaller things - and to provide a little escapism for others.

Nottingham’s most opinionated grocers on...

Beer We like Adnams Bitter, the best beer in the world. Nothing fancy.

I can't stand this citrussy nonsense. Brown ale, that’s what we like. We went to the craft beer thing because you lot got us some tickets, and we tried three beers. There was one from Manchester, which was cloudy but alright. Then there was the Navigation from Nottingham, that was alright as well. Then the Magpie Brewery was lovely. But if it's too grapefuity or too citrussy, well we’d rather have a grapefruit.

Old Nottingham buildings The County Hotel, that was fantastic. And Yates's. We used to go to Yates three times a week. The County Hotel was beside the Theatre Royal and was a Grade I and they knocked it down before they said sorry. Terrible. And where we used to work before we worked here, and it’s a pity it’s gone, was Redmayne & Todd, which was a sports outfitters. In fact, half of Nottingham has disappeared. Some fantastic shops back in the day.

Do you have any tricks for getting started and staying inspired as a creative?

Tips for staying creative… I’m still trying to figure that out for myself! I usually just get an idea and go until I run out of steam. But, maybe it’s ‘make it exist first, make it good later’ that helps me with the paralysis of perfectionism.

If you could sit down and chat with any artist in your field, who it would be and what would you talk about?

If I could sit down to chat with any artist I would love to talk to Guerilla Girls. I just feel like I’d come away from that pumped up and ready to get messy. I would ask them how to care less and move more.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?

I hope you go to a really cool festival this season, make some mistakes and maybe end up talking to someone who changes your entire perspective about something you’d never thought anything differently about. It’s always good to un-root your belief system and broaden your mind- festivals are a great place to do that.

Q @illustry.ily

Haydn Road The reason it’s called Haydn Road is because they used to make lace here, and it was a German lace manufacturer, not a composer or anything. If you look at the history of Haydn Road it was full of factories making clothes and lace, and of course brush motorbikes and cars. This row of shops was built in 1913 and they were built as shops, not houses. The walls outside the houses are all Bulwell stone. There was a privet hedge right in the middle of the road and before that there was a stream. How far it goes back after that we don’t know. leftlion.co.uk/issue184 9

Celebrating

SCHOOL & STUDIO

Sammy Davis Jr.

Start your yoga here...

Only £25 for your first 14 days An unlimited pass to 30+ classes

with the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra

The renowned 30-piece swing orchestra marks the iconic entertainer’s centenary in style!

Deep Yoga School and Studio Unit 2A, The Oldknows Factory, St. Ann’s Hill Road, NG3 4GN 07973419859 general@deepyoga.co.uk www.deepyoga.co.uk

17th June 2025, 7.30pm Albert Hall, Nottingham

Tickets: www.downforthecount.co.uk

Discover Nottingham’s own true crime history this summer!

A visit to the National Justice Museum tends to stay with people long after they’ve left. Over five floors, our building houses a Victorian courtroom, Georgian gaol, and cells that date back hundreds of years. Browse remarkable collections, and examine fascinating objects that bring justice and the law to life in extraordinary ways – including our dressed-for-the-part characters who are only too happy to share a host of illuminating stories. nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HN 10 leftlion.co.uk/issue184 LeftLion Half Page June 2025.indd 1

16/05/2025 16:56:30

Nadia on... the labour party words: Nadia Whittome photo: Fabrice Gagos

Many constituents have written to me, stopped me in the street or in the pub, to express how deeply frustrated and let down they feel by the Labour government; be it the proposed cuts to disability benefits, enabling of a genocide in Gaza, rolling back trans rights, mimicking the farright on immigration, cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance, maintaining the two-child limit, or more widely, failing to offer economic change at the scale and pace that the cost of living crisis demands. They weren’t expecting a decade and a half of austerity to be reversed overnight, but they are clear that Labour’s first ten months does not represent the change they voted for. They often say that they wholeheartedly support my work as our local MP, but in spite of my party, and some say that they could not bring themselves to vote Labour again. So, I want to use this month’s column to speak directly to those constituents, to show that I am listening and to share with you my perspective as candidly as possible.

The Labour Party was founded by the trade union movement as a party of and for the working class, against the interests of capitalist bosses. Because the Labour Party has always been a broad coalition of different left and centre-left groups, its identity has always been contested, making the party itself a site of struggle.

That’s why I joined in the first place. I often joke to Ed Miliband that he “inspired” 16-year-old Nadia to become a member in 2013, because I was so angry that the Labour Party wasn’t promising to end austerity. Similarly, it is the responsibility of Labour left MPs to stay and fight for the politics in which we - and so many in our movement and country at large - believe, and which must always have a home in the Labour Party. Politics isn’t transactional; it’s not a product you buy but when the recipe changes you switch to a different brand - it’s a struggle. When I was first elected, Diane Abbott said to me, “they don’t call it the struggle for nothing”, and it has stuck with me ever since. Had she, John McDonnell, or Jeremy Corbyn, left during the Iraq War, it might have momentarily made them feel better, but they wouldn’t have gone on to represent a left resurgence in the Labour Party, culminating in them leading it for five years and bringing about the most leftwing policy platform since Atlee’s government.

So where does this leave me? All I care about is serving our city and working together to advance the interests of working class people everywhere. Every decision I make is with this in mind. I have no interest in being an MP for the sake of it. I don’t have ambitions to be a Minister (it’s

just as well!), nor to be leader at some point in the distant future. In fact, while representing our community remains the privilege of my life - and working with grassroots organisations, as well as my dedicated team, will always be a joy - if I’m completely honest, there are many things that come with being an MP that I do not enjoy.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel disillusioned at times, but I feel genuine hope and connection when I engage with local activism, see powerful displays of solidarity here in Nottingham, and witness snapshots of the work done by constituents in the service of our community My role is one of many in our wider struggle to build a better world; it’s no more important than any other, and all our roles are necessary and interdependent. I believe I am most useful - both to our city and the wider labour and trade union movement - as a backbench Labour MP, fighting on the issues that matter to us. Against austerity and the shameful and dangerous scapegoating of minorities - whether trans people, Muslims or migrants.

For wealth taxes instead of benefit cuts; widespread antipoverty measures, including scrapping the two-child limit; the restoration of funding to our council; climate action, and to end the UK’s complicity in genocide in Gaza. I was voted in as a Labour MP less than a year ago, and see it as my duty to do the best I can within the party, to ensure it delivers the change people voted for.

While other progressive parties have an important role to play, I believe that speaking as a backbench Labour MP in a Labour government - both privately to colleagues, and publicly where necessary - will always be more impactful than doing so from opposition. For example, it is Labour MPs making the government squirm on its proposed disability benefit cuts, and it can only be a rebellion of Labour MPs (propelled by public pressure) that forces our government to drop them. Among Labour backbenchers, there are a range of views and political tendencies; sometimes discussing an issue helps us see it from another perspective, but often frustrations are shared across

different factions in the party, and more voices speaking out on an issue increases pressure on the government to do the right thing.

I’m under no illusions. Change rarely comes from MPs asking Ministers to rethink; in fact it ultimately doesn’t come from MPs at all, or indeed strong leaders of any kind.

History shows us that change is won by movements of ordinary people demanding and organising for it, building public pressure so great that it cannot be ignored by those in power. My job is to represent and be a conduit for those movements in Parliament, and to encourage other MPs to support them too.

To those within the Labour Party who may disagree with me writing this: I’ve never been into point-scoring and it is not my intention to undermine our elected leadership; I’ve always been a team-player. While I don’t enjoy criticising my party, especially publicly, it is my responsibility as both a backbench Labour MP and constituency representative to sound the alarm when I believe we’re going in the wrong direction.

Our new government has made positive steps on improving renters’ and workers’ rights, investing in green energy, and nationalising rail. However, the people who put their trust in us at the general election to deliver real change, feel strongly that these successes have been eclipsed by our government’s mistakes. That much is clear from the local election results, which saw voters abandon Labour over the scrapping of Winter Fuel Allowance and proposed cuts to disability benefits. To prevent a Reform-led government, we must be clear about the real causes of national decline - not minorities, but austerity, exploitative bosses, climate vandals and mega-landlords - and we must tackle them head on, showing people the difference a Labour government can make to their lives.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel disillusioned at times, but I feel genuine hope and connection when I engage with local activism, see powerful displays of solidarity here in Nottingham, and witness snapshots of the work done by constituents in the service of our community. These moments remind me that a better society, with different politics is possible and is already being fought for. Thank you for everything you do. Keep going, and I will keep listening and fighting alongside you. nadiawhittome.org

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 11

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Words to Live By words: Caradoc Gayer

photos: Tom Platinum Morley

This month marks the tenth anniversary of Nottingham Poetry Festival - a kaleidoscopic set of events that sees poetry collide with activities like musical open mics, meditation and arts and crafts, all the while celebrating the art form, and its age-old centrality to the city of Nottingham. To mark the occasion, festival producer and local poet Ben Macpherson told us about the festival’s importance to Nottingham, and what people can expect from this year.

Poetry - what’s your experience with it? For a sizable bracket of people it might be less something to be enjoyed, and more like a type of maths equation that secondary school thrust upon you each week to decipher. Perhaps you were made to feel like other people - those familiar with the ‘classics’ - would always know more about it than you.

If you’re a longtime Notts resident however you may well have overcome these preconceptions and had a mini creative awakening experiencing live or written poetry (or if not you’re probably open to doing so). Nottingham is, after all, a city with a rich tradition of poetically capturing the moment, whether we’re talking about individuals like Byron, Lawrence and Panya Banjoko, or organisations like City of Literature, Writing East Midlands, or the Nottingham Poetry Festival - which kicks off again this month. Local poet Ben Macpherson, who produces the festival, certainly agrees with my assessment of the city.

“The beautiful thing about Nottingham is that it’s got such an active poetry scene. It’s sort of Nottingham’s cultural superpower - we have big city resources, but a small town vibe,” says Ben. “So the fact that you can walk across the city centre in twenty minutes means that you get a cross pollination of people, saying “I can go to that event tomorrow because it’s only a half hour bus ride away.”

When I meet Ben he’s in the thick of preparing for the festival’s 2025 instalment, which takes place from 13 - 25 June. Since its founding exactly ten years ago by The Confetti Institute’s Craig Chettle and writer Henry Normal, the festival has hosted some famous names like the late Benjamin Zephaniah, and Holly McNish, while growing to regularly encompass fifty or so events across the city. Ben takes care of the programme with Alma Solarte-Tobon, who is often found working her creative magic at City Arts, and mate of LeftLion, director-ofmany-festivals Tommy “Farmyard” Rosley.

“We’re lucky that we’ve been running long enough that most of the really big names have come and played at least once, so we’ve got a contact order,” says Ben. “Then, I will be up at the Edinburgh Fringe, doing my own shows while using my energies to scout out new, interesting voices and bring them down, so that we can look towards mid-career folks who want to go beyond the open mic.”

One such poetic voice visiting for this year’s poetry festival is Scotland’s RJ Hunter, an award winning trans writer, theatre-maker and performance poet, whose debut show Stupid Sexy Poems has been met with critical acclaim all across the country.

“Not to fully out myself, but I have never been to Nottingham!” says RJ, when I ask them about their familiarity with the scene. “But I've been familiar with the festival and the scene since I started out and also inspired by the lyricism of several bands from the area (shout out Divorce and Sleaford Mods).”

word shows, and anyone that sees my performance will feel that love and passion too.”

But it’s not only critically lauded poet-performers that characterise the festival programme - most of it is put together by submissions from people around Nottingham via an ‘open pitch format’. Ben tells me that he, Tommy and Alma, welcome more-or-less any idea for a poetry event to the table, short of an event themed around “setting fire to goats” where people “actually set fire to goats,” (spoken like a true poet).

There’s so many roots in the skills of writing a poem. They’re the same that a stand up comedian uses to write their set, the same a musician uses to work out a chord progression, and they’re the same marketing copywriters use to create the right impact so that they sell a fancy product “A lot of mainstream poetry festivals are very, very heavily curated, whereas while we do have a curated core, and the acts we put on we’re incredibly proud of, the fact that we are directing people to come and take a chance on the people around them is really crucial.”

Two more events worth putting in the diary are taking place at Metronome and Peggy’s Skylight. First, on Friday 13 June, Metronome hosts Jah Digga, the mind behind collective Poets Off the Endz, loved local wordsmith Cappo and Cambridge-via-Notts rap royalty Jayahadadream, for a memorable evening intersecting with live music and poetry. Later, on Sunday 22 June, the Poets off the Endz close out the festival with an open mic night and party at Peggy’s Skylight. Beyond those, there’ll be well over a dozen options across the festival.

But if that all sounds a little overwhelming at the moment, don’t fret - if you attend the grand launch party at The Fox and Grapes Pub, Sneinton Market, you’ll find yourself well ingratiated with the vibrant creative community that the festival team will bring together.

Ben tells me that he wants lots of people to turn up, from creatives set to participate in open mics through the festival to those with just a passing interest in the art form.

Poetry is one of the most malleable art forms, he continues - so he hopes that the festival will show that it's a well of creativity that anyone can access and find food for the soul, no matter what their interests might be.

Through their career RJ’s become known for their passionate and topical style of writing and performance - their show at Fishergate Point on 14 June, one of the main events commencing the festival calendar, is definitely one for the diary.

“There’s so many roots in the skills of writing a poem,” says Ben, adding, “they’re the same that a stand up comedian uses to write their set, the same a musician uses to work out a chord progression, and they’re the same marketing copywriters use to create the right impact so that they sell a fancy product. It’s all different tools of poetry being pointed in different directions.”

Words to live by.

“The piece is sort of a time capsule for me now, of my earlier work and my experiences as a freshly 'out' transfeminine performer,” says RJ about Stupid Sexy Poems. “I had my start in theatre and cabaret and wanted to bring my love and passion for those artforms to my spoken-

The Nottingham Poetry Festival takes place from Friday 13 - Wednesday 25 June. Keep up with @nottmpoetryfestival on Instagram for updates about the events programme, or visit the website below. nottinghampoetryfestival.com

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What it feels like for a girl

interview: Sophie Gargett

What it feels like for a girl interview: Sophie Gargett photos: Enda Bowe | BBC

Set to be released on 3 June, upcoming BBC mini-series What It Feels Like For A Girl tells the story of Byron, a Queer teen who is desperate to escape the confines of Hucknall. Based on the novel of the same name by Hucknall-born journalist Paris Lees, the witty, gritty and heartbreaking show delves into what it was like growing up as a trans person in a small town during the early 2000s. To hear about the show, ahead of the premiere, we caught up with LaQuarn Lewis, who plays Fallen Diva, ‘the premier podium dancer-cum-hellraiser’ Lady Die… You started out at the Nottingham Television Workshop, which has trained some amazing local actors like Bella Ramsey, Vicky McClure and Samantha Morton. How did you get into acting, and what was your experience like there?

My mum used to go there as well actually, which not many people know. She did her bits in Casualty and was in a film called The Girl With Brains In Her Feet. So I think I take after her. I've always liked TV and film and stage and took part in it as a kid - I did all the school plays.

The funny story is when I was about eleven years old, I did audition for Workshop and the director Ian actually turned me away. But to be honest, I just wasn't ready, so I had to spend some years building up my confidence. Then when I was seventeen, I left school and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, there's no GCSE drama anymore. What do I do?’ So I went to Workshop, and I did a play straight away which was Peter Pan. Then I got a CBBC show called Jamie Johnson and did a couple of seasons on that, and now here we are filming What It Feels Like For A Girl. It was just kind of inside of me and then Ian really took me under his wing.

Technically, I didn't even understand ‘queer’ before filming the show, because there's just a totally different world out there that I wasn’t aware of What was the audition process like for What It Feels Like For A Girl?

My first audition was in June, and then I found out I got the role in March, the next year.

So, I’d done many rounds and met so many different people. My anxiety was through the roof - it was the craziest ten months of my life. But the fact that the process was so long meant I had the character down. By the time we started filming, I knew who Lady Die was.

Paris Lees is obviously one of the writers and producers - how was it to work with her?

Well she's here, there and everywhere because she's writing and executive producing.

She's got so many roles, because it's her life story, it's her baby. But the fact that she was so consistent with myself and the other actors in saying, ‘Well at this point in my life, I was like this’. All these things that she gave us helped us add to the characterisation.

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Not only that, she's just fun. Yes, there's dark moments in the show, but it is fun as well when the girls are together and they are just loving each other and enjoying themselves.

It's fun and that really is Paris. She can do both - she can help you with the job and she can help you as a friend. She knows the story the best. There’s nobody better than the source, right?

The show is set in the early 2000s, and there's details to the fashion and culture which are so on point. For example there's a scene where Die is arranging CDs into the correct cases. How was it to get stuck into that era?

I was born in 2001, so for me it wasn't a nostalgic thing to step into the era. It was more like, ‘Oh my God, so this is what it was like!’ Everything takes so much longer. Even just that there are CDs, and not MP3 players. Then the phones - the little Nokia bricks - the fact that they were people's main phones back in the day and you have to type the same letter multiple times to get the one you want. It's like, no thank you - that stuff was crazy!

Also the fashion - we've got the belly tops, the leopard print, and did you see what they do to my eyebrows?! I could believe it. They took me to the lady and she just yanked them out.

I was crying!

Your character is Lady Die, one of Byron's best friends. She's described as ‘the premier podium dancer-cum-hellraiser’. Tell us about her - how did you get into character?

Lady Die is the friend that everybody needs. She is loving, caring, beautiful, alluring - she's that girl that you're just drawn to, and it's because she carries herself with this light. Even through her own dark times, which she has, she manages to put on a bright face and make sure she's there for other people, you know?

So her story arc is really nice because you see a change in Die in terms of her self-worth and putting herself first. She finds herself. I think especially when you're young, you're trying to find out who you are and explore your identity, and that's the great thing about Die - she helps other people too.

With Byron's family situation, it's a very toxic household. From what we get to see, Die is the complete opposite - it's very much accepting. So I think it definitely shows the differences. Die is crazy and they all do some chaotic, rebellious, mad things, you know, but she never goes as far as Byron. You've got to think about why this might happen or what's the root of that. You could look close to home, you could look at school life, there's so many factors, but Die's got it much better and I think that's evident.

You said you got to meet the real Lady Die. Can you talk a little bit about her?

She is the best lady I've ever met. Paris called me one morning and said, ‘I'm actually with her right now - can we come get you?’ They picked me up, we went to Newstead Abbey and we just got to know each other. I got to ask everything I needed to, and honestly, we just got to have a laugh. She is so funny. Her laugh is pretty much the same as mine. Paris said, ‘Oh my God, it's like there's two of you!’ I was like, ‘Thank you - I must be doing something right then.’ She's a bundle of joy.

What was your favourite scene to film?

Honestly, I have no idea, because there’s just so many. There’s a bit in episode four with ‘the script’ - or the toilet brush scene. Just because they’re so crazy and fun to do, we were just non-stop laughing off camera.The amount of times we had to do it because of all the angles, we were just like ‘Is this really our job?!’

