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The Thompsons on wrestling at Victoria Lesiure Centre, local restaurants, and poetry

Our latest chat with Nottingham's most opinionated grocers.... 

John Blanche 1948-2026

It is with sadness that we report the passing of legendary illustrator and Games Workshop Art Director John Blanche, who died on Monday 1 June at the age of 77...

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2026: top picks from the program

Nottingham Poetry Festival kicks off tomorrow with a 10 day city takeover. Catch shows from Brian Bilston, John Hegley, Yomi Sode, Henry Normal, Vanessa Kisuule and Nottingham’s own Nature Poet Laureate Cara Thompson. It’s a packed programme, so here's some top picks from their co-founder Henry Normal, director Tommy Rosley, and creative director Alma Solarte-Tobon...

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

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

Art, theatre, and poetry: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 1 - 7 June

Summer's here, and Nottingham's ready for it. Here are some fantastic events happening this week which we think are worth checking out.

Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature's Youth Advisory Board Celebrate the Launch of their Poetry Pamphlet

Join Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature's Youth Advisory Board as they celebrate the launch of their first poetry pamphlet on the 12th of April

Free minds: the Notts open mic celebrating poetry's power

In the current climate of economic instability and political discourse, creative communities face bigger threats to remain connected. Poppy Thomason caught up with Caetano Capurro and Jasmine McCallion, the co-hosts of Free Minds – a free poetry open mic night at The King Billy pub – to ask them about the power of expression within accessible creative spaces. 

A semester in Notts: US photographer John Dean's snapshot of Nottingham in the 70s

In the Spring of 1976, a then twenty-year-old photography student named John Dean arrived in Nottingham unaware that he would go on to capture some of the most beautiful, compelling and personal street photographs our city has ever seen. Five decades later, many of those images are being shown for the first time in a new exhibition at Bonington Gallery; A Semester in Nottingham, 1976. 

Ahead of his exhibition, held at the very university that he briefly studied at fifty years ago, Dani Bacon sat down for a transatlantic Teams call (with a questionable signal), to talk to John about his time in Nottingham, his career and why he’s chosen now as the perfect time to unveil his photographs.

Life Behind Bars: with John Slee, Manager at The Lincolnshire Poacher

We popped in to see John Slee, Manager at The Lincolnshire Poacher, to talk about whiskey, stables and famous guests...

Left Brian: John Robertson, John McGovern and a Kenny Burns Night Supper

It's Burns Night today, and we've been inviting our regular Notts County, Mansfield Town and Nottingham Forest football columnists to muse on the influence of Scotland in the history of their own clubs. Julie Pritchard - our Nottingham Forest columnist - decides which Forest players she'd invite as guests for a Burns Night supper... 

Run raves, poetry celebrations, the return of some loved Notts musicians and a soulful Sunday: Here's what's on in Notts this week 17 - 23 November 2025

This week, kill two birds with one stone and rave whilst you run, head to the return of Notts bands Unknown Era and Captain Dangerous, delve into some poetry, or enjoy a soulful Sunday. Here's our top picks...

Explore luminariums, poetry, biodiversity and boardgames: Here's what's on this week 20 - 26 October 2025

The days are getting darker, but here in Notts things continue to be bright, colourful and energetic. Whether you've got a penchant for art installations, cultural festivals, board games, or live poetry, there's bound to be something that you'll enjoy doing this week.  

Comedy Review: John Shuttleworth's Raise the Oof at the Nottingham Playhouse

Celebrating forty years in showbiz, John Shuttleworth flew into Nottingham on his Yamaha organ and wowed audiences. But what is an oof? And is it true that there is more to Mr Shuttleworth than his mild-mannered personality suggests...  

Theatre, gigs, poetry and art: here's what's on this week 22 - 28 September 2025

Whether you fancy indulging in some playful art, enjoying some excellent theatre, checking out some chap hop or getting inspired by poetry, there's plenty on in Notts this week...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #30: Notts music we're currently spinning

We've reached the thirtieth edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens! This week, our music team reviews new releases from katie., Lucas, MCØ and Bradley McKnight...

We Review Nottingham Poetry Festival 2025

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

Gig review and interview: Loren Kramar supports Father John Misty at Rock City

We caught with up with American singer-songwriter Loren Kramar ahead of his Rock City show supporting the legendary Father John Misty...

Poetry Festival, indie music and Shakespeare: Here's whats on in Nottingham 9 - 15 June 2025

There's loads of events happening this week in Notts. We have the start of the Poetry festival, a re-invention of Hamlet, a indie music market and a live podcast event from Scummy Mummies...

Words to live by: marking one decade of the Nottingham Poetry Festival with poet Ben Macpherson

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. 

Gig review: John Cale at The Playhouse

LeftLion's Ria Serena recently had the enviable pleasure of seeing John Cale live, while he was on the road to promote his latest album, POPtical Illusion. The setlist featured selections from Paris 1919, covers ranging from Elvis to Nico and newer tracks from his latest album. The result? A performance that was nothing short of spectacular...