Locations feature in the book and show that were hubs for the Nottingham LGBTQ+ community in the 2000s, like @d2 and NG1. Nowadays we still have the Lord Roberts and the New Foresters, but everything is a bit more open and integrated. Do you think that’s a good thing, or do you think communities are missing gay-specific venues?

I like how it's open, but the thing with Queer people, they're very accepting because they know what it's like to want to be accepted, right? And Queer spaces - we just need more of them and they just need to not be disturbed, because if you don't like it, stay away from them - that's as simple as. They are places where we feel safe, where we get to enjoy ourselves and let our hair down and just be free. So please let's get some more of them!

Even when I was growing up - and I'm still growing up - there weren't too many gay places to go and if there were it still didn't have a queer feeling to it. But the girls have taken me on some nights out, and they were the queerest nights I've experienced in my life. Technically, I didn't even understand ‘queer’ before filming the show, because there's just a totally different world out there that I wasn’t aware of.

A lot of the story is about being an outcast and experiencing bullying. I’d like to think that things have changed, but still we’ve had the recent Supreme Court ruling about the definition of a woman. Byron and Die wouldn’t be able to use the ladies toilet now, in a lot of places - and from watching the show we know what can happen in the men’s toilets.

Where do you think we're at today with that?

As a community I genuinely thought we were getting better, but is it? I feel like now we're going backwards again, especially with the Supreme Court ruling. It’s absurd what they’ve done and now they're having repercussions that they were warned about. Nobody trans was involved in that decision. It's just wrong.

There's so many messed up things going on in the world right now and that's one of them.

All we can do is keep on working on building allyship. I'm an ally for all trans people, and for all communities who struggle, because I know what it’s like to struggle.

I’m sure there’s a lot of people growing up who are struggling at home or in school, and the series really demonstrates that you can find your people. Despite their dramas, Byron, Die and Sasha all look out for each other…

The friendship is very much just like mine with Ellis and Hannah in real life, but without the feistiness of course from Sasha, because she can be quite difficult to Byron throughout the series. It’s not like that in real life, I can reassure you! But honestly that friendship is something we can all recognise - that we've either had or something we’ve all wanted with somebody. The experiences that these girls go through - if they didn’t have each other to talk to or relate to about it, because not everyone can relate - they would have never got to where they are.

Byron saw Lady Die for the first time and said ‘Oh my gosh, you are beautiful. How can I be that beautiful?’ And Lady Die says, ‘You can be!’ And then we see this transformation.

They found each other and formed this bond. That’s the important thing about friendship, it's a chosen family - even if your family at home is bad, which Byron’s is, he’s still got family within the Divas, which is beautiful.

The series was a really good representation of how gender is socially constructed in different ways, from Byron’s Dad - and how he conforms to traditional masculinity - to The Divas. Do you think that will help open some people’s eyes, or is it preaching to the choir?

In my opinion this show is a hard hitter. I mean instantly, the first episode always makes me cry. There’s one scene with Byron, the mum and the dad and it's just horrible. I think if there are dads that are like Steve, who is played by Michael Socha, and they see the show, they'll give themselves time to think about what they've seen and reflect on themselves, which is what we want from the show.

I feel like there's so much to take away from the show and learn, but also, many people are going to be like, ‘What is this nonsense? We never known anything like it.’ Maybe because they haven't lived a working class life, maybe because they haven't lived a life that is so sexually active.

This is inspired by Paris' life. It's a very unique story because again, what we're not doing here is setting the standard for trans people, right? We’re telling a very unique story and that's what happened in Paris' life. These are real humans, and there's more people out there like this. I think that if we can showcase this very authentically and raw, they can see it and feel things from it, then reflect on their life and do something about it.

What It Feels Like For A Girl premieres on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday 3 June. The book of the same title is available from all good bookshops. If you’d like to hear more from LaQuarn, listen to a LeftLion podcast version of this interview, available via our website or on most streaming services.

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Three days of darkness and light: The Nottingham attacks as they happened words & photos: Benedict Cooper

Two years on, Benedict Cooper remembers how the city came together in the wake of the Nottingham attacks, in which students Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber and caretaker Ian Coates were tragically killed.

I woke with a jolt at 5:30am, unrested and irritable, the sun blazing through the open skylight of my already stifling loft bedroom. After trying and failing for two more agitated hours, I gave up on the hope of more sleep. Sitting up I reached for my phone and – though it is a hated early morning habit – checked Twitter.

The first post, from a local reporter, caught my tired eyes: ‘Chaos in the city centre’, accompanied by a series of photos of one of the busiest rush hour jam spots in Nottingham cordoned off by police tapes, deserted.

The tweet was concerning enough. The replies – mentioning suspected terror attacks, the city in lockdown, several people killed – turned me cold. The most alarming detail of all: that numerous separate incidents had been declared, in the city centre, at a site a mile to the north, another just over a mile to the west in Radford, and a fourth, in the Hyson Green area.

I sent a few texts to people who might know more, and paced blearily around my flat. Is this as serious as the comments suggested? Should I go out there? I only live fifteen minutes’ walk from the site in the photo I’d seen.

In morning auto-pilot now I dragged on some clothes, switched on Radio 4, and made a strong coffee. That was when I heard it from the other room, a single broken phrase on the radio: ‘Major incident in Nottingham…’ The news was national. The decision was made.

I grabbed my camera, stepped out into the dazzling sun, and headed out to find a changed city.

Pacing breathlessly towards the site I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket; messages relaying what was being said on the national news; a confusing mass of second-hand accounts and half-guessed connections: ‘Terror attack??’; ‘This is horrible’; ‘Several people dead’. That phrase again, ‘Major incident’.

From that point the horror grew with each passing hour.

Even now disjointed memories from those first nervous minutes and hours resurface, and vividly remain. Standing at the major police cordon on Milton Street, gazing north towards two large clusters of police vehicles and ambulances behind the tape. As I waited there for news I received a ‘Hope you’re okay?’ message from someone out of town.

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I remember the cheery ping-ping-ping of the loudspeaker at the blocked off tram stop, followed by a recorded message announcing total service cancellations to an empty platform.

Then I overheard a woman introducing herself timorously to a police officer with the words “I saw it all.” Afterwards that lady, Lynn Haggitt, described the sickening scene to me: two people smashed into by a van driven, she thought, deliberately at them, and at pace. This was not on the news yet. Dashing between the various blue-taped sites, camera in hand, at one point I turned a corner at the Theatre Royal building and walked straight into a group of armed police officers spilling out of a vehicle, readying their weapons before aghast passers-by.

The horror of the Nottingham attacks was followed by an equal and opposite wave of love and empathy from the city its victims called home. Darkness yielded to light.

Personal anguish met public mourning, in dignity and in peace Everywhere you went that day faces gave away what mouths could not say. The granite expressions of the police officers occupying the pavements, crossings and junctions of perhaps a quarter of the city told a harrowing story, even if the men and women themselves were mute and inscrutable.

By mid-afternoon we would find out what they all knew. Three people had been killed and three more seriously injured, all, apparently, by one man.

The rampage had begun at 4am. Two students had been attacked in the Radford area as they walked home from a night out, by a man wielding a knife. Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, were killed minutes from their door.

Soon after, two miles away, a man on his way to work as a caretaker at a local primary school was stabbed and killed. Ian Coates was four months from retirement.

The killer left the body of Ian Coates in the street, stealing his

van, which then became a weapon. Later a grim blur of CCTV footage caught the van racing down Woodborough Road towards the city centre, where it was driven into three people with such ferocious force that one man was thrown into the air, breaking his hip and ribs, and landing on his head. Wayne Birkett lay for days in hospital, unable to recognise his own family.

Ninety minutes of mayhem. Finally brought to an end at 5:30am, when a man was surrounded by armed police on a grim street in Hyson Green, dragged from the stolen van, tasered, and arrested. Valdo Calocane was charged with three counts of murder and three of attempted murder three days later.

The unnerving days that followed the killings blur to a moment in the memory. A single moment of contrasts and dualities: day and night, agony and empathy, action and reaction.

Dark crimes had been carried out under a cloudless sky of bright summer light. Cold-blooded killings committed in the rising early morning heat. For Ian Coates the dawn signalled the start of another day’s hard graft, along a lengthening trail behind. For Grace and Barnaby, seeing out the last of the night, it meant home, to bed, the uncharted path of life ahead.

In the hours and days that followed, the monstrous acts of an individual were met by the equal and opposite counterweights of dignity and humanity expressed by an entire city.

Nottingham did its public best to console the personal anguish of the grieving families.

On Wednesday afternoon a vigil was held on a high and quiet hill on the campus of the University of Nottingham. The distraught families of Grace and Barnaby had travelled to Nottingham, to speak to their lost children’s memories.

Thousands came out. And under another perfect sky, abject suffering met pure empathy. The vigil of mourners covered the brow of the hill and the slopes rising and falling on either side, forming a close collective embrace around the grief-stricken families on the terrace within.

With ineffable courage the fathers spoke, in agonised, broken clutches of words, to a crowd that at times seemed to convulse in pained response. From my place far back from the terrace the sounds from the speakers would sometimes fade in the

wind, so that at times only fragments of speech could be heard.

“Why Grace? Why Barney? Why now? Why, why, why?”

“They both had ambitions, potential, dreams.”

“She loved you all.”

There were long periods of total silence, broken only by the faint ping of a tram sliding by in the sunlit distance, or a gentle breeze sighing through the beech trees and evergreen shrubs scattered over the hill. From out of the mass a young woman, her face a deep red, emerged, gasping, led by the hands of two sobbing friends to a quiet spot away from the group.

It was a moment of sheer dignity and pure love. No rage, no hatred, no talk of vengeance – no words, to my memory, about the killer at all.

The vigil at the university was broadcast live on all the major news channels. Even so, I had an unsettled feeling of being an imposter on a moment primarily, fittingly, for a grieving student community. The vigil the following evening in the Old Market Square was for the whole city.

victims were powerful. The words from their grieving families were overpowering.

Several times as the brave, grieving families spoke I turned to face back over the square, to see what they were seeing. Thousands of faces bearing the empathy and sorrow of a city. People they will never meet, men and women, openly crying there in the Old Market Square.

The stone steps of the council house were invisible for the mass of flowers and well-wishing messages that had been left there. For days people stood at the steps and cried. I spent a long time reading those beautiful, honest notes, listening to friends and strangers talk about the tragedy. I overheard one expression in particular, caught in glimpses of conversations: “It’s just so sad, so sad.”

And I will always remember a tram journey to university campus on the Wednesday afternoon, the day of the vigil, and the sound of a young woman, a student, weeping on the shoulder of a friend. Her crying was the only sound in an otherwise silent carriage.

Travelling even a short distance, even over the most familiar tracks, put me in a pensive state. Standing there on the tram to the Square on that Thursday afternoon, a haze of splintered memories and unsettling details ran through my mind.

While the families of Ian, Grace and Barnaby were in the throes of unimaginable grief, all these things were happening around them; around a shocked city. Pained outbursts of sadness and empathy they would never see or hear, from people they will never meet.

It had been a dizzying three days. The heat had barely relented, night and day, and through some deep need to bear witness I had taken in, seen, felt more than could be processed in real time.

The horror of the Nottingham attacks was followed by an equal and opposite wave of love and empathy from the city its victims called home. Darkness yielded to light. Personal anguish met public mourning, in dignity and in peace.

As the tram ground on I relived in my mind the walk to the site where Grace and Barnaby had been killed just hours earlier. That sucking feeling of drawing closer to a site of violence. On Friday both of their distraught families found the courage to stand on the very spot themselves.

I thought back to myself standing at the police cordon on Bentinck Road, watching white boiler suit-clad forensic officers peering under the chassis of the van; Ian Coates’ stolen van.

I remembered watching Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome preparing to be interviewed live on the national news, on the afternoon of the attacks. All of the city’s MPs had rushed back from Westminster earlier in the day, and by late afternoon they were sharing their reactions with the world.

It wasn’t what Nadia said on air that struck me, dignified and moving though she was. It was the thousand-yard stare I noticed in her eyes for a few seconds before the camera went live. An encompassing look, trance-like, of stunned realisation; ‘Has this really happened?’

It was impossible in those aftermath days not to see and assimilate every little thing through the lens of what had happened. And I’m sure that people were more friendly, thoughtful and demonstratively caring to strangers for days after. I wasn’t the only person to notice it.

All of this and more blurred through my tired mind on the tram ride to the Old Market Square.

Criss-crossing the same city streets I’d hurried across so many times that day, a kaleidoscope of golden afternoon sunlight flickering and shimmering through the moving carriage, I could feel the emotions welling up to my eyes again. As I write two years later, I feel the tears return.

It was the words of the head teacher at Ian Coates’ school, from the platform in the square, that first broke through. His affectionate descriptions of Ian excitedly building castles in a reading corner, to make book time more fun, and constructing the school’s Christmas display each year, brought it all back to the sheer human tragedy of the moment.

The Old Market Square is never quiet. But at times there was total silence between the thousands gathered, broken only by the faint sound of a tram slowly sliding past, or a gentle breeze sighing through the surrounding buildings and streets.

The thoughts and tributes from those who knew the

It wasn’t what Nadia said on air that struck me, dignified and moving though she was. It was the thousandyard stare I noticed in her eyes for a few seconds before the camera went live. An encompassing look, trance-like, of stunned realisation; ‘Has this really happened?’

And I hope those stricken families know that this city felt like a different place for a long time. In many ways it will be different forever. But more important than that, I hope the grieving families know that Nottingham still feels their loss with deep sadness and lasting pain.

Ian Coates will live on in the memories of the generations of children he gave a chance to, and the adults they became. Kids will sit by the book corner castles lovingly built by his hands, and parents and teachers will never see those Christmas displays without thinking of their former caretaker.

Generations of Nottingham students not yet born will know the names Barnaby Webber and Grace O’MalleyKumar. They will stand sadly at their memorials, perhaps on a high and quiet hilltop on the university campus, where the gentle breeze sighs through the shrubs and trees on a warm summer’s day.

The inner hell of the grieving is made more stark by harsh contrast with an outer world that seems to carry on as normal. Stop all the clocks, because for them nothing now can come to any good.

Nothing will ever take away the torment those families have endured. But I hope that in some indefinable way, some day, it will provide some relief to remember that a sorrowful city stopped for them that evening in the Old Market Square.

We did stop all the clocks. We stood in sombre silence.

We cried in our own public spaces, and in our homes, for them.

And if it is possible for such pain to come to any good let it be in knowing that their grief and anguish were met with the counterweights of love and empathy; rage gave way to dignity and peace; and those terrible days of darkness and light will never, ever be forgotten.

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SETTING THE STAGE interview: Ian C Douglas photo: The Other Richard

Over the last few years the Nottingham Playhouse has become one of the most buzzing regional theatres in the UK. Originally established in 1948, the venue has a long history of attracting quality actors like Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench, Hugh Grant, Vicky McClure and Mark Gatiss to perform its stage. With a clutch of new awards and accolades over the last couple of years, we thought it high time to catch up with their artistic director Adam Penford…

Earlier this year The Playhouse won the coveted title of Theatre of the Year at The Stage awards. How did that recognition feel?

It’s a real honour! Everyone at the Playhouse is thrilled. It was an acknowledgement, not just of our work on stage, but of how we've adapted our business model to a post-Covid world and the decline in public art subsidies. We also feel its recognition of the inclusivity and welcome we give our audiences and artists.

always exploring sociopolitical issues relevant to Nottingham, even if that's dressed up as a comedy or musical.

might end up realising you’d prefer to be a stage manager and paint scenery.

Why did you first realise you wanted a career in theatre?

I'm from Nottingham and as a kid my parents used to bring me to the Playhouse to see the pantomime. The truth is that it’s here that I fell in love with theatre. I've come full circle, as I now direct those pantos myself. Also live theatre is exciting!

I've never got over that adrenalin rush of when the ushers shut the doors, the auditorium dims and the curtain goes up.

You were closely involved with the play Punch and must be proud of its success.

It was a long time in the making. In 2020, I listened to a Radio Four podcast with Jacob Dunne and I got in touch with him to ask if he'd be willing to make his life story into a play. It took two years to get Notts’ own James Graham (Dear England, Sherwood) to be the playwright, because he's so busy. So, it took four years from that original idea to it hitting the stage.

Now, it's transferring to the West End and Broadway. Yeah, I’m really proud of it.

What does your day-to-day job entail?

As artistic director, I’m appointed to conceive and implement the theatre’s artistic vision - choosing which plays we do and directing some of them. When I don't direct, I choose the directors and work with them to get the production on stage, thinking about things like casting decisions or who the set designer will be. I also work with marketing on who we're targeting for each play and how to reach those audiences. As part of the Playhouse executive, I have financial, health and safety, organizational and HR responsibilities as well.

As a kid my parents used to bring me to the Playhouse to see the pantomime. The truth is that it’s here that I fell in love with theatre. I've come full circle, as I now direct those pantos myself

For you, what makes a play ‘Playhouse worthy’?

I always look for three good reasons to choose one particular play over another. It might be about the issues it's exploring.

Is the playwright saying something relevant about the world?

Secondly, I try to identify who the audience will be, to make sure we are confident that we will sell enough tickets to cover each production? Sometimes that's about finding new audiences.

You were working in London before you got the job here.

What made you want to come back?

I always thought one day I’d like to be an artistic director and run a theatre, and the Nottingham Playhouse is where I fell in love with theatre. The job came up, and I never thought i’d get it. It was the first artistic director job I'd ever applied for.

However, I slowly got through each interview round and then I was finally appointed. This job is a real privilege!

Lastly, I want to make sure there's a wide selection on offer. Sometimes it’s a brand-new play, then a musical, then Shakespeare and then pantomime. It can’t just be tragedy, tragedy, tragedy! We want to offer an entertaining and funny night out next to something hard hitting and challenging.

What advice would you give youngsters aspiring to careers in theatre?

See as much theatre as you can. Sometimes people think tickets are expensive but theatres have deals for you, even if you have to book early. Here, we have a free youth pass that gets you special deals. Go and see a wide variety of theatre, from pub theatres to big theatres, to musicals and new plays.

The other thing is doing it yourself. I trained as an actor and realised I preferred directing, but I’d never change my training. I apply it all the time in this job. Join your local youth theatre or am-dram group and immerse yourself in it. You'll learn so much, even if it's not necessarily how to direct. You

There’s also practicality. We can't just do big cast shows with massive sets. We can’t afford to. But if we only did one person shows with a chair and microphone on an empty stage, then the audience would tire of those quickly too.

What's interesting, with hindsight, is that everything we do is political in some way. Not political with a big P; but they’re

Punch would never have happened if you hadn't reached out to Jacob…

His story is about learning to communicate and how Jacob and the parents of James (the man Jacob tragically killed) learned to talk to one another, in the most unlikely circumstances. For me, theatre’s all about that; about dialogue and listening and putting yourself in others’ shoes.

Everyone working on that play feels grateful to Jacob and Joan and David, the parents, for entrusting us and being so open about the collaboration. They've been brilliant.

Looking into your crystal ball, what do you see in the Playhouse’s future?

It’s really tough making theatre. We’ve lost our City Council funding. The money we get from the Arts Council, our biggest funder, has also dropped by 30%. Our costs are going up, so imagine what it's like running a big building and making shows? But we're selling more tickets than ever and we're so grateful to the people of Nottingham for supporting us. We don't want to put ticket prices up, but it means we're in this horrible quandary. If I'm being honest, the future is getting tougher. That's reality, but we'll keep doing it because we're passionate. We'll be announcing the autumn season soon and we've got some really exciting projects coming up.

nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

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NOTTS SHOTS Want to have your work featured in Notts Shots?

Send your high-res photos from around the city (including your full name and best web link) to photography@leftlion.co.uk or tag #nottsshots on Instagram .

rs Flag and Feathesont378 ja @ on ps om Jason Th

Evening Energy Maiko Only @maiko.only

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Ladder in Bloom Charleigh Keemer

Goose in Blue Phil Revels

Ye Olde in Gold Irina Holliday

Old Cattle Market Charlie Valentine @cxvalentine_

Pace by the Rive r Nick Archer

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You Okay Mate?

The national mental health crisis and its profound effect on men is a phenomenon widely talked about that lots of people have posed different solutions to. In Sneinton Market however, LeftLion neighbours The Fox and Grapes pub are tackling the problem in a concise and simple way, inviting local blokes into the space to openly chat about whatever might be bothering them. Matteo D’Alesio went down to speak to the team all about it…

“There’s still a stigma - men shouldn’t show their emotions, shouldn’t talk about how they really feel.”

Aaron has been Assistant Manager at the Fox and Grapes in Sneinton Market for three years now - but for the past eight months, he’s been providing a space for men to talk about their lives, feelings and mental health.

“If people want to talk, they can. If they don’t, they don’t have to. It's an informal drop-in,” he explains.

Get Men Talking happens each Sunday between half twelve and half two, where men who want to talk about any issues weighing on their mind can stop by. They are given the space to talk about as much or as little as they want, at their own pace, and in their own way.

“Pubs generally are a bit more of an informal environment anyway. It takes some of the pressure off.”

Men struggle to talk about their mental health; it’s a contributing factor to the suicide rate for men being around three times higher than the rate for women.

Mental health charity Mind found in as recently as 2019 that 34% of men would talk to friends or family if they were feeling low for two weeks or more, compared to 52% of women.

“Sometimes all it takes is someone to ask if you’re alright. And it doesn’t happen enough,” says Aaron. “It's not only that men aren’t expected to talk about it, it's also that men don’t think they can ask other men about it.”

The positive effect of peer-to-peer support groups for men’s mental health is spreading over the country.

Andy’s Man Club (AMC) is a similar group to Get Men Talking, which started in 2016 with one group and now has over 270 groups nationally.

The ‘Andy’ in Andy’s Man Club is Andrew Roberts, who died by suicide in 2016, after which his mother Elaine Roberts and his brother-in-law Luke Ambler decided to set up a volunteer-led weekly support group for men to

help save lives.

“One guy said: ‘If it wasn’t for this club, my wife wouldn’t have a husband. Another said: ‘if it wasn’t for the club, my daughter wouldn’t have a father. It’s saved my life’,” AMC founder Luke Ambler told magazine The Book of Man in 2018, with only more lives being saved since.

Over in Sneinton Market, I spoke to a regular attendee of Get Men Talking who told me how he found the sessions: “Once the pressure’s been released, some of the steam has come out. I feel a bit more confident that I can go forward. Some of us weren’t taught how to open up and share. Others were taught you don’t do that: you put it in a box, you bury it. It’s a downward spiral - you’ve got to slow it down.”

We’d sooner have you sat in here, and be quiet with us, than be sat on your own. You can sit on your own, and technically it's quiet but it can get very noisy, very quickly It's one of the things you notice about Get Men Talking: it allows you to slow things down, to take small steps.

It doesn’t carry the extra pressure of walking into a clinical environment, or the stigma of talking about your mental health to a professional. It allows you to walk into a pub and choose whether you want a pint, a coffee or a chat about what’s bothering you.

“If you walk through the door and want to sit in the corner - if you don’t want to be acknowledged, not a problem. You’ve already won if you’ve been able to come in. You’ve made the first step, you don’t need to engage, it's ‘well done’, you should be proud of yourself for making that step.”

When we suffer negative mental health it can seem natural or comforting to isolate or withdraw, but this typically makes issues worse. In 2023, the World Health Organisation declared that loneliness has the same physical effects as smoking 15 cigarettes per day - in part due to elevated levels of stress.

“We’d sooner have you sat in here, and be quiet with us, than be sat on your own. You can sit on your own, and technically it's quiet but it can get very noisy, very quickly. Whereas if you’re sitting here, it's a different noise; it quietens down the internal noise.”

Aaron tells me about a memorable attendee of Get Men Talking: “A guy came in, had never been to the pub before, and we got chatting to him. He had a job where he worked with people with mental health issues but he often found it hard to deal with his own mental health.

“He was more used to helping other people and he wasn’t helping himself as much. The following week he came back with his partner. Both stayed for a couple of hours, had something to eat and chatted to people.

“He left here looking three times happier than when he got here. It’s great to be able to see the difference in someone just from having a conversation. You could see he felt better in himself.”

In the time taken to read this article, one person in the UK would’ve attempted suicide.

“Even if you just drop your mate a text,” Aaron explains.

“Saying, ‘how are you doing, you okay?’ or ‘haven't seen you for a bit, fancy going for a pint or a coffee?’, sometimes that's all it takes to break the cycle.”

Get Men Talking takes place each Sunday between 12.30pm and 2.30pm at the Fox and Grapes, Sneinton Market, 21 Southwell Road, NG1 1DL.

words: Matteo D’Alesio illustration: Beth Gillespie

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 23

Craft Work

interview: Jared Wilson

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival takes over Sneinton Market Avenues on 20-21 June for three sessions of great beer, live music, street food and more. To celebrate the occasion we put some questions to three of Nottingham’s finest breweries who are all holding stalls at the event. Our interviewees are Ian Wesley of Blue Monkey, Thom Stone of Liquid Light, and Michael Shipman of Bang The Elephant…

Please tell us a little bit about the history of your brewery…

Ian: BlueMonkey was founded by John Hickling and formed as a company back in 2008. Our first brew was undertaken in his garage in Ravenshead the year before. That brew was named Original, and went on to win awards at the Nottingham Beer Festival that year. The brewery then started in Manners Road, industrial estate in Ilkeston on a ten-barrel kit. After about a year we had outgrown this and moved to a new kit and location near IKEA at Giltbrook, which is where we are today.

Thom: Liquid Light Brew Co was founded in a shed in Sneinton in 2017. However in 2021 we ran a successful crowdfunding campaign and moved on up to a slightly bigger shed in Sneinton. It’s in the Robin Hood Industrial Estate and is 3200 sq/ft to be exact. This is where we are now. It’s where we brew all our beers from and also opens up as a taproom on weekends.

Michael: Bang The Elephant was founded by Nigel Patton and myself in 2017. We bonded over our love of craft beer and started in a backroom at Nigel’s house in Long Eaton, brewing every weekend trying to teach ourselves as we went. As you can imagine we made quite a bit of bad beer at first as we started trying to get things right. However, as we improved we started selling our beer to the market. Initially we were brewing on a 20l kit, but it became evident quickly that we needed to scale up. Eventually we took on the old Abstract Jungle Brewery premises in Langley Mill, which is where brew now.

Who came up with the brewery name and what does it mean?

Michael: It was Nigel. It comes from an old Victorian slang phrase ‘Bang Up To The Elephant,’ which means a job well done!

We both have a fondness of the Victorian era and steampunk style art, so we based our main branding on this and a lot of our original and core beer names come with a Victorian influence.

We both thought the name was catchy and matched the style we wanted for the brewery.

Thom: Credit for the name Liquid Light goes to my brother Joe. We were watching a documentary about Pink Floyd and some footage from the UFO club came up. They had all these amazing oil colours projected onto the band and the rest is history. The branding was a natural evolution from the name and is very close to our hearts. The background for every pump clip is designed by us using the liquid light techniques we have learned over the years.

Ian: John and his uncle Trevor Vickers came up with the name Bluemonkey from John’s grandfather working at the Stanton Ironworks. He used to comment that the furnace's blue flames were called ‘the monkeys’. All our branding actually uses a chimp, which is technically not a monkey and thus creates a great talking point.

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Tell us about your role. What do you do day-to-day?

Ian: I am Commercial Director for the company and I look after the day to day running of the business including the pubs. I was in the garage for the first ever brew but didn’t join the company properly until about ten years ago.

Thom: I’m the Director and Head Brewer. I’m the founder so I have been here from the start. Though I’m also our accountant, toilet cleaner, deliveryman etc. We are a pretty small team here, so we do tend to wear many hats. My day to day consists of looking after and brewing the beers and spending more time than I’d like in the office doing the boring things like accounting.

Michael: I’m one of the two founders and day to day I do a bit of everything. However, mostly I brew, do the artwork, and fix things, you wouldn’t believe how often something in a brewery needs fixing! We all pretty much cover most of the brewery aspects, but I suppose my area is technical and graphic design above all else, which suits me well.

When you have big macro breweries disguised as small independent craft breweries making the market smaller and smaller for real independent craft beer, it's only going to continue to get harder to turn a profit in the current financial climate.

What is it that you particularly love about beer and the beer industry?

Ian: I think it’s the social aspect of the whole thing and I love seeing people enjoying something I have created. Across the industry we are a great bunch of likeminded individuals that, although sometimes in opposition, get on really well together and share a passion.

Michael: The UK craft beer scene has so many lovely genuine people working in it. There are so many people I’ve met over the past eight years who I now call great friends, from fellow brewers to suppliers and customers alike. It's such a warm inviting environment to be involved in.

Thom: I’ve always had an appreciation for ale and various beers.

My natural curiosity for how things are made and learning the inner workings of things is what originally drove me to give brewing a go, and that continues to this day. The industry as a whole has definitely seen hard times of late, but I feel honoured and indeed obligated to carry on the rich tradition of brewing that we have in this country.

What’s the best-selling beer that you make?

Michael: I wouldn’t say we have a best-selling beer as we change things up so much and it’s rare we revisit recipes often enough to have them regularly available. However, one that springs to mind would be Blue Steel, which is a blue raspberry and coconut slushy sour, which people always seem to go wild for! It is actually blue and tastes like blue raspberry sweets covered in coconut, it is always a crowd pleaser at festivals, and you can expect to see this back at NCBF25 in June.

Ian: BG Sips our 4% pale is our biggest seller, closely followed by the 4.6% Infinity IPA. They are both very different in their style but equally moreish. It is available locally where an independent beer is allowed on the pumps. I think our individual branding helps the sale but equally a good consistent beer that should taste the same wherever you buy a pint.

Thom: Our best-selling beer by far is Day Tripper, a 4.3% hazy pale ale. This beer was a culmination of everything I learned brewing for Totally Brewed in my early days and then continuing to cuckoo brew at Magpie Brewery. I wanted a juicy hazy pale that would work in cask and keg. After finding the perfect yeast for the job I got some amarillo hops, which had seen a little less popularity at the time due to the bigger bolder US hops coming through and paired it with some from Motueka in New Zealand. This combo gave a lovely aroma of orange and lime, and we found the amarillo in particular to be a great hop for double dry hopping. I think it has been successful due to its approachable ABV and impactful flavours.

How far do your beers travel outside of Nottingham?

Ian: We sell all over the British Isles. Our own two dray vans cover a radius of seventy miles from the brewery five days a week. We have been seen in the North of Scotland and down at the tip of Cornwall.

Thom: Our beer makes it right across the UK due to our wholesale network. There are few major cities that our beer hasn’t made an appearance in, though Nottinghamshire will always be a huge part of our distribution. We have made some great friends in the local scene who we continuously supply.

We have sent beer abroad a handful of times, with the furthest being a bar in Berlin that hosted a Liquid Light tap takeover for Berlin Beer Week.

Michael: We deliver our beer around most of the UK ourselves and with distribution partners. We deliver into Nottingham and Derby on a regular basis, but we also export to Holland, Norway and China. A lot of our high ABV beers that we are known for, now end up as export due to the UK’s constraining duty system for high ABV. Of all the beers you make, what’s your personal favourite?

Ian: Infinity has to be first and Plus One a very close second as I just love the citrus background these beers have. Next has

got to be our Rhubarb & Custard pale. I just love rhubarb, and we pack 160kg of the fruit into this brew.

Michael: My favourite is a variation of Balloon Juice, peach and black tea sour which we have made a few times. I got the idea from my love of peach iced tea. We added a batch of that beer to oak barrels with more peach, more black tea and brett yeast then aged it for eighteen months and called the result Weaponised Funk! The result was sour, juicy, and funky as hell absolutely everything I love in a beer.

Thom: My personal favourite varies week to week. I love a pint of our Wizard of Finance best bitter in the taproom and often struggle to choose between that or Ramble On our 3.9% Mosaic pale, which is often overshadowed by its bigger brother Day Tripper. But the beer I’m most proud of at the moment is the sixth iteration of our lager. Volume VI is a 4.9% Munich Helles style lager and I just love the balance of sweetness from the malt, the slightly fruity bread character from the yeast and bitterness from the hops. We have decided to settle on this as our core lager recipe and plan to move the ‘Volume’ Series onto other styles.

According to stats over a hundred UK breweries closed down last year. In Notts we’ve seen the likes of Totally Brewed and Navigation go under since 2023. How has business been for you over the last couple of years?

Michael: This industry is tough, there are a lot of great breweries out there, all fighting for a small piece of the pie. When you have big macro breweries disguised as small independent craft breweries making the market smaller and smaller for real independent craft beer, it's only going to continue to get harder to turn a profit in the current financial climate.

Thom: The loss of local Totally Brewed and Navigation hit us hard as we have staff from both breweries working with us right now. Business has been tough since Covid and Brexit among other things, and it’s no secret that the industry has been really struggling. While we have had our ups and downs overall, we have been steadily growing and have seen a marked improvement since opening here in 2021.

We are optimistically looking to the future and believe we will continue to grow at a steady pace.

Ian: Don’t think this game is easy, as it really isn’t. I think lots of people got on the brewery scene quickly and flooded the market with some very nice beers. Some were serious businesses, some hobbies and some were already on the decline. I think we have a difficult road ahead but if carefully navigated we can succeed.

Aside from any you are involved in running, what are your favourite pubs and bars in Nottingham to hang out in and go for a beer?

Ian: I love the castle area with The Crow, The Roundhouse, The Castle and Fothergills. Also the Canalhouse has to be up there for atmosphere as well.

Thom: The King Billy is my local and has long been my favourite place for a pint.

They always have a fantastic selection of beers, lager and cider. The food from Carolina’s Chilli is awesome too. I’m a big fan of so many places in Nottingham though, Junkyard/Kilpin are both great, Kean’s Head is an old favourite, Canalhouse holds some fond memories and has a great vibe and selection of beer. A special mention also needs to go to Stratford Haven in West Bridgford. It was my local growing up and I have probably spent more time in that pub than any other in Nottingham.

Michael: I don’t get out in Nottingham

anywhere near as much as I would like to, but when I can get out I’ve got few regular places I always love to hit up, The Herbert Kilpin and The Kean’s Head have been my absolute favourites for a while now, they cover the type of beers I drink and I love the atmosphere.

What’s your favourite Notts-brewed beer from another brewery and why?

Ian: I think that list would be far too long to list. In Nottingham we have one of the best beer scenes in the country as proved by those on show at the Castle beer festival in April. It’s too hard to put a name to the best in my opinion.

Michael: For me it has to be Reckless Dweeb. Ben is only a nano brewery out of his garage but is consistently making some great beers and trying to challenge himself with new styles, pushing what he can. He reminds me of us, wanting to do things a little different and loving what he does, that comes out in the beer he makes. The Cherry Mare poured at NCBF24 on our bar was one of my favourites to date.

Thom: Harvest Pale by Castle Rock without a doubt. It was my introductory beer to the world of ale and it has the pedigree as a multiple award winner. I have sunk more pints of that beer than any other except my own.

How do you see the future of beer over the next few years - both nationally and for your own brewery?

Michael: I think the industry as a whole needs help from the government, specifically it needs changes in regulations and duty. We are going to continue to see pubs and breweries continue to close at a huge rate unless something changes and that’s sad. The UK has a proud brewing and pub heritage which is having the life sucked out of it. Having said this, we would love to have a tap room and hopefully this becomes a reality, watch this space!

Ian: I think cask is making a huge comeback now. This is a British tradition and the rest of the world can’t beat it. Keg is good but there is far more competition out there for us to compete with so much harder to sell. We are hard at work creating a bespoke tap room called ‘The Monkey Bar’ at our premises in Giltbrook.

Keep your eyes peeled for an opening date.

Thom: I honestly think the future's bright.

There are always challenges but we are seeing increasing demand and winning national awards for some of our beers, which we are very proud of. We have some ideas we want to implement to get more of our beer out in the world this year, but all good things come to those who wait.

What have you got planned for Nottingham Craft Beer Festival 2025?

Ian: We have some great keg beers and real ales. We’re in the planning stages at the moment, but there will be a great variety from sours to stouts. It’s a huge honour to finally be able to showcase our beers at the festival.

Thom: We have some exciting new beers this year, but I will keep quiet for now. You will just have to attend to try them!

Michael: We have a few special beers lined up, some very special imperial stouts that haven’t been sold in the UK other than a few beer festivals so far this year. We also have some new beers that will be poured for the first time. If you are familiar with us, you know they will be bonkers. Be kind to each other, you never know what someone is going through and see you all at NCBF25!

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival takes over Sneinton Avenues on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 June. Tickets for each session are £14+BF and include a souvenir glass, live music and more. nottinghamcraftbeer.co.uk

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 25

These Streets are Ours

words: Sophie Gargett illustration: Bryony Loveridge

Boasting independent bars and restaurants, plus a great selection of charity shops for the thrift-lovers among us, the Nottingham suburb of Sherwood has been a popular destination for a leisurely afternoon for many years now. But just off the high street, Haydn Road offers a surprising selection of local staples. In this new regular feature - celebrating lesser-known but much-loved areas of Nottinghamshire, Sophie Gargett meets the traders of Haydn Road and muses on the merits of local shopping.

As a teenager growing up in Hucknall, I always loved taking a trip into Notts to visit my favourite independent shops. I distinctly remember making the pilgrimage to Derby Road to check out Celia's Vintage Clothing, afterwards grabbing some pancakes at the Warsaw Diner, picking up much-anticipated albums in Selectadisc, nipping into Backlash for 70s lurex jumpers, and delving into an unnamed junk shop in West End Arcade, where I bought my first record player.

Nowadays, most of those spots have unfortunately closed down - a symptom of that contemporary dilemma that sees towns and city centres questioning how to maintain a local shopping experience. Along with the competition from the internet, on the ground high rents, business rates, inconsistent footfall, parking charges, and competition from chain stores are just some of the challenges faced by retailers.

Yet Nottingham still has a great range of indie businesses dotted about the city centre and beyond - if you’re curious enough to seek them out - and whether it be retail, entertainment or hospitality, it often feels like it is our independents who keep the culture vibrant and varied in the city.

More and more, I turn to these dependable small businesses, particularly in my local area of Sherwood. Just off the high street, Haydn Road is at first a rather modest thoroughfare, dotted with houses, a school, and a business centre. However, in a 500 metre strip you’ll find all kinds of local independent businesses.

The picturesque Sherwood Cobbler offers engraving, watch repairs, and personalised gifts, along with regular and more bespoke shoe repairs. It is packed with machinery, tools, and a variety of footwear waiting in the wings to be fixed, with a piquant scent of leather and shoe polish filling the air. When I nip in to get some troublesome boots re-soled, owners Dave and Vanessa Fryer, who have run the business for the past fourteen years, tell me that the cobbler is in fact the oldest independent cobblers in Nottingham, dating back to 1934.

There’s Cross My Heart Collective, a tattooist where you can leave with custom ink, rainbow hair or locally made candles.

A recent addition next door is Func, a local streetwear brandcum-barber. Up the road a little is Bikes Love You, where bicycles are diligently serviced and occasional arty happenings

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take place upstairs. Then there's Billy's, the convenience store, where among other things, you can pick up their speciality: Billy’s homemade samosas - so famous there’s a special WhatsApp group that tips off locals about every new batch.

LeftLion readers will probably be familiar with the Thompson Brothers greengrocers, who feature in the magazine each month. A place to snap up fresh fruit, veg and plants at brilliant prices, you’re likely to also get swept into some friendly and interesting conversation with the brothers themselves (head to page 9 for their monthly column, with some fascinating historical tidbits they shared with me about Haydn Road).

Despite the challenges independent stores face, a strip like Haydn Road’s seems to thrive nonetheless, evidencing people’s desire to buy from humans, to share an interaction, to enjoy a little extra personality or hear a little knowledge about the products they are taking home Another staple of the street is Divine Coffee Shop: an LGTBQ+ friendly space with an emphasis on ethically-sourced products and coffee, which has been open since 2014 and is owned by Ashe Wright. Ashe believes there are numerous benefits of supporting streets like Haydn Road.

“You’re supporting people who are trying to make a living and enrich the local community - not lining the pockets of shareholders and umbrella companies,” he explains. “You are directly investing in that community and keeping the local economy going, while also helping to create jobs for local people - which in turn can mean less car and bus journeys, lowering environmental impacts and improving air quality.”

2025 marks thirty years since the launch of internet behemoths Ebay and Amazon, whose existence began the erosion of our local shopping experience by taking it online. More recently, the likes of Temu and Shein joined the ranks, churning out goods and raking in millions, despite accusations of poor working

conditions, negative environmental impacts and questionable product quality. But small businesses aren’t just providing local jobs, handy goods, and well-loved regional products - they’re often looking to make a difference environmentally, and offer their customers ways to cut down on wastefulness too.

Waste Nott, a zero-waste shop and volunteer-led CIC, is one of my favourite spots on the street. Offering a huge range of unpackaged food products at really decent prices, you can bring your own clean containers, or buy a paper bag or glass bottle, thus offering a very different shopping experience to the traditional modern supermarket.

There’s a calmness to the process, whether it’s a lack of brands screaming for attention on the shelves or the process of carefully pouring pasta, nuts and cereals. You definitely leave with a slight sense of satisfaction from making an effort to shop more sustainably.

“We have very high numbers of returning customers, and the thing that always amazes us is that the customers are so nice and the number of people who say ‘We just appreciate you being here’,” says volunteer Mark Jenkinson. “We're a voluntary organisation and we're not-for-profit. So it’s encouraging when people appreciate you.”

Despite the challenges independent stores face, a strip like Haydn Road seems to thrive nonetheless, evidencing people’s desire to buy from humans, to share an interaction, to enjoy a little extra personality or hear a little knowledge about the products they are taking home. A community exists in each unit - a local microcosm giving back to their neighbourhood and making the place unique.

Although it may take a little extra effort, shopping locally is definitely the way forward to keeping our neighbourhoods thriving. So stay cool, shop local, and don’t forget to celebrate your streets.

Why not visit the indie shops on Haydn Road during Sherwood Art Week between 28 June to 6 July and see a variety of creative work from local artists in business premises throughout the area. sherwoodartweek.org

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 27

The Official LeftLion Guide To 2025 Festival Season

Can you hear that? It’s finally in the air – instruments reverberating across wide open fields, the chimes of communities singing and laughing together, the sound of footsteps as friends stumble back to their tents or homes, ready to do it all over again the next day, or the following weekend. That’s right, the 2025 summer festival season is finally here, and with the return of Splendour Festival right here in Nottingham, it’s shaping up to be a big one!

To give you the lowdown, here’s our ultimate guide to the best local festivals taking place in the city of Nottingham and the surrounding areas over the next few months…

Diode Electronic Music Festival When: Sat 7 June Where: Arnold How much: £35 (day ticket) Following on from the success of the first Diode festival last year, the event is back in 2025, returning to Bonington Theatre in Arnold for another pulsating all-dayer. One not to be missed for fans of contemporary electronic and ambient music, this year’s line-up includes UK acts Code Indigo, Ian Boddy and Infinity Curve, alongside European beatmakers Ron Boots and Skoulaman. The best part? Your ticket includes live recordings from the day, so you can take the rave home with you at the end!

Download Festival When: Fri 13 - Sun 15 June Where: Donington Park How much: £67-135 (day), £172-345 (weekend) A history that can be traced back to the 1980s, Download Festival emerged from the ashes of Monsters of Rock festival back in 2003 and has since become the mecca for rock and metal fans in the UK each summer. According to reports from ticketing sites, almost 50% of attendees for this year’s Download will be making their inaugural trip to the festival, which could be to do with pop-punk legends Green Day playing the festival for the first time, alongside hugely popular, heavily debated, genre-bending metal outfit, Sleep Token. Our advice if it’s your first time attending – bring good walking shoes for all the moshing, two-stepping and potential mud traversing!

Mansfield Carnival When: Sat 21 June Where: Mansfield town centre How much: Free Returning for its third year, the Mansfield Carnival is a celebration of sustainability and global unity, through live music, dance, great food and community spirit. This year’s music line-up features an eclectic mix of reggae, Afrobeats, contemporary folk and gospel throughout the day, with plenty of tasty Caribbean food on offer to help fuel the party atmosphere. There is also the big street party on Leeming Street highlighting eco-friendly vendors, with the carnival parade taking place at midday, showcasing vibrant costumes, rhythmic drummers and energetic dancers.

Gate To Southwell When: Thurs 3 - Sun 6 July Where: Kirklington, Nottinghamshire How much: £23-60 (day), £51-187 (weekend) Now in its 18th edition, international roots and acoustic festival Gate To Southwell returns once again to its beautiful lakeside surroundings near Kirklington for a weekend of diverse music and family-friendly fun. This year the small, but perfectly-formed, festival once again punches above its weight, with legendary guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson headlining the Friday night, and Seckou Keita, Joe Boden, Skinny Lister, Alabama 3, Katherine Priddy and many more performing across the weekend. Outside of the fantastic music line-up, there’s also dancing, poetry, comedy, workshops and activities for the little ones to keep everyone entertained. So, whether you’re looking for a relaxed weekend away with the family or a top-tier folk festival close to Nottingham – or indeed both — Gate To Southwell has you covered.

Could Be Real Tribute Festival When: Fri 4 July Where: Newstead Abbey How much: £28-31 (day)

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Back again for 2025, Could Be Real Tribute festival returns to Nottingham, featuring some of the UK’s best tribute bands performing across two stages. This year you can expect to hear covers of hits from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Spice Girls, Queen and Amy Winehouse, soaking

in the party atmosphere amidst the scenic grounds of Newstead Abbey. And if you didn’t get tickets to see the Oasis reunion this summer, then fear not – Could Be Real have booked “The Oasis Experience” so you can still feel Supersonic under a Champagne Supernova.

Wonderland Festival When: Sat 5 July Where: Newstead Abbey How much: £49-84 (day) However, if you’re more partial to a little bit of House and D.I.S.C.O, then you may want to head over to Newstead Abbey a day later. Set in a magical woodland area, the festival (fka Woodland Disco) promises a “day filled with infectious beats, iconic performances and unforgettable vibes”. This year’s edition boasts an impressive line-up of legends too, including Heather Small, Roger Sanchez, Craig Charles and The Shapeshifters, as well as a special guest DJ set from local legends Crazy P. Sounds like a wonderland indeed!

Nottingham Chamber Music Festival When: Thurs 10 - Sun 13 July Where: Various venues How much: Free - £30 Change what you think of classical! Amongst Nottingham’s cultural spaces, is the celebratory hum of classical music given to you by Carmen Flores, the founder of Nottingham’s Chamber Music Festival. Following the festival into its second year, ‘newbies and culture vultures alike’ are invited to a spread of events. Beginning with a workshop alongside the Villiers Quartet surrounded by the beautiful St Mary’s Church in Lace Market, and ending with a string quartet from the Le Page Ensemble in the Park Tunnel, echoing acoustic qualities amongst a historical hidden gem, the weekend promises to ignite to you the power of music.

Mangata Festival When: Sat 12 July Where: Various venues How much: £44 (day) If you love multi-venue, all dayer festivals and your heavy music, then you might want to get yourself to Mangata this summer. With a whopping 46 grassroots alternative bands from Nottingham and the rest of the UK performing across five stages, it takes place in Nottingham city centre, at Rescue Rooms, Ghost Nightclub, Liquid Library and Tap ‘N’ Tumbler, with the short distance between the venues leaving maximum time for moshing out. London metal outfit The Raven Age are headlining this year’s edition, and it’s worth noting that the Tap ‘N’ Tumbler stage will also be free entry, allowing anyone curious to pop along and get a taste of the action.

Splendour Festival When: Sat 19 - Sun 20 July Where: Wollaton Hall How much: £49-69 (day), £67-105 (weekend) While there were other events at Wollaton Hall last year, the summer just wasn’t the same without Splendour Festival taking place. Thankfully, Nottingham’s biggest festival returns this year and the line-up is looking stacked.

00s indie icons Bloc Party and Kaiser Chiefs will both be performing their classic debut albums, while acts including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Kate Nash and Natasha Bedingfield will be bringing the pop chic. Legends The Levellers, Echo & The Bunnymen and Travis are also set to perform, alongside a heap of local talent such as Davoli, Bloodworm, Set In Motion and the mighty Jake Bugg. Vicky McClure will also be pulling double duty across the weekend, performing with her Dementia Choir before bringing the party with Day Fever. With plenty more happening across the weekend, keep your eyes peeled for our big Splendour preview in our upcoming July issue!

Boho Festival When: Fri 25 - Sun 27 July Where: Millview Glamping & Events How much: £8-41 (day), £60-137 (weekend)

Gloworm Festival When: Fri 8 - 10 August Where: Thoresby Park How much: £49-60 (day), £143-165 (weekend)

Sunsets, nostalgia and a little sprinkling of Bohemian magic, Boho Festival is an intimate family-friendly festival taking place within the scenic woodland of the Millview camping and events site. With Ibiza legends Lovely Laura & Ben Santiago, fellow headliners Graeme Park and Dub Pistols, a big festival finale complete with spectacular pyro, and a disco yurt to dance the night away throughout the three days, Boho festival is the ultimate forest party. Add on top of all this some great tribute acts, wellness classes and lots of activities for kids including crafts, theatre and bouncy castles, there’s not a dull moment to be had for the whole family.

Let me ask you this: have you ever wanted to attend a Playmobil Rave? Well, good news! Gloworm is billed as “the ultimate family-friendly festival”, aimed at those with children aged 0-13. Meaning there’s no room for excuses like “Sorry, I need to stay home and watch the kids”, as you can bring them along with you! Aside from the dedicated Playmobil area for the little ones, there’s also a whole host of tribute acts to enjoy across the weekend, as well as circus acts and appearances from children’s TV favourites such as Elmer, Paw Patrol and Bodger & Badger. For the older kids (adults), there’s even Mr. Blobby and ChuckleVision on the bill!

Notts Pride When: Sat 26 July Where: Nottingham city centre How much: Free Once again bringing the colour and vibrancy to Hockley, Sneinton and the whole of central Nottingham, Notts Pride is always a special celebration for our city. Hosted by one of the East Midlands’ leading LGBTQ+ charities, it is the region’s largest free Pride event, bringing everyone together to remember our history, make our voices heard and celebrate Nottinghamshire’s fabulous diversity. Alongside the march and markets, there’s also a fantastic line-up of music for this year’s event, with local favourites Girlband!, ROB.GREEN and Tom Aspaul set to perform in Sneinton alongside spoken word poets and drag artists.

Y Not Festival When: Thurs 31 July - Sun 3 August Where: Pikehall, Derbyshire How much: £169 (weekend) While in other parts of the UK you will find the likes of Truck Festival, Tramlines and Kendall Calling all with similar line-ups, the closest family-friendly, indie extravaganza to Nottingham is just up the road at Pikehall in Derbyshire.

Set in the scenic Peak District and with a stacked line-up of headline acts that includes The Prodigy, Madness, The Wombats and Franz Ferdinand, Y Not continues to be one of the UK’s premier medium-sized festivals. However, the best reason to attend is the fantastic line-up of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire artists the festival puts on each year, with this year’s edition seeing local favourites including Riley Marsh, Kelsey & The Embers, Set In Motion, Drew Thomas, JJ Lovegrove, Marseille, Marvin’s Revenge and many more performing across the weekend.

Waterfront Festival When: Sat 2 August Where: The Canalhouse How much: £11 (day) When the sun comes out in Nottingham, there’s only one place to go – The Canalhouse. Set in the heart of the city centre and sat along the picturesque waterways, there are few pubs that can match its charm. Now add in raising money for a good cause, fancy dress, performance artists and a full day of music that includes all your favourites from Nottingham and the local surrounding areas, and you have the perfect July day out with the Waterfront Festival. Now in its 13th year, all the proceeds for 2025 will go to their chosen charities, with the good will only adding to the euphoria of twelve hours of music and fun in the sunshine.

Bloodstock Open Air Festival When: Thurs 7 - Sun 10 August Where: Catton Park, Derbyshire How much: £34-96 (day), £206-231 (weekend) Horns up! For anyone who finds Download Festival too mellow or simply needs to fill their summer days with an additional fix of Metal, then look no further than Bloodstock. With over 100 acts across four stages, including a big focus on grassroots artists across UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe, it’s the place to be to catch the next wave in metal first. However, there are plenty of current giants and legends on the line-up too, with this year’s edition seeing Trivium, Machine Head and Gojira headline, alongside the likes of Creeper, Lacuna Coil, Mastodon and many more. In addition to the heavy music though, there’s also plenty of other activities for metal fans to sink their teeth into, including vintage markets, a silent disco, and even some… bin jousting! There’s an onsite museum of metal where the bust of Motorhead’s Lemmy, usually found in Rock City, will be featured as one of the exhibits once again.

words: Karl Blakesley illustration: Lily Keogh

Foolhardy Folk Festival When: Sun 24 August Where: The Arboretum How much: £46 (day) Adopted as one of our own, folk musician Beans On Toast (real name Jay McAllister or simply “Beans” to his friends) is once again hosting his beloved bank holiday get together. Now in its fifth year, the Foolhardy Folk Festival is a family-friendly one-dayer filled with great music, craft beer and tasty street food. Taking place in the beautiful city centre Arboretum, for this year’s curated line-up Beans has handpicked Gracie Petrie, The Young’uns, Ruth Lyon, Nick Parker and many more to perform. As ever, Beans will also be opening and closing the event himself, playing two special sets.

110 Above Festival When: Thurs 28 - 30 August Where: Gopsall Hall Farm, Leicestershire How much: £27-50 (day), £43-198 (weekend) Tucked away on the beautiful Gopsall Hall Farm about forty minutes from Nottingham city centre, the magical 110 Above returns after a few years’ break. A celebration of grassroots talent, it is a one-of-a-kind event that allows you to catch future superstars in cosy, intimate surroundings. This year, there’s a strong Nottingham and local representation on the line-up too, with Girlband!, Deco, Jerub and Leah Wilcox all announced, alongside other UK and Ireland rising stars including Tom A. Smith, Prides, Somebody’s Child and Pentire.

Off The Tracks Festival When: Fri 29 - 31 August Where: Castle Donington, Leicestershire How much: £60-120 (weekend) A gem of a festival, Off The Tracks has been taking place at Donington Park Farm since the first festival all the way back in 1988. Remaining completely independent and sponsor-free, the family-friendly festival has defied the odds and continued to go from strength to strength. With a line-up that boasts an eclectic mix of sounds and styles across seven plus stages, there’s also a silent disco into the early hours and an area dedicated for crafts, arts, circus skills, games and other kids’ activities. The perfect end-of-summer countryside getaway for the whole family!

FAC51 Haçienda When: Sat 6 September Where: Wollaton Hall How much: £53-56 (day) After a successful inaugural event in 2024, the spirit of legendary dance music institution The Haçienda will once again return to Wollaton Hall this summer. This year’s line-up is stacked in class and nostalgia, with EDM icons Armand Van Helden, Groove Armada, Greg Wilson and Inner City all set to bring the rave to Nottingham.

Sonic Boom Festival When: Sat 13 September Where: Burton-Upon-Trent How much: £26 Taking place in Burton, less than an hour from Nottingham, Sonic Boom has a unique concept for their festival – watch the headliner for free on the main stage during the day, then party into the night with 30+ Acts across eight stages! This year’s main act is brilliant art-rock outfit Everything Everything, who have quickly become one of the best live acts on the circuit. Then into the night, there are performances from hometown heroes The Leisure Society and Paddy Considine’s Riding The Low, alongside other national rising stars including Eighty Eight Miles, Seb Lowe and The Bug Club. Considering the price of the tickets, this looks like a fun day out to Burton!

Ticket prices correct at time of writing - for other ticket options available, visit the festival website.

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 29

Connor Selby

What’s On

December

June

FRI London Calling 05

WED BBC Introducing 11

2026

July

February

WED Stand up to Knife 23 Crime

FRI Jim Moray 13

advert August

October TUE Billy Nomates 07

THU Luke Haines + 21 Peter Buck

FRI Goldie Lookin 10 Chain

SAT The Smiths Ltd 30

WED Kathryn Joseph 22

September FRI Connor Selby 26

Billy Nomates

March FRI Hollie McNish 13

Kathryn Joseph

FRI Delvon Lamarr 24 Organ Trio

November SUN Bow Wow Wow 02 THU Mary Gauthier + 06 Jaimee Harris

Home of Just the Tonic Comedy Club, bringing you laughter every Saturday!

WED Nouvelle Vague 12 Book tickets

TUE The Pains of 18 Being Pure at Heart

THU Zach Templar 20 FRI Turin Brakes 28 30 leftlion.co.uk/issue184

metronome.uk.com Huntingdon St, Nottingham, NG1 1AP

@metronomenotts

Out of Time: Lost in Nottingham Having recently published a new book that tracks the peculiar history of lost Nottingham buildings, Nottingham Hidden History team leader Joseph Earp told history editor CJ De Barra about how he took a detailed trip through time, discovering many of the stories hidden in our city streets.

There is a lot to be said for a long scroll through old photos of Nottingham. We live in a time where it can feel like if you blink, you’ll miss several new businesses opening and closing. This feeling of fleeting may contribute to our longing to connect to our past, or even further back to one we haven’t experienced but feel comforted by. The discovery of the hidden life of a building we experience today can be a fascinating find.

A new book by author and local historian Joseph Earp - Lost Nottingham - taps into this desire to know more about our city and our roots. The book, which has been released through Amberley Publishing, brings to life the legendary buildings of Nottingham, such as The Black Boy Hotel (Long Row), which sits alongside Selectadisc (Market Street) photos, and the Turkish Baths on Upper Parliament Street. This step back in time is curated so that modern history sits alongside photographs capturing the Goose Fair in the 1900s.

Given that Goose Fair lives on, but Selectadisc has sadly left us - what qualifies as ‘lost’ to Earp?

“Lost means anything that has been taken away or can never be recovered,” he says. “Anything can qualify as lost. The book shows the buildings and roads, churches, public buildings, commercial buildings, factories, residential buildings, shops, theatres, cinemas, parks, public spaces and other numerous places that have disappeared from Nottingham. It also includes local people, events, organisations, sports teams, etc, that have not survived the test of time but were once an important part of Nottingham.

“What makes them so Iconic is that people can still remember these lost Nottingham buildings and locations. They are still fresh in people's memories.

Once they are gone, they are gone forever; they become part of bygone history. People always long for the past and remember these iconic Nottingham places.”

He's not wrong. Certain Facebook groups are dedicated to swapping stories and photos of the city and have memberships reaching millions. This includes those who

have left Nottingham and moved across the world, but still feel that pull of home.

The photographs come from the collection of the late Paul Nix. Nix was the founder of the Nottingham Hidden History Team, which was initially formed in 1965 to document the caves being excavated. He then moved on to photographing the city amid its changes over the decades.

The book shows the buildings and roads, churches, public buildings, commercial buildings, factories, residential buildings, shops, theatres, cinemas, parks, public spaces and other numerous places that have disappeared from Nottingham Incredibly, Nix took over 10,000 photographs which are backed by his research and work on Nottingham’s history. He also collected old photographs, slides, postcards, books, and documents.

“When Paul died in 2008, the Nottingham Hidden History Team and his collection nearly died with him.

However, around 2010, Paul's vast Nottingham history collection was saved and eventually was bequeathed to us,” Earp explains.

A favourite chapter in the book is the section on pubs of the past. This, for many nostalgia hunters and history enthusiasts, is something of a beloved subject - this journalist included. Some pubs have slipped beyond memory, such as The Gate Hangs Well (1900-1905) near the Castle and The Beehive Inn (1920s) on Millstone Lane, but others are bound to spark some memories.

Earp has included The Flying Horse (turned into an arcade in 1989), Queen Elizabeth on Bottle Lane (Closed in 2000), and the Newcastle Arms on North Sherwood Street, which closed in 2009.

The photos are backed with fascinating facts, stories, and research. It’s fascinating to find out that the owners of the Flying Horse paid £63 rent on the entire building in 1826, or that the Beehive Inn was supposedly the place where music hall promoter Sam Torr first showed John Merrick to the public as the ‘elephant man’.

In contrast, when reading the comments on old photographs of Nottingham on social media, people’s longing for the past reveals a belief that Nottingham has somehow slipped from its glory days. Earp disagrees that things are all doom and gloom.

“Nottingham is still a great city, has a lot to offer and has a vibrant heritage. I hope the book does a good job of highlighting what has been lost and shows the importance of looking after and preserving what is left of Nottingham's heritage.

“By looking at what has been lost, it in turn encapsulates our shared history, culture, and identity, providing us all with a tangible link to Nottingham's past,” he adds.

“History is important. It enriches our understanding of where we come from, but it also plays a pivotal role in shaping our future.”

Lost Nottingham by Joseph Earp is available to buy at Amberley Books. nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com

words: CJ De Barra photos: Paul Nix Collection/ Nottingham Hidden History Team leftlion.co.uk/issue184 31

31 MAY – 13 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEW ART EXCHANGE 39—41 GREGORY BOULEVARD, NOTTINGHAM, NG7 6BE GALLERY & CORNER OPENING TIMES TUE – SAT 10AM—4PM | CLOSED SUN & MON 0115 924 8630 | NAE.ORG.UK | INFO@NAE.ORG.UK

32 leftlion.co.uk/issue184

literature

Hold the Phone!

words: CJ De Barra images: The Sparrow's Nest LGBT+ Collection

This month, the Five Leaves Bookshop and Notts Queer History Archive will host author Elizabeth Lovatt at Nottingham Central Library, where she will speak about her new book on the historical importance of switchboards to Nottingham’s gay and lesbian community. Here Elizabeth tells us about this frequently overlooked corner of queer history.

We think nothing of a search on socials to find ‘nearest gay bar’ these days, but it wasn’t always so easy. In pre-Internet days phone lines like Nottingham Lesbian and Gay Switchboard and Lesbian Line were a lifeline. Staffed by volunteers, the phoneline provided help available nowhere else in a world hostile to the LGBTQ+ community.

Forward to today we are right back there amid diversity, inclusion and equality backlash, the second Trump presidency, and the terrifying control Reform has on local councils like Nottinghamshire.

Elizabeth Lovatt’s new book, Thank You for Calling the Lesbian Line, celebrates the significant contributions made by such phone lines. There is no better time for it as Notts LGBT+ Network turns fifty this year. Our lesbian line (RIP) was born from a switchboard in a tiny room at the top of the Women’s Centre on Chaucer Street.

Elizabeth explains why they were needed: “The Lesbian Lines usually began due to a lack of accessible information and support for lesbians. The earliest lines were set up in the early 70s, so when there was no internet and limited ways for lesbians to find each other and information about their community, especially if you lived outside of a larger city or knew no other lesbians.

“Some of the lines started as offshoots from mixed gay and lesbian phone lines, where it was felt that there wasn’t enough emphasis on specific lesbian issues, or that the women who called might not be able to speak to another lesbian, depending on who was on shift.

“Others grew out of women’s centres or other lesbian community groups,” Lovatt explains. “The need for a phone line service specifically for queer women gave a space to combine resources and community knowledge around issues that specifically affected lesbian and queer women such as motherhood, caring responsibilities, work, housing, sexual health, sexual and emotional abuse, and later the impact HIV/AIDS had on the lesbian community.”

Lovatt’s research centres around the queer researcher’s holy grail - the Lesbian Line logbooks. This is a record of those who called and, wonderfully, the internal politics of the volunteers.

“The logbooks and records of the lesbian lines are a vital history of ordinary lesbian life,” Lovatt explains. “It’s startling to hear about the conversations lesbians were having thirty years ago and to find sometimes that little has changed: women calling up to talk about whether they were gay or not, lesbians wanting advice on how to come out to their parents, women needing support going through a break-up or just someone ringing to chat about a great queer book they’ve just read.”

Elizabeth’s book doesn’t shy away from discussing the more complex issues featured in the logbooks, including racism, biphobia and transphobia.

Discussion via the Lesbian Line may have been the reason for Nottingham

welcoming a Black lesbian group in the late 1980s, and trans meet-up groups have been operational in the city since the early 70s.

“We need to see the past with clear eyes,” Elizabeth adds. “Not to vilify or romanticise but face head on the realities of our communities and the structures in place that can exclude others to help better understand the present moment.”

Sadly, the Lesbian Line didn’t survive…but why?

“Multiple factors contributed to their closure,” says Elizabeth.

Many reported a lack of new volunteers and even a decline in phone calls during this time, perhaps due to a growing sense in the 90s that lesbian liberation had been achieved. There were difficulties with funding - all of the lines were volunteer-run. The major impact, however, was the development of the internet, as many of the information services shifted online.”

We need to see the past with clear eyes. Not to vilify or romanticise but face head on the realities of our communities and the structures in place that can exclude others to help better understand the present moment Switchboards continue to operate in the UK, showing that there is still a need to offer phone services alongside other forms of communication like email and instant messaging. I think there’s something really important and intimate about a phone call that allows you to have a one-on-one conversation with someone, that is still so vital for many people.”

The Nottingham Lesbian and Gay Switchboard however, lives on today rebranded as the Notts LGBT+ Network. A spokesperson told LeftLion about their ethos for outreach to Nottingham: “At our core, we've provided a confidential, empathetic space for LGBT+ people to seek advice, support, and solidarity — particularly in times when societal prejudice can still force many to live in fear or isolation. Providing support and signposting to expert resources on issues like coming out, mental health, hate crime, housing, and navigating services, especially for those who are disabled, elderly, or refugees.”

The Five Leaves interview with Elizabeth Lovatt will take place at Nottingham Central Library on Thursday 19 June. Stalls manned by the Notts LGBT+ Network, Notts Queer History Archive and the Nottingham Feminist Archive will also be present.

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 33

art food

Over at Lakeside Arts, the current exhibition ‘Country Lives’ explores the use and From The Kitchen depiction of the English countryside over the last 200 years. We went down to check Country Lives it out…

With Dave Smith from Fancy Restaurant words: Jo Herlihy

In 1800, a petition was sent from the villagers of Edwinstowe to the 3rd Duke of Portland requesting permission to gather woodland bracken that they What is the best meal you have ever cooked? burn for heating.

Their fall into poverty had Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do could eiusmod tempor incididunt left them no alternative but to go cap in hand to the ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quisLord nostrud exercitation of the manor. Fast forward to 1957, the doors of ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. neighbouring country pile, Thoresby Hall opened for coach tours attracting hundreds of thousands What is the best meal you have ever eaten? of people.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt Two country estates, two different centuries, and the ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. relationships and activities on country land vastly differ.

Who first taught you to cook?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do This eiusmod tempor incididunt modest but packed exhibition, curated by ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Dr Sarah Holland (Department of History), was compiled from Nottingham University archives. It What's the best-selling item on your menu? assembles perspectives on how people shape, and beentempor shapedincididunt by, the countryside in-and-around Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do have eiusmod Nottinghamshire and beyond. It includes beautifully ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. illustrated books, documents, photos and more, organised across themes depicting our country lives Describe your cooking in 3 words?

- a rural idyll, the changing landscape and farm life.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

Behind these changes was a culture of curiosity during the 1700s, driving experimentation that resulted in farming, Other than your own place, where do you eat out most in Notts?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt industry, and medicine innovations ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

What cookery books do you have on the shelf at home?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Material from both the 19th and 20th centuries show Who are your six ideal dinner party guests alive or dead? And both whatcontinuity do you serve andthem? change, with the exhibition Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do illustrating eiusmod tempor incididunt our changing relationship with the ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quiscountryside nostrud exercitation - sometimes slow and painful, sometimes ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. quick and dramatic.

For example, painters and engravers of Nottingham’s What cookery books do you have on the shelf at home? th century landscape chose the Meadows area, ‘The Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do 19 eiusmod tempor incididunt south prospect of Nottingham with the castle’, as the ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. vantage point from which to portray the old medieval city and Castle – distant and separate. But would Other than your own place, where do you eat out most in Notts? such separation between town and country have Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do really eiusmod tempor incididunt been so stark when markets linking the two ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. word count 300 were so plentiful and the city’s population relatively static?

From The Kitchen With Dave Smith from Fancy Restaurant

By the middle 1800s however, the rapid growth of Nottingham’s industry and population resulted in an

artworks

Behind these changes was a culture of curiosity during the 1700s, driving experimentation that resulted in farming, industry, and medicine innovations. This exhibition brings alive the ideas created by this energetic period, the esteem given to the idea of beauty, and a growth in the understanding of nature, reflected in books filled with exquisite drawings and new literature and poetry.

The archive material from the 20th century is limited, but this relative sparseness perhaps tells its own story. Although ruptured by world war, the archive shows a stable and prosperous century, leisure activities mushroomed through the efforts of individuals, groups and institutions. Individual enthusiasts of walkers, ramblers and motorists explored the countryside and, at an institutional level, the Countryside Act 1968 resulted in several large public country parks being opened across the Country.

Earlier issues had not entirely disappeared - people fought to maintain their ties to the countryside or looked to forge a new link due to the increasing dominance of urbanisation and declining agricultural life.

The exhibition is valuable, providing both insight to the past and a perspective from which to spur discussions about the countryside today. The archives show that individuals have a canny way of creating their own path to what their country life will be. As new contests and disputes emerge over housing, energy, farming, transport and parks, it will be fascinating to see who documents our present country lives and what people decide is worthy of recording for the archive.

Country Lives will be at Lakeside Arts until Sunday 21 September 2025. The exhibition is accompanied by a number of events, including lunchtime talks and a guided walk of the University grounds. Find out more via the Lakeside website below. lakesidearts.org.uk

From The Kitchen With Dave Smith from Fancy Restaurant

For this month’s Artworks weis turned to you multi-medium artist What the best meal have ever cooked?

Tom Hackett.

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 34 34

overcrowded and disease-ridden city. This contrasts with the Edwinstowe petitioners who experienced slower change over decades, with creeping enclosure bringing new forms of estate management and disrupting old customary rights for the countryside and forest communities.

What is the best meal you have ever cooked?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur This is a still image from my video Passage.

The elit, video is do a sequence short clips of nature, landscape, adipiscing sed eiusmod of tempor New York and of human life, each interspersed a recurrent close up monochrome image of incididunt with ut labore et dolore magna a young girl’s face. These were gathered over months visual foraging process. I aliqua.

Utseveral enim ad minimthrough veniam, aquis wanted a monochrome face to be looking straight into theullamco viewerslaboris eyes asnisi if questioning them. The clip nostrud exercitation arrangement is done intuitively in terms of what visual sense.

On one level the piece is simply ut aliquip ex makes ea commodo consequat. about actively looking beyond our filtered realities.

What is the best meal you have ever What is the best meal you have ever For the audio I am reciting my family’s weekly shop receipt from Carlton’s Tesco set to a digital backing eaten? eaten? track, which I put together. This is anthemic and melodramatic inconsectetur its feel, and aims to raise the status of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, our everyday consumption as something we all elit, needsed to do think about.tempor I try to do this in a playful, nonadipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor adipiscing eiusmod preachy way. It's also a celebration ofincididunt nature, existence place as ‘life affirming’. I try to keep my incididunt ut labore et dolore magna ut laboreand et dolore magna videos to roughly the length of a short pop song. I like the idea of art being experiential, rather than aliqua. aliqua. passive - even something that loops in your head like a song.

Who first taught you to cook?

Who first taught you to cook?

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What's the best-selling item on your menu?

What's the best-selling item on your menu?

Partlyipsum I hope to spark reflection on the adipiscing paradox ofelit, our sed consumer disconnect with the natural world thatdolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor Lorem ipsum Lorem dolor sit amet, consectetur do eiusmod tempor is both our home and food larder. also just wantcount to explore gentle nudge ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. incididunt ut labore et dolore magnaI aliqua. word 130 and probe our world. It’s like aincididunt to a simple truth - that we and nature are very much part of the same ecosystem.

Who first taught you to cook?

I was born in Cambridge and studied art at Middlesex in London in 1981. I then moved up to Sheffield, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor set up a studio space with some mates and I’ve been making art ever since. I had a commission with the incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Bonington Gallery in 1990 - we took a bit of a shine to Nottingham and its vibe, moving here in 1991.

It’s provided a great creative base to push my work out into the world and is very much myDescribe adopted your cooking in 3 words? hometown.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. books do you have on the shelf at home?

In terms of other artists, I’ve always been drawn to art that interrupts and monkeys aroundWhat withcookery the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor everyday world; by association questioning the order of things around us. incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

You can see Tom’s video ‘Passage’ as part of the NAE Open 2025 between 31 May – 13 Sept 2025.[ Other than your own place, where do you eat out most in Notts?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor W @tomhackettsculptor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.words word count 222 & images: Tom Hackett

Challenge the ordinary and spark curiosity at Nottingham Contemporary.

Exhibitions Family Activities Talks Performances Workshops Films Blend Coffee Shop Fairs Shop “Such great exhibitions at @nottm_ contemp today - very thought provoking and relevant...easy to forget we have such a great resource available for free”

“@nottm_contemp I totally fell in love with you today. What a fabulous play space”

Free Entry Suggested Donation £5

nottinghamcontemporary.org

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 35

36 leftlion.co.uk/issue184

environment

Future Makers interview: Adam Pickering photos: Sam Tariq

Like it or not, our modern world is built on plastic - and whilst the long-term health and ecosystem impacts are still poorly understood, the early signs are pretty alarming. Tackling this issue is set to be a generations-long task, but pioneering Colwick-based design studio Future Makers are giving it a crack, turning waste plastic into useful, solid, creations that are built to last, whilst giving back. Founder and Director Tristan Hessing guides us through their manufacturing process, the education gap hampering creatives working with this abundant material, and why we need more young people joining and innovating in the plastics industry.

What’s Future Makers all about then?

The mission is to help the creative industries adopt recycled plastic as a viable material. We all know plastic is everywhere, but there’s very little infrastructure to help artists, designers or architects access and work with it. Where would you go to buy waste plastic? Where would you learn how to use it?

Most people see plastic as something mystical, not something you’d actually use in fabrication, but it’s not difficult to work with, and it’s massively abundant.

We need to make better use of it, but right now the education infrastructure doesn’t exist.

it. We’ve got an injection moulder and a sheet press the press is probably the most useful. So we’ll weigh out the plastic, load it into trays, and heat it to about 170°C. The best comparator is it’s like working with butter - you melt it, shape it, cool it, and it solidifies.

Could you outline some of the issues and opportunities around plastic for us?

Plastic’s here to stay. If we want electricity, we have to have plastic as there’s nothing readily available to replace cable insulation. If you go to a hospital there’s plastic everywhere, because it's sterile and cheap to make. There's so many examples of how you cannot extract the material out of our modern life. Even if we stopped using it right now, which would mean we'd have to accept a completely different way of living, we’d still have billions of tonnes of it on the planet. So while we work out how to wean ourselves off it longterm, we need to roll our sleeves up and start reusing what we’ve already got.

We're trying to revolutionise recycling - make it incentivised so that people can see their plastic going on a local journey and being turned into biodiversity assets, like planters that go back to that school or public space

We’re in your workshop here on Colwick Industrial Estate - talk us through the production process?

We start with plastic that’s already been used or might be considered waste, which we can either buy from recyclers pre-sorted, or we can collect it ourselves and check if it's the right type using our scanner. There are different types and some are easier to work with than others, for example polyethylene, the kind you find in food packaging and bottle tops. It gets shredded and ends up like this [Tristan runs his fingers through a multicoloured confetti type material].

Can anyone buy used plastic?

It’s difficult to buy in the quantities we want to - you can’t just buy 20kg of this stuff, you’re pushed into buying tonnes, and that’s a big problem for enterprises like us trying to start up. But we’ve managed to find some who will work with us more sympathetically.

We also collect our own - we’re setting up bottle top stations in places like Broadway Cinema, and we’re planning to get more stations into schools and public places. Then we wash it and shred it in our granulator, and we can then use one of a few machines to form

...and it’s safe to work with?

Yes, as long as you don’t burn it. We’ve got a proper extractor, but if you keep it within its melting point, it’s safe. People worry about leaching and microplastics, but plastic leaches in landfills too. It’s happening whether it’s in front of us or out of sight.

What sort of things are you making with it?

We’re starting with planters, which are nice assets to go back into the community that the plastics came from. They’re solid, long-lasting, and support biodiversity. The best thing you can do with recycling plastic is to make something which can exist in that form for as long as possible, so we build them to last. One of these locks in around 35kg, and we don’t mix types of plastic either or use glues, so you can disassemble it and repair it, or shred these up and reform them.

They’re really nice objects - can we see them out in the wild anywhere?

We’ve only just launched them so we’ve sold a few so far, one to a landscape gardener working with schools. Schools are really interested as they get the educational value, but they’re expensive - one of these costs about £550 each, which is more expensive than most people are willing to spend, because it’s not virgin plastic which is cheaper to make, or imported from cheap labour countries. If anything it’s a bit too cheap for running the business, but we’re trying to make a price that’s palatable. We’re trying to get some backing from the plastics industry, and incorporate things like bottle top collections which boosts the educational piece.

So you’re not anti-plastics industry, you’re working with them?

We want to bring them to the table. A lot of people in the industry genuinely want to do better, but they’re scared of getting it wrong. The industry’s been demonised, and that makes them clam up. So we’re trying to create a safe space to explore better practices and support education.

There’s a massive skills gap because young people aren’t entering the ​​ petrochemical industry, they don’t see it aligning with their values. That’s a problem, because we need innovation but we’re not getting talented young minds in to try and affect change, so we’re trying to connect schools, industry and community to start that conversation. We're trying to revolutionise recycling - make it incentivised so that people can see their plastic going on a local journey and being turned into biodiversity assets, like planters that go back to that school or public space.

It’s a big challenge… are there other projects that give you hope?

There’s definitely a swelling of grassroots recycling initiatives. Precious Plastics is a great entry point - it’s an open-source community with designs, machines and knowledge sharing. But the hard bit is pushing beyond public funding into something commercially sustainable. That’s the space we’re trying to carve out, and it flabbergasts me that there's not more future makers in the world, certainly in this country. Not to blow our own trumpet, but I think we’re trailblazing here.

How can people get involved and come along on the journey with you?

We’re always interested in artists and designers who want to prototype new ideas. If you’ve got a project in mind, we can help you understand the process and be a bid-writing partner. We’re also keen to hear from any schools or teachers who want to be part of our Plastic Revolution programme. We understand schools can't afford to pay for it, but if you tell us you're interested in running a collection scheme and homing a planter, it'll help us raise the money. Or if you’re a business looking for positive Corporate Social Responsibility outputs, you can sponsor our educational work or buy our products and services. future-makers.co.uk

37 leftlion.co.uk/issue184 37

community the lenton centre interview: Jared Wilson photos: Natalie Owen

The past couple of years have been more challenging than ever for Nottinghamshire’s community centres and hubs. In recent times of austerity many have seen their funding cut, despite their services being needed more than ever. However, shining out like a beacon is The Lenton Centre, which will soon be celebrating twenty years of independent community ownership. We spoke to Ben Rawson and Amy Whitmore about the challenges of providing a charity and providing a swimming pool, gym, cafe and quite a lot more to the residents of NG7…

Firstly, what can you tell us a bit about the history of this place?

Ben: Our building first opened as a washhouse in 1931. At a time before most people had bathrooms and washing machines at home, it offered local people somewhere to come and bathe and wash, dry and iron their clothes. In 1966 a public swimming pool was added and over the following decades a gym and various other features became part of the centre. The centre was then owned by Nottingham City Council, but in 2004 they closed it down. However, in 2005 a collective of local people known as the Lenton Community Association bought the building off them for £10. They re-opened the gym within weeks, but it took until 2008 to re-open the swimming pool. Lots has changed over those two decades, but we remain under community ownership to this day.

What are your roles at the centre?

Ben: I’m the Managing Director. My role includes the day-to-day running of the charity and supporting the team of 26 people who work here. I’m responsible for the upkeep of the building, which includes organising contractors to carry out work, liaising with our funders and securing grants for capital work. I report to a board of trustees who look at how to grow the charity and develop the building and our services.

Amy: I’m the Co-ordinator for Quackers Swim School and DSSwim. I’ve spent twelve years working in the fitness industry and I’m passionate about promoting physical health and mental wellbeing. I oversee the swimming programme, ensuring lessons run smoothly, instructors are supported and swimmers of all ages are progressing confidently and safely. A big part of my role involves developing lesson plans, supporting our teaching staff and engaging with parents to track swimmer progress.

38 38 leftlion.co.uk/issue184

What’s the best thing about your job?

Amy: We’re teaching people a life-saving skill that will stay with them forever. Whether it's a child taking their first strokes or an adult overcoming a lifelong fear, watching their progress and knowing these skills could one day save someone’s life is what makes this job so meaningful. It's about empowering people with something truly lasting.

Ben: I really enjoy supporting the team and helping them to build new skills and confidence. We’re always encouraging input from our staff and customers and I love seeing their eyes light up when they are proposing fresh ideas for activities and growing the charity.

We are always looking for innovative ideas to bring people together. Supporting peoples physical and mental health is at the core of everything we do There’s quite a lot of squeeze happening for community hubs across the county right now. Do you have any advice for others feeling the pinch?

Ben: Firstly we’re all in the same boat. We’ve all been affected by soaring utility costs, the increase in national insurance and the removal of business rates support for charities. So there’s an increased reliance on grant funding to help maintain the building and deliver our services. It’s competitive, but funding can come from a variety of sources including, the National Lottery, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, lots of smaller trusts and just some kind-hearted local people making donations to us. Chloe, our office supervisor, spends a good portion of her time looking for funding opportunities and applying for them and while we are not successful with every application, at the moment we secure enough funding to support us.

Amy: One piece of advice for any charity that has a building is to understand that every square inch of the space has a value, when funding is applied for the cost of the space is included in the costings along with wage costs for team members that will be delivering the sessions, so it is essential that these are covered to support the longevity of any charity.

You also run a programme called Guidance and Growth. Can you tell us a bit about that?

Ben: Guidance and Growth is a community group set up to support people, primarily men aged 18 to 50, to help each other through tough times by doing positive things and sharing their lived experience. The

group rents a space in the basement of The Lenton Centre, where we have a fully kitted out woodwork workshop for people to learn new skills, repair an item of furniture and join others for a cuppa and chat.

The group is also branching out of the centre with community gardening projects at; Thomas Helwys Baptist Church in Lenton, Edwards Lane Community Centre in Sherwood, and at Pepper’s Park near ASDA in Hyson Green. We’re in the process of planting vegetables and flowers across these sites and involving the community in what’s grown there.

Tell us about the local community in Lenton and what a facility like this means to them…

Amy: Lenton is a diverse, close-knit community with a good mixture of young people, families, older residents and a more transient population of students. A facility like The Lenton Centre is vital, offering all of these affordable access to health, fitness and wellbeing activities right on their doorstep. However, we are more than just a leisure centre; we are a safe, inclusive space where people connect, stay active, and support their physical and mental health.

What does the future hold for The Lenton Centre over the next few years?

Ben: We are on the journey to become greener as a centre, recently we have received funding to replace the roof over the pool and install solar panels, which will reduce heating costs and make sure our water stays warmer for the swimmers. We are always looking for innovative ideas to bring people together.

Supporting peoples physical and mental health is at the core of everything we do. So we are looking at more social activities too, like film or games nights. We’ll be launching a new cafe area over the summer and making more use of our basement area to create a gallery and event space. More immediately, this year is our 20th birthday, so we’re organising a summer party where we’ll be showcasing a range of activities, swim sessions and more. Follow us on our socials and website for more details.

thelentoncentre.org.uk

community Breaking Bread words: Frances Danylec photos: FoodCycle

A keystone of human culture since the dawn of time, communal eating is underpinned by ideals of compassion, connection, and care for those in our community. FoodCycle, a nationwide charity with three branches in Nottinghamshire, provides just that and more. Frances Danylec went to one of their weekly dinners to see what was on the menu, and how the charity tackles food waste, poverty and loneliness.

“We’re on one hour til starters and we’re well ahead!” announces Nathan happily to the other kitchen volunteers, a dedicated team with their sleeves quite literally rolled up and stuck into preparing dinner for around thirty guests. It’s just past 5pm and despite being almost half-way through their shift, there’s no sign of energy levels dropping. People sidestep around each other, like a synchronised dance. “There’s always a lot of moving around the oven!”

Nathan smiles.

me she was a little apprehensive about coming initially. “I was quite shy, I remember sitting outside in the car thinking ‘I don’t want to go in and talk to all these people!’. But people are just lovely and everyone will want to talk to you.

Even just offering guests a drink, they’ll somehow make a conversation. It’s so chilled.” Having returned several times, Kesh now relishes the chats. “It’s nice to see familiar faces. You can go back to a conversation you had a couple of weeks ago, things like ‘Oh, how’s the dog?’.”

Unlike food banks that require a referral from a professional, FoodCycle is for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a warm space, a great meal, or company – there are no questions asked and no judgements made

The dining hall starts to fill with guests of all ages, genders and backgrounds, who sit and chatter over a cuppa - the socialising is a big draw for many. “I’ve been coming from day one for the company. Most of the time there’s a decent turnout and I’ve seen them have to get extra tables out,” a guest tells me. Those that haven’t made it that week are asked after and people nod and wave to each other across the room. “It’s the feeling that someone is looking out for you, that they notice when you’re not here,” says volunteer Rachel.

Meet FoodCycle: the charity whose vision is “to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community.” Each week, surplus ingredients that would have otherwise gone to waste are donated by supermarkets, local businesses and other charities and local residents gather for a nourishing meal and conversation. First launched in 2009, this national and award-winning charity has opened three branches locally: BroxtoweAspley, Hucknall and Sutton-in-Ashfield. With an estimated 110,000 households in Nottinghamshire experiencing food poverty, the charity has never been more needed.

The food is served on a meticulous schedule and is impeccably presented.

“Although we are a volunteer kitchen, we’re still very strict on health and safety guidelines. Everything has to go out at the right temperature,” Nathan explains.

“Cross contamination is a big thing and we keep on top of allergens, so that if anyone has any kind of intolerance, they can advise us of this when they arrive.”

Whilst it’s not always possible to accommodate food allergies and intolerances, the team do their very best to ensure as many people as possible can be served.

Each volunteer also receives allergen and food hygiene training.

If cooking dinner for thirty wasn’t a mammoth enough task, there’s an added twist for the kitchen team: they don’t know what ingredients they’ll be gifted until the day. The brief is to conjure a delicious and nutritious three-course vegetarian meal – things like soups and salads, pasta bakes, curries, stews, pastries, and fruit crumble. Anyone who loved the 90s/00s TV show Ready, Steady, Cook would relish being part of this exciting challenge! I am intrigued though: how on earth do they decide what to make? “We work as a team,” says East Midlands Regional Manager Anna. “Everyone will pitch in with ideas. I think that really helps, as it means the creativity isn’t all on one person!”

On my visit to the Broxtowe-Aspley branch, tonight’s menu is a starter of apple and carrot salad sprinkled with sesame seeds and a cider vinegar dressing, followed by a main course of roasted cauliflower drizzled with a nut-based sauce and potato wedges. “We try to use as much of the veg as possible,” Nathan explains. “One of the sides we’re serving today is shredded cauliflower leaf. Most people would take the leaves off and throw them in the bin.” Instead, the greens are gently wilted and seasoned in the same way as you might with spinach or cabbage. Desert is ‘strawberry surprise’, which is swiftly nicknamed ‘strawberry henge’ thanks to its resemblance of the stone landmark: the upturned fruits have been arranged delicately into a circle around a coulis and biscuit-style crumble in the centre. I am beyond impressed with the sheer resourcefulness, imagination and sense of fun that has been baked into this.

Whilst the kitchen steams rhythmically ahead to the 6pm serving time, a team of front-of-house volunteers are setting the tables, welcoming guests and offering hot and cold drinks on arrival. Kesh, now a regular volunteer, tells

As the evening wraps up, any surplus ingredients are thoughtfully bagged and offered to guests to take home. “You can take what’s there, and you try all this different veg and everything. I love it!” a guest grins, as they collect a bag of large fresh strawberries and tell me about the jams they have made from similar offerings. Alongside the opportunity to try something new at dinner, FoodCycle enables people to extend that creativity at home. This is significant, as when you’re living on a tight budget, you’re less likely to risk vital funds on experimenting which could lead to a narrower diet.

There are a couple more things that make FoodCycle such a unique and valuable initiative. Firstly, it’s completely free to come along. The volunteers don’t accept monetary donations on the night, which removes the pressure on people who can’t donate but might have felt like they needed to if they saw others handing over a few pounds. Secondly, there’s no admission criteria.

Unlike food banks that require a referral from a professional, FoodCycle is for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a warm space, a great meal, or company – there are no questions asked and no judgements made. It’s a service that doesn’t just say it’s open to all, it truly practices that.

If you’d like to join as a guest, feel free to come along to any of the meals – there’s no need to book. Broxtowe-Aspley (Tuesdays, 6pm, Woven St Martha's Church and Hope Centre); Hucknall (Sundays, 1pm, Central Methodist Church) and Sutton-in-Ashfield (Wednesdays, 6pm, The Magdalene Centre). If you’re interested in volunteering, head to foodcycle.org.uk to find out more.

foodcycle.org.uk

leftlion.co.uk/issue18439 39

music reviews

Swallowtail Seesaw (EP) This band of friends from Nottingham, studying in Brighton, have been making waves in that seaside town with some rave reviews of their recent gigs. Their new six-track EP showcases Swallowtail’s talents wonderfully. There are some delicious fuzzy guitar sounds with particular attention paid to the effects pedals along with some driving drumming; it's all held together so delicately with Katie Prescott’s otherworldly vocals which at times hint of Siouxsie Sioux. There are also other subtle post punk suggestions hiding there, too. Distorted guitar licks kick off the first track, Laughter, while To Trace nods quietly to The Cure. The title track is gentler than the others with an ethereal feel, in contrast to Drift which has a distinctly hard Gothic edge to it, and Swansong highlights Katie’s vocals to a tee. The final track Vega Burns ends the EP in dramatic style with building vocals and full-on distorted guitar. Be sure to go hear them next time they're in town! (Claire Spencer)

Blackadder Save Me (Single) A hazy nostalgia trip to a joyful evening at sunset: Blackadder intelligently uses layers of synths, found sounds and samples to spark memories of good times and showcase the emotive nature of this chilled out style of electronica.

Choppy piano lines, sepia-tinged atmospherics and a persistent, irresistible beat coalesce to create something immediately evocative; the introduction of brass is the perfect kick, elevating the track and cementing the feeling of bliss. Save Me is a song that would fit snugly in any summer party playlist, between Bonobo and Joe Goddard. The perfect accompaniment to warm weather and warm company. (Kieran Lister)

Mollie Ralph Hopeless (Single) Short, sweet and full of sincerity is the best way to describe this new single from Nottingham singer-songwriter Mollie Ralph. At just one minute and twenty seconds long, the track gently sails in on a wave of gorgeous neo-soul and electronic drums, before then evaporating as quickly as it arrives. Ralph doesn’t need long to leave an impact though, her vocal performance as captivating as ever as she pours her frustration and apathy into each “Hopeless” refrain. It’s a song that ultimately leaves you wanting to hear more, the fleeting promise of the track only helping the message at its heart to further resonate. As we eagerly await the next Mollie Ralph single, here’s hoping it comes to fruition soon. (Karl Blakesley)

Drew Thomas Watershed (EP) Watershed is a punchy, liberating and hugely honest collection of songs from London/Nottingham indie rock artist Drew Thomas. There's been a clear arc of development from Drew leading up to this record and the energy levels are huge here, particularly in the triptych of tracks beginning with You, Me & Desire. The EP opens with the brilliant and upfront Girls Like Girls, a track which is rich with pop/rock riffs, hugely fun to listen to and a clear message of defiance to the all-too-real haters out there. This is followed by the trio of tracks already hinted at: the rich, classic-rock inspired YM&D, the rising and falling sounds of I'm Sorry (You're Lonely), and Gemini, one of Drew's most powerfully catchy songs, where guitar and synths work in unison with some great lyricism. The title track closes out this collection: Watershed is a beautifully reflective but ultimately hopeful, slow-time power ballad. The whole picture this EP paints is sassy and energetic — it's a brilliant rock blast, led by Drew's powerful vocals and classic songwriting. (Phil Taylor) If you’re from Nottingham and want to get added to our list of music writers or get your tunes reviewed, hit us up at music@leftlion.co.uk To listen to these tracks and more, check out our Notts Sounds playlist on Spotify

40 4040leftlion.co.uk/issue184

Blu Syrup Empty Promises (Single) A song and a band which capture the spirit and sound of Nottingham’s current alt-rock scene. Empty Promises is a jagged, languidly energetic, garagey track which flows neatly for just over three minutes, rising and falling on waves of electric guitar. From a minimal start, the full band kick in with intent, a chugging underlay of guitars sitting neatly with vocalist Evvi’s sincere vocals. The song explores themes of self-worth and resilience and Blu Syrup sound energised and happy to be here — they’re shaping up to be a really important part of the local scene. (Phil Taylor)

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 41

music Heart to heart

interview: Tom Gensler photo: Sebastian Burford Comms

Taking the form of a spearhead duo, comprising of Alex Headford and Diva Jeffrey with a supporting band, Jadu Heart are a hidden gem of the UK music landscape. Mixing dance and electronica influences with shoegaze and grunge elements, they are a truly unique band, and a complete creative force. Their latest release, the incredible full-length album Post Heaven, is a true testament to their creativity and talent: a raw, brutal, beautiful and honest record that was originally designed as the duo’s “Hail Mary”. As they prepare to embark on a huge UK headline tour, playing Rescue Rooms on 9 June, we caught up with them to talk about their new album, their lives and the tours…

It's been a busy few months for you, first with the big release of Post Heaven, and then your tour in America, supporting Fontaines D.C. How has it all been for you both?

Alex: Yeah it’s been amazing, first time we’ve done a support tour in seven years or something, so it's quite a funny dynamic for us to get back into; playing to audiences who don’t necessarily know you, but you know, they’re (Fontaines D.C.) such an amazing band and what they’re doing for guitar music is so exciting.

Just to be along for that journey in the US has been exciting for us.

Diva: Yeah it’s been super hectic but really fun, and we basically get to tour with our favourite band!

You’ll be coming to Nottingham in a few weeks to play Rescue Rooms, for the album cycle tour of Post Heaven, having previously played JT Soar here. What are your musical experiences of Nottingham?

A: Yeah, that [playing JT Soar] was an acoustic set that we were doing around winter. It was like a pub tour…

JT Soar wasn’t exactly a pub, but it was the closest thing we could find in Nottingham.

D: We wanted to do small, intimate gigs, basically, where you just have pints and hear an acoustic set, sing some Christmas songs. I love JT Soar.

42 42 leftlion.co.uk/issue184

So, Post Heaven, your latest album. Could you tell us the story behind it?

A: So basically, when we started making music, we were from the Soundcloud era of producers but we were really excited about guitars and songwriting.

When our first EPs came out, there was a big mix of interesting production techniques and songs, you know. As the scene shifted, we were in our early twenties and maybe not trying to fit in more, but we were working a little bit more towards what was going on in the UK. We would accidentally slip away from experimenting with production techniques.

With this album, me and Diva, we’d been in a relationship for ten years, and we broke up before we wrote it. It was this kind of weird emotion of ‘Let’s just have fun with production, and have fun in the studio and not worry about if anyone’s even going to listen to it or if everyone will engage with it or understand it’.

You know, if we want five instrumental tracks on the

album, then let’s put five instrumentals on the album.

If we want songs that don’t have choruses, let's just do it; I think it's just that sense of freedom for us, tapping into maybe the kind of Soundcloud records that we always wanted to make and were trying to make when we first started making music.

We wanted it to sound like a weird 90s beat tape, we wanted instrumentals, we wanted love songs So, you could say it was a bit of a return to form or a return to Wanderflower or Ezra’s Garden?

A: Yeah I guess so, but even more before that, because even that got taken away from us. That was very music industry heavy, you know - the original demos, those EPs - would’ve sounded a lot more like Post Heaven.

Then we tried to form them into songs more, because the industry was like you need choruses and you need this and you need that. I think this album is like us going, ‘You know what, we’re just gonna do what feels fun and interesting to us.’

D: I think, because of the circumstances as well, everyone just kind of left us alone. Which has been great, it's kind of what we wanted from the beginning.

We wanted it to sound like a weird 90s beat tape, we wanted instrumentals, we wanted love songs on there.

The whole album is kind of like a journey of transition, in a lot of ways. I think that's the general feeling of it.

How has it been translating Post Heaven into the live setting?

A: For us, it’s been really interesting, because this album - way more than previous records - is really experimenting with electronic music and computer music, and we had been thinking about a way to do this for a really long time. Previously, we had many, many confusing ways of playing, with drums machines and stuff. At the end of last year, we got invited to play a DJ set at Berghein for Life from Earth. We did that, and we met all these amazing German producers and I also went to a few of their gigs, and I noticed that whenever these electronic producers were doing gigs

- even though they were way less guitar based than us - they still just had the laptop up on stage with them.

We were watching it and thinking that’s how I always used to imagine we would perform, when we first started… So, instead of trying to mess about with hiding it, we just have the laptop up, and we perform with a drummer and a violinist, who goes through all these pedals, and I play shoegaze guitar over everything. Diva plays bass and synth, and then we even go through autotune units as an effects unit with our vocals, because there’s a lot of autotune in (previous album) Hyper Romance, as an effect. When it comes to the songs that use a laptop, I literally have my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and plugins open, and I mess around with reverbs and effects, on the channels and on Ableton… and then I go back to playing the guitar again.

D: And it's really fun because we move about on stage; we’ve got Theo on the drums who will come up to the computer and do some stuff, and then we have Nina who will come up to my synth, and we all like moving about, sharing different things together – and it’s great! It’s been great translating the music to live for that reason; we’re all up for experimenting.

A: I think that recently, a real thing that is coherent in pop music and culture - ever since it became pop culture - is authenticity. Great music is always trying to come from a place of authenticity, and I think that people try and consider authenticity to be singing about your small culture that you're from, and playing instruments almost acoustically or, if you're in a band you can’t play to a click track. I think there’s a level of us maturing to the point of realising that the authenticity towards us doing the type of music that we’ve done involves using the technology that is there.

Be authentic to yourself, there are no set rules for it (authenticity). That was something we embraced with this album, from its sound and performance point of view.

Jadu Heart play Rescue Rooms on Monday 9 June. New album Post Heaven is out now. jaduheart.com

Midnight Rodeo

Gig Guide

FOR TICKETS AND INFO VISIT ALTTICKETS.COM

SUN.24.

AUG.25

The Foolhardy Folk Festival ARBORETUM GARDEN BAR & BANDSTAND

FRI.27.JUN.25

The Devil Makes Three RESCUE ROOMS

SAT.28.JUN.25

Young Culture BODEGA

WED.02.JUL.25

Pentagram

MON.25.AUG.25

Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy RESCUE ROOMS

ROCK CITY (BETA) MON.07.JUL.25

DZ Deathrays and Battlesnake BODEGA

FRI.18.JUL.25

Xander & The Peace Pirates x Parker Barrow

Fun Lovin’ Criminals

BODEGA

SAT.09.AUG.25

Maggie Baugh BODEGA

SAT.09.AUG.25

Von Hertzen Brothers RESCUE ROOMS

WED.13.AUG.25

Alan Sparhawk (Of Low) RESCUE ROOMS

THU.14.AUG.25

Car Bomb THU.11.SEP.25 RESCUE ROOMS

WED.17.SEP.25

RESCUE ROOMS

Crawlers

SUN.24.AUG.25

FRI.19.SEP.25

The Browning The Foolhardy Folk Festival MON.25.AUG.25

BODEGA

ROCK CITY

MON.18.AUG.25

RESCUE ROOMS

SAT.05.JUL.25

Catbite

THU.11.SEP.25

Jo Quail

ARBORETUM GARDEN BAR & BANDSTAND

Cyan Kicks

ROCK CITY (BETA)

TUE.16.SEP.25

Arab Strap

RESCUE ROOMS

TUE.08.JUL.25

Black Country, New Road

SAT.16.AUG.25

Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy RESCUE ROOMS

SAT.30.AUG.25

Bambara BODEGA

TUE.09.SEP.25

49th & Main RESCUE ROOMS WED.10.SEP.25

Shayfer James BODEGA

THU.11.SEP.25

Black Country, New Road ROCK CITY

THU.11.SEP.25

Fun Lovin’ Criminals

BODEGA

RESCUE ROOMS

Florence Black ROCK CITY

SAT.20.SEP.25

Midnight Rodeo BODEGA

SUN.21.SEP.25

Kira Mac RESCUE ROOMS

SUN.21.SEP.25

PINS BODEGA

MON.22.SEP.25

The New Roses RESCUE ROOMS

TUE.23.SEP.25

RESCUE ROOMS

Nathan O’Regan

First Time Flyers BODEGA

THU.25.SEP.25

RESCUE ROOMS

Connor Selby METRONOME

FRI.26.SEP.25

The Rifles ROCK CITY

SAT.27.SEP.25

Overpass RESCUE ROOMS

SAT.20.SEP.25 BODEGA

BODEGA

MON.29.SEP.25

Lowkey

RESCUE ROOMS

TUE.30.SEP.25

Nekrogoblikon RESCUE ROOMS

WED.01.OCT.25

Bad Touch & The Dust Coda RESCUE ROOMS

The Wedding Present SAT.11.OCT.25 ROCK CITY

THU.02.OCT.25

Cardinal Black ROCK CITY

FRI.03.OCT.25

Ellur

New Found Glory

BODEGA

FRI.03.OCT.25

SAT.04.OCT.25

FRI.26.SEP.25

King 810 Welcome to the Rustbelt

SUN.28.SEP.25

THU.25.SEP.25

RESCUE ROOMS

FRI.12.SEP.25

SAT.13.SEP.25

BODEGA

The Pigeon Detectives

Republica

BODEGA

The Buttertones

An Evening with Belly

RESCUE ROOMS

The Burning Hell

SAT.27.SEP.25

ROCK CITY

Atreyu

WED.15.OCT.25

ROCK CITY

ROCK CITY

SAT.04.OCT.25

Rusty Shackle RESCUE ROOMS

SUN.05.OCT.25

Mass Of Fermenting Dregs RESCUE ROOMS

MON.06.OCT.25

Magnum A Tribute To Tony Clarkin

FRI.24.OCT.25

Spanish Love Songs RESCUE ROOMS

ROCK CITY

Crawlers

SUN.16.NOV.25

WED.17.SEP.25 RESCUE ROOMS

BC Camplight ROCK CITY leftlion.co.uk/issue184 43

screen Clowning Around words: Sofia Jones photo: Oliver Holms

Ada Player is a BAFTA-nominated actor, director and writer from Derbyshire with training from the renowned clowning school L’Ecole Philippe Gaulier. Screen Editor Sofia Jones chats to Ada about clowning, her Channel 4 comedy Peaked and her short film Spare Part.

Some films wash over you leaving no lasting impression; others linger long after you’ve finished watching them. Ada Player’s Spare Part was the latter for me.

It was shown at Short Stack, a short film festival at Broadway Cinema, which Derbyshire native Ada was introduced to as a teenager when she completed Broadway Cinema’s BFI course. It’s another reminder of the importance of short film festivals for new and emerging filmmakers.

Spare Part began as a dramatic monologue - a small element of a live comedy show called The Origin of Love which Ada and her creative partner Bron Waugh are taking to Edinburgh Fringe this year. The concept grew from there, Ada explains: “we wanted to write about someone who always puts themselves second in a relationship. The image of a fly-on-the-wall girlfriend watching her boyfriend play football all day felt like a silly, but a very sad, image.”

This image is at the heart of the fully-fledged Spare Part that I saw at Short Stack. It was an amusing portrayal of a one-sided relationship - exaggerating to full effect the role Ada describes as “hanger-onner.” Whether we like to admit it or not, the “hanger-onner” is a role we all play at some stage in our lives, so to see it personified in Ada’s character exemplified the holy trinity of comedic qualities: funny, uncomfortable, and depressing all at once.

The film’s music and visuals were both peculiar and striking - Ada summarises it best: “I monologue to camera accompanied by whimsical xylophone,” creating a “weird mix of naturalistic monologue with surreal things happening in the background.”

In one scene, Ada’s character speaks directly to the camera about the boyfriend she’s pining after while he does a synchronized stretch with his football team in the background. Director of Photography for Spare Part, Max Brill drew inspiration from sources like Swedish director Roy Andersson, whose quirky and unsettling visuals are echoed here.

The dreamlike, strange and funny Spare Part was refreshing, and after Short Stack was over I was keen to find out more about Ada’s work.

Ada studied at L’Ecole Philippe Gaulier, the renowned school for clowning. She was encouraged to attend by a friend’s dad who saw her perform in a local play: “He probably noticed I was gurning at the audience in between lines to try and get laughs,” Ada says.

She tells me that clowning is still the starting point for all of her creative work: “the ideas for Spare Part began from improvisation, trying out different voices and characters to see what is the funniest.”

Ada explains: “At clown school, our teacher was this old man who would bang on a little drum and say ‘You’re s**t’ when we didn’t make the audience laugh. It sounds harsh but it is a great way of generating material.” There was a method to this madness and it helped to cultivate a key element in clowning, failure. “It is all about failure, a funny clown bounces right back after a fall.”

Another teaching in clowning is complicité, which Ada describes as “a togetherness on stage.” I asked if this term could be applied to the dynamic between her and her creative partner Bron Waugh: “I always want to make Bron laugh and vice versa.” Their process is a flexible one, she explains: “Bron and I leftlion.co.uk/issue184 44 44

have lots of different ‘ways in’ to writing. The ‘idea or concept’ doesn’t always come first. Often it’s an improvised moment, a character, or even a piece of music that we then try to build a world around.”

Clowning is a starting point for all of my creative work! Both the ideas for Spare Part and Peaked began from improvisation, trying out different voices and characters to see what is the funniest One of their recent collaborations was aired on Channel 4 and has been nominated for a BAFTA - it’s called Peaked and it’s set in a fictional Derbyshire town. Peaked is a shift away from the monologue and “whimsical xylophone” of Spare Part to a new form, the ‘blap’, a Channel 4 term for comedy shorts that are piloted and often go on to become full shows.

“The initial idea came just after Bron and I had moved back home during Covid.

It is about two best friends who have ‘peaked’ too soon.” The location is inspired

by Ada’s hometown, Wirksworth which is, Ada summarises, an “ex-quarrying town turned arts community.”

“In Peaked, the young characters call themselves artists, but mainly so they can boast about it over a pint,” she explains. “Wirksworth has become this place that people move to, from all over the country, with locals who have lived here for generations and others who have just arrived. We wanted to play with this community change with new-boy George, coming to town and causing chaos with his bongos.”

The legendary Channel 4 comedy Peep Show was an influence on the short.

“We took a lot from it structurally because it’s about two losers who chase after women, and we wanted Peaked to have a similar sort of driving force, with two girls chasing after a boy.” Yet, tonally Ada says that Peaked is very different: “the characters are a lot more naive and innocent, I think despite their selfishness, we root for them. They want to connect with each other but there is so much pretension getting in the way”.

The special quality of Ada’s work is its ability to make absurd those insecurities we all have through her exaggerated characters. It means we don’t just laugh at the characters but also ourselves. “Clowning is all about discovering your ‘inner idiot’”, Ada says. There seems to be a real joy in clowning around, one that hears failure as the bang of a little drum - signalling that it’s time to get up and do something even sillier.

Spare Part will be released on 2 June 2025 on independent film website directorsnotes.com.

Peaked is available to watch on Channel 4. The Origin of Love by Ada Player and Bron Waugh will feature at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025.

Q @ ada_pae

STARRING

JASON DONOVAN

EVENING STANDARD

Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham

Mon 4 - Sat 9 Aug 2025 trch.co.uk 0115 989 5555

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 45

words & photos: Julia Head

Julia Head, AKA Instagram’s The Nottingham Food Guide, takes us to Beeston’s plant-based Indian street food café SuRano.

With the recent surge in new restaurant openings in Nottingham, food bloggers, journalists and selfappointed critics alike are scrambling for fresh angles (I should know, I’m one of them), confidently branding every eatery in town as a hidden gem. I draw the line, however, at describing Nottingham’s most celebrated Japanese restaurant - once tucked away up a nondescript alley and crowned The Guardian’s Restaurant of the Year - as an undiscovered treasure.

Locals know her by name, and some even travel from as far as Chesterfield just to taste her onion bhajis and spring rolls made with her signature plant-based "planeer," all from recipes lovingly passed down by her mother But I digress. Today I’d like to introduce you to SuRano, a bona fide diamond in the rough.

It’s an unexpected find that feels like a true local secret.

Nestled quietly among the terraced houses of Beeston Rylands, this unassuming spot belies the Indian delights simmering within.

Step through the door of this plant-based Indian street food café, and you’ll find yourself among a bustling Sunday morning crowd: some savouring potato-stuffed parathas bathed in vegan-friendly butter alongside

food

Bhajis, Beeston, and Big Flavours

fragrant chai, others tucking into colourful thali platters heaving with vibrant Punjabi snacks, curries and chutneys served in dainty stainless steel katoris.

Pull up a chair on the terrace, and you might just meet the café’s namesake and chef-owner, Rano. Over a steaming cup of chai, she’ll regale you with how a life-altering brain haemorrhage prompted her to swap a long career in finance for her love of cooking. Since opening the doors in 2022, SuRano has flourished the old-fashioned way: through word of mouth. Locals know her by name, and some even travel from as far as Chesterfield just to taste her onion bhajis and spring rolls made with her signature plant-based "planeer," all from recipes lovingly passed down by her mother.

SuRano is the definition of a neighbourhood café, and it draws in both vegans and meat-eaters alike (and those somewhere in between) who can’t resist the fresh, punchy, Punjabi flavours.

Despite its low-key location, it’s just a five-minute walk from Beeston train station and right next to a bus stop too – so there’s really no excuse not to visit this dog-friendly café. They 100% deserve the local support – and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best Indian food in Notts.

Head to SuRano at 56 Lilac Cres, Rylands, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1PX. You can also check out more of what Nottingham’s cuisine has to offer by following The Nottingham Food Guide on Instagram.

suranoplantbased.co.uk

dis-strictly good coffee words & photos: Lucy Campion

There’s a cool new place to caffeinate in the city centre. Lucy Campion met with the owners of District Coffee to find out more about this contemporary coffee shop and its famous pretzels.

The stretch of Derby Road between Upper Parliament Street and Canning Circus is becoming a hot spot for independent food and drink places, with the newest addition to the area, District Coffee, joining well-established names like the Hand & Heart, Tough Mary’s Bakehouse and Little Brickhouse Restaurant.

Like many of Nottingham’s best loved independents, District Coffee’s origins go back to local markets. It’s at the likes of Ruddington Village Market and The Garage Market in Chilwell that District Coffee began gaining loyal customers and a reputation for their signature pretzels. Ash and Bobby are partners in life, not just in business, and the couple have a six-year-old son, Maddox, who has been a major influence on District Coffee since the beginning.

“We always knew we wanted to run a business together,” says Ash. “Maddox has additional needs, which drove us even more as we wanted flexibility for him. We started trading in 2023 at markets and events. From there, the business just grew! Rob (Bobby) always wanted to open his own coffee shop.” A glance at District Coffee’s Instagram page reveals the full array of food and drink available, with Ash and Bobby using this channel to gauge interest in their latest creations.

A growing selection of creative coffees includes a mango and passionfruit matcha latte and an iced cherry chai cream top. There’s also equally imaginative non-caffeinated drinks, like the dragonfruit and mango refresher, a fizzy thirst quencher I’ll be sipping on all summer.

While pretzels might seem like a surprising specialty for a coffee shop, they are a must try for anyone who visits

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District Coffee. So far I’ve had a pizza-inspired pretzel and a Kinder Bueno one, and both made a perfect pairing with coffee for lunch.

If pretzels aren’t your thing, District Coffee’s evolving food offering is as imaginative as its drink selection. Warm chilli and cheese muffins, peanut butter and banana toast, matcha banana bread and a range of overnight oats are just some of the items featured on the shop counter.

When I asked Ash about the shop’s cool, neutral interior, she explains that Maddox was the muse behind the modern design. “The shop is on brand, but we wanted it to be a safe space for Maddox. He likes dark colours and enjoys nature, so there’s lots of plants here and the boho, Scandinavian feel is something he connects with.”

Despite being open less than two months, District Coffee has already embedded itself in the local community, having launched a weekly Run Club on Sundays and hosted an evening workshop by Naomi Grace Ceramics.

Supporting other independents through events and workshops is something Ash and Bobby are passionate about. “We want to host a lot of different things here.

We would love to have local poets in and small acoustic evenings too. Two of our friends — one creates personalised gifts, the other does lymphatic massage — are also lined up for future workshops.”

“We’re also proud to work with local suppliers, including Batched Bakehouse and Bakery 91, who keep us stocked up with croissants, garlic knots and more.”

Q @districtcoffeenottingham

46

Theatre Deal 15% off your bill when you show your tickets

Your new neighbourhood dining spot in the heart of Nottingham, located just off the Old Market Square (in the building that previously hosted Kushi-Ya and Alley Café).

We are excited to bring you a taste of the seasons with British and European small plates, all crafted from the freshest local produce. We believe great food should feel like home – inviting, relaxed and made with love.

1A Cannon Court, Nottingham, NG1 6JE www.piccalillinottingham.co.uk info@piccalillinottingham.co.uk 0115 648 6498

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 47

Reasons to be Cheerful words: Caradoc Gayer

The news is normally negative, but here are some nice things that have happened in Notts this month.

A Real Goal Getter At the start of May, Nottingham born footballer Mary Earps did us all very proud when she was awarded an MBE for services to the sport, by The Prince of Wales himself. Currently goalkeeper for the Manchester United team, Mary is an experienced player in the women’s FA cup who has had a long and impressive career - from signing to Nottingham Forest at eighteen, to joining the Lionesses for their victory in the 2022 Euros - followed by the same team reaching the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. Also the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the year, Mary’s come a long way from playing in the West Bridgford Colts - a great example of the excellence that emerges from here in Notts.

Sharing the Load Our friends at live music giant DHP Family and homelessness charity Framework are celebrating a huge milestone in their fundraising efforts - they’ve raised over £500k since 2018 from their annual, charity music festival Beat the Streets. If you’re unaware of the festival, it sees a host of artists play all the big DHP venues like Rock City and Bodega, with proceeds from ticket sales, bar sales, and merchandise all contributing to Framework’s work. The profits from the 2025 festival are going towards Framework’s vital street outreach team, who work 365 days a year to support rough sleepers. Well done everyone!

The Staunchest Supporter In mid May lifelong Forest fan 101 year old Marjorie Graves was able to attend her first match in more than thirty years - seeing the team face off against Leicester City. The club stepped in to facilitate this special occasion after Fairway View Care Home, where Marjorie lives, posted about her dedication to the team, and provided even more than she bargained for - introducing her to the players and manager, giving her a tour of the City Ground, and even presenting her with a personalised ‘101’ Forest shirt. It seems that good things do in fact come to those who wait.

r Toliet Humou

Riddle me this...

48 leftlion.co.uk/issue184

Guess the answer to this Notts themed riddle…

My first is to hurry To dash or to race My second a crag An old rocky face My third is a state My fourth a greenway In the south I’m a place To walk and to play The answer will be revealed next month!

Last month’s answer: Creswell Crags

you Something made s? lav e th in gh lau t quips to Send your funnies .uk .co on tli lef editorial@

H T U TR OR

LEG END?

Unpicking Notting ha m's u rban myths

TH E STRANG E CA S E OF T H E C U R S E D G A L L E O N If there is ever one thing certain about Nottingham, it is this; you will never struggle to find a cozy place to spend an evening (or a day if you are that way inclined) to ensure your drinking needs have been fulfilled. Whether it be one of Castle Rock’s finest which catches your eye, or maybe one of them new genre-defining ale bars which promises to have barley which was malted on Mars all whilst being dog friendly, Nottingham is the place to be for a good olde pint.

With over 200 public houses across the city, there is one that stands out to locals, historians, but most importantly paranormal enthusiasts, and that is of course Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. The Rock Lounge, housed deep within the sandstone cliff face, seems to be a fairly notorious place for odd happenings. During the 90s, ex-landlady Marilyn stated that upon arriving at the Trip, she was informed of the paranormal activity taking place. Staff members claimed to have rushed upstairs with a dustpan and brush, fearing for the fate of their employment as the sound of smashing glass echoed around its walls alongside bloke-ish ‘Wheyyyys,’ just to find out that all the glasses remained intact. Another case involves a group of tourists who had asked to see the cellars, just to be greeted by a two-foot soldier walking through a wall, who I can only assume did not bang his head off any of the doorways during his inspection of the kegs. But despite these peculiar, and quite frankly traumatic experiences, it is in fact a chair and a model ship which take the top spot for the pub’s spookiest folklore.

Sitting on a raised platform, beside a small fireplace, tucked away beside the bar in the Rock Lounge, keen eyed ale-drinkers can spot a wooden chair on its lonesome. Whilst some visitors may assume this to be the designated naughty corner for kids, or even adults, who are in need of a time out, its true power is addressed on the placard above the chair. Legend has it that any woman who sits on the chair will become pregnant. With regards to the immediacy of the pregnancy, there have been no official reports of day drinkers going into labour.

However, I am rather superstitious and would still not take the risk (mainly due to small print on the placard which kindly asks guests not to sit on the chair).

If you move along to the bar area, therein lies one of the pub's most notorious haunted relics. Within the paranormal community, a wooden galleon is believed to have the power to kill those unfortunate enough to come into physical contact with its sails. The cursed galleon is said to have been a parting gift from a visiting sailor. Following years of dust collecting onboard the ship, the unfortunate person who took on the task of cleaning it sadly met his match not long after. The last three people who have been tasked with dusting the ship have ironically also ended up as dust - presuming that they were cremated.

As a result of the triple homicide, the boat now sits in a glass case above the bar. The cursed galleon is arguably one of the most haunting tales from Nottingham’s extensive list of urban myths, or simply just a keen-eyed ex-landlord’s brilliant plan to save on labour costs.

words: Matthew Blaney

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advert

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BEST OF THE MONTH NAE Open 2025 When: Until Sat 13 Sept Where: New Art Exchange How much: Free The NAE Open returns for its fifth edition with a bold, diverse and stimulating exhibition showcasing painting, video, live art, photography, textiles and sculpture. Selected through a competitive open call, the featured works are

by Notts-based artists and artists from the global ethnic majority across the UK. Many pieces speak directly to life in Nottingham; its people, stories, and ever-evolving landscape.

Take a break in their CafeBar after for great value plantbased light bites and sweet treats.

The Book Of Mormon When: Tue 3 - Sat 28 June Where: Theatre Royal How much: £22 - £83 Spread the word, The Book of Mormon is returning to Nottingham. Brought to you by the writers of South Park, since its 2011 premiere it has won various awards including Tony's and Oliviers. The plot follows two mismatched Mormon missionaries who are dispatched to a Ugandan village and see their earnest attempts at conversation met with unexpected challenges. This is a show with high production values and an even higher number of laughs guaranteed.

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Your Ears Later Will Know to Listen When: Until Sun 7 Sept Where: Nottingham Contemporary How much: Free The new seasonal show at Nottingham Contemporary considers how sound travels and transitions through crosscultural identities, histories and futures. It draws on writer and cultural historian Saidiya Hartman’s methods of foraging and disfiguration and includes new commissions by Satch Hoyt, Raheel Khan and Dylan Robinson, alongside existing works by Nguyễn Trinh Thi, Hong-Kai Wang, Simnikiwe Buhlungu and others.

Matt Forde: End of an Era Tour When: Thu 5 June Where: Nottingham Playhouse How much: £25 Comedian, podcaster, radio presenter, Celebrity Mastermind Winner and football fan Matt Forde is no stranger to Notts.

Bought up in Lenton, he began his stand-up career here before moving to London to do podcast interviews with famous politicians and voiceovers for shows like Spitting Image. This tour will focus on some lifechanging health events he’s recently experienced. If you want to know more google to read or listen to the recent interview we did with him.

Met Opera: Il Barbiere di Siviglia When: Sun 1 June Where: Arc Cinema Beeston How much: £17-18

Nottingham Restaurant Week When: Mon 2 - Sun 8 June Where: Nottingham City Centre How much: From £10

Rossini’s effervescent comedy retakes the stage in Bartlett Sher’s madcap production. This show is widely considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces of operatic comedy and a great introduction to the art form. This showing features mezzo-soprano duo Isabel Leonard and Aigul Akhmetshina headlining as the feisty heroine, Rosina, alongside high-flying tenors Lawrence Brownlee and Jack Swanson, as her secret lover Count Almaviva.

Giacomo Sagripanti conducts.

It's in Nottingham's week-long celebration of local eateries is back to showcase the very best of the city’s diverse dining landscape, with exclusive menus, special offers and experiences.

Over 50 establishments are taking part this year offering great value menus priced between £10 and £30; including BEAR, The Calcutta Club, Las Iguanas, Fothergills, and Piccalilli.

There are also food tours and a competition to win £600 in future dining credits. Check out the It’s in Nottingham website or mobile app for full details.

National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire When: Thu 5 & Sun 8 June Where: Savoy Cinema How much: £11-13.50

Sneinton Vegan Market When: Sat 7 Jun Where: Sneinton Market How much: Free

This classic American play by Tennessee Williams is back on the big screen, with a few famous faces in the cast like Gillian Anderson (Sex Education/ X-Files), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown), and Ben Foster (Lone Survivor). As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister Stella for solace, but her downward spiral brings her face to face with the brutal, unforgiving Stanley Kowalski.

Directed by Benedict Andrews and filmed during a sold-out run at the Young Vic Theatre in 2014.

Taking over Sneinton Market with plant-based bites and cruelty-free goodies, Nottingham’s Vegan Market indulges both the planet and the people. From stacked vegan burgers and handmade bakes, to sustainable crafts and crochet, it’s a proper feast for foodies and green-minded shoppers alike.

Good grub, good ethics, and good times - all wrapped up in NG2 and led by our friends at V-Spot vegan supermarket in Sherwood, who also organise similar markets over there in NG5.

leftlion.co.uk/issue184 51

BEST OF THE MONTH Em-Con When: Sat 7 - Sun 8 June Where: Motorpoint Arena How much: From £20.34

Space Funk Vs Chap Hop Where: JT Soar When: Sun 8 June How much: £12

Hamlet: The Rest is Silence Where: Royal Concert Hall When: Tue 10 - Wed 11 June How much: £15

Whether you’re there to meet your screen heroes or show off your latest cosplay creation, Em-Con (short for East Midlands Convention) is back to bring a galaxy of sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture goodness to Nottingham Arena. Featured guests at this year's convention include BAFTA-winning Willow actor Warwick Davies, Star Trek legend Marina Sirtis, Quadrophenia’s Phil Daniels, Pokémon’s Veronica Taylor and various cast members from Red Dwarf, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Beyond Paradise and Dr Who.

This gig at Sneinton’s JT Soar - a boutique gig venue, recording studio and former greengrocer - sees a combination of two contrasting but equally eccentric acts. Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer is a pioneer of chaphop, essentially rap delivered in an upper class and very British accent by a man in tweed.

Performing alongside him on the bill are Revenge of Calculon, a local luchador-mask-wearing electro funk duo who always know how to get the crowd moving.

Directed by Rebecca Morris and developed through The Theatre Royal’s newly-formed Shakespeare Nation Programme, this 90-minute adaptation distills the original text to explore the power of silence and sound in Hamlet’s search for truth. Following an encounter with the ghost of his murdered father, the titular prince seeks to uncover the truth behind his untimely death. Suspicion, betrayal, and conflict lead him to unravel a web of deceit that spirals toward tragedy. Expect a bold, community-driven reimagining of this Shakespearean classic.

HOAM Jam Night Where: Fisher Gate Point When: Wed 11 June How much: Free

BBC Music Introducing Where: Metronome When: Wed 11 June How much: Free

Chaos Casino Where: Nottingham Playhouse When: Fri 13 - Sat 14 June How much: £15

Every second Wednesday of the month there’s a free musician’s jam night at Fisher Gate Point, with each event led by a different band leader.

The night is led by HOAM (pronounced ‘home’) which stands for House of All Music - also the name of an inclusive female-led recording studio now established at the venue.

Anyone is welcome along to these sessions and it’s up to you whether you want to bring your instruments and get involved or just grab a drink and enjoy the music.

Spotlighting the region’s freshest new sounds, Dean Jackson is back once again with his handpicked hotshots for this Spring. Experience the genreblending soul and Afrobeat from Manye Fi, bop your head and stomp your feet along to anthemic indie-pop courtesy of Drew Thomas, and indulge within the heartfelt folk-pop of Harry Lyon. Whilst tickets are free, booking is essential to secure your spot in the pit for your new favourite artist. The show is also filmed and recorded for radio broadcast.

Our Souls / Hex Poseur/ Character Actors/ Sunk Where: The Chapel When: Thu 12 June How much: £7

Diode Electronic Music Festival When: Sat 7 June Where: Bonington Theatre How much: £35 Following on from the success of their first festival last year, Diode is pulsing through Arnold once again to showcase a genre-blending lineup of UK and European electronic music.

From the local techno-talent of Infinity Curve to the Dutch decks of Skoulaman and Ron Boots + Ian Boddy, expect a full spectrum of sonic sound.

The ticket price includes a download of all music from the event afterwards.

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If you like punk, here’s a chance to see four great upcoming bands for not much more than the price of a pint, in the venue upstairs at the Angel Microbrewery. Our Souls are Leicester's finest purveyors of angsty melodic punk. Hex Poseur is a female-fronted three-piece for fans of PJ Harvey and Bikini Kill. Character Actors tout themselves as Leeds' second most handsome punk rock band. Upcoming Notts-based university duo Sunk complete an undoubtedly energetic bill.

Bridie Squires is a poet, playwright, producer and performance artist from Nottingham. She was also editor of this magazine a few years back, before deciding she wanted to go full-time with poetry. Our loss is your gain as Bridie premiere’s her latest show Chaos Casino. Inspired by two years of night shifts working as a croupier, the show brings together her observations of casino clientele, audience games, a loop station twist and some musings on the negative effects of the gambling industry.

GET YOUR SKATES ON When was the last time you went ice skating? With arguably the nation's best facilities right on your doorstep we look at what's coming up at the National Ice Centre over the next few months and how you can get involved...

Since first being opened in April 2000 by Olympic Gold Medallist, Jayne Torvill, the National Ice Centre has provided world class ice skating and ice sports activities from its base in Nottingham City Centre.

If you’re born and bred in the city it’s easy to take an amazing facility like this for granted, but there are many further afield who would love access to a world-leading facility like this on their doorstep. The venue has the first twin Olympic-sized pads in the UK and has welcomed hundreds of thousands of budding skaters over the years.

One of the reasons the venue is so synonymous with Torvill and Dean (note: the address is Bolero Square) is because this is where Jayne and Christopher trained, starting out in the 1970s and moving on to their ‘Last Dance’ shows at the Arena in July this year.

There’s even a beautiful display of their memorabilia and costumes for you to peruse before or after your session in the ‘T&D Café, which overlooks the ice’.

However, you don’t have to be world class to have a go. In fact you don’t need to have even tried it before. The team at the National Ice Centre have a strong belief that anyone can skate and thus, they are running a range of accessible public skating sessions, lessons, clinics and more this summer as part of their 25th Birthday Celebrations. Their sessions are really accessible too and both pushchairs and wheelchairs can go on the ice.

Ways you can get you and your family and friends involved in ice skating include...

Free Skating For Schools From 2 June to 24 July, the venue is offering free places most weekdays for Nottingham city schoolchildren.

If you work within a school and would like to book your class in then go to their website and fill out the form to apply. In total there are 50,000 places on offer, so feel free to ask for enough tickets for the whole school. No prior skating experience is required and it’s a wonderful way for students to bond and stay active.

Skating Lessons Want to learn how to spin and glide around the ice like a pro? The NIC run a range of lessons and classes to cater for all abilities from beginner right up through the 8 levels of Skate UK. The lessons include thirtyminute group tuition, skate hire and coach support.

They run on a weekly basis throughout the year at a cost of £60 per month by Direct Debit or £102 for every 6 week course. Or if you’d prefer to blitz it in a few days then intensive courses are also available.

Other Ice Sports If you’re more interested in Ice Hockey, speed skating or synchronised skating then the NIC has you covered.

The Nottingham Synchronized Skating Academy are one of the country’s leading synchronised skating clubs, comprised of seven squads and approximately 100 skaters. The venue also hosts the Nottingham Ice Racing Club, which offers trials and lessons to anyone aged between 5 and 55. national-ice-centre.com

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BEST OF THE MONTH Nottingham Poetry Festival When: Fri 13 - Sun 22 June Where: Metronome How much: Various prices

Lost Weekend Festival When: Sat 14 June Where: Nottingham Rugby Club How much: £38

Celebrating Sammy Davis Jr When: Tue 17 Jun Where: The Albert Hall How much: £20-40

Returning for its tenth year, despite having to overcome some serious financial issues, Nottingham’s Poetry Festival is our favourite soapbox that nationally and locally acclaimed poets and performers can grace.

This year across ten days of events you can expect powerful words from JayaHadADream, fresh perspectives from Jah Digga and Cappo, the Ambassador for Independent Bookshop Week Michael Pedersen and an appearance from award-winning trans writer RJ Hunter. Find out more in the feature on p13.

While Nottingham Rugby Club on a Saturday daytime might not seem the most obvious time and venue for a rave, this event is sure to please house music lovers. Acts performing include X-Press 2, K-Klass, Shades of Rhythm, Jeremy Healy and Stanton Warriors.

Perhaps most importantly local legends Lovezoo are involved and after 26 years of organising parties around here they definitely know how to get a crowd of people dancing. The event runs from 11am to 10pm, so you can even get the bus home after.

This year marks a hundred years since the birth of one of music’s all-time greatest performers: the legendary singer, actor, dancer, musician, comedian and Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. Down for the Count, one of the UK’s most highly-regarded swing orchestras, are celebrating this landmark with an evening of extraordinary live music featuring some of the UK’s top jazz talent, including powerhouse singer Marvin Muoneké and conductor Mike Paul-Smith.

Mansfield Carnival When: Sat 21 June Where: Leeming Street How much: Free

Dutch Barn Spirit of Comedy When: Sat 21 June Where: Metronome How much: £12.50

Father John Misty Where: Rock City When: Mon 23 June How much: £48.81

Diana Ross Where: Mon 23 June When: Motorpoint Arena How much: £55

Ready to turn the town centre into a riot of colour, Mansfield Carnival is back for its third year. This year’s theme - One World - promises a day-long celebration of global beats and local pride, with drummers, dancers, and dazzling costume parades. Experience the vibrancy of a Caribbean carnival, live music with reggae flair, and a street party to boot!

Acts performing on the main stage include Tippa Irie, Lady Rose, MUHA, Matamando and Punjabi Roots.

Dutch Barn is a vodka brand distilled from Yorkshire apples and co-owned by Ricky Gervais.

Ricky did his first ever stand-up gig under the Just The Tonic banner, so it makes sense that he’s now working with them on this new competition to find the UK’s next best stand-up.

Expect twenty comedians, each doing two minutes each. Entry fee includes a free vodka. For comedy fans it’s a chance to spot the next big thing before anyone else. This is one of the regional heats, but the overall winner will get £5000 and a support slot with Ricky at Wembley.

American indie’s favourite sad-eyed showman is bringing all the existential angst and sardonic wit you could ask for to Rock City. Father John Misty (aka Joshua Michael Tillman) is touring his new album Mashashmashana which blends indie rock, folk, and baroque pop into lyrical zingers that sting your soul. Despite the stage name, we’re told the artist is not religious. However, some of the crowd may still experience feelings of spiritual awakening and conversion.

The Queen of Motown Diana Ross is coming to Notts for a night of classic crowdpleasing hits. Despite now being 81, she’s still going strong and at this event she’ll be performing two sets, one with her house band and one with The Halle Orchestra. Expect hits from over the decades, including some from her days with the Supremes, like I'm Coming Out, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, All of You, Chain Reaction and more.

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Nottingham Craft Beer Festival Where: Sneinton Market Avenues When: Fri 20 - Sat 21 June How much: £14 Raise a glass- The Nottingham Craft Beer Festival is pouring back into Sneinton Market, bringing together top-notch breweries from across the country and your local favourites. Hoppy IPAs, rich stouts, and everything inbetween are up for grabs this weekend. Settle in for a proper session with street food and live music. How many beer festivals can you name that have a record shop on site?

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