Site search

Out of Time: How Divine came to Notts

Over the years, Divine has become one of the most instantly recognisable drag performers thanks to her iconic performances in John Waters’s camp classics, Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. She also had a pop career that took her on UK tours, including two performances in Nottingham.

From the kitchen: With Dylan Dowling, head chef and co-owner at Pici

We head to cosy pasta and small plates joint Pici for a chat with Dylan... 

Life Behind Bars: With Bradley Rice, owner at Jamcafe

A short chat with Bradley, who owns Heathcoat Street's Mecca for drinks and DJs: Jamcafé. 

Truth or Legend: The Case of the Ten O’Clock Horses

Our resident investigator of Nottingham weird history looks at how the 'ten o' clock 'hosses' came to be... 

How Pipeline Organics are turning Castle Rock's brewery waste into electricity

There's a brewery in Nottingham quietly turning its dirty water into electricity. Not with some Frankenstein-style contraption bolted to the side of the building, but with a 3D-printed box about the size of a shipping container, sat in the yard, doing the job normal water treatment can't: cleaning up the gunky, high-strength wastewater that beer and cider production leaves behind and generating usable power from it while it's at it. That's the pitch behind Pipeline Organics, a Nottingham-founded startup whose bio-electrochemical fuel cells are already being trialled by Castle Rock Brewery. We sat down with founder Andrew Raslan to find out more…

Classical Concert Review: NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra with Stanislav Kochanovsky at the Royal Concert Hall

The NDR RADIO PHILHARMONIC is the English name for the NDR Radiophilharmonie from Hannover. And NDR stands for Norddeutscher Rundfunk, which translates to North German Broadcasting. So  that's  the words taken care of, what was the music like....

Dabbling in the Dark Arts: we catch up with organisers of the Dark Arts Market

It’s officially the spooky season, but for Fiona Holmes and Elyssa Fleming, the eldritch, strange and eerie is more than just an aesthetic that ends with Halloween. They talk to LeftLion about how they created The Dark Arts Market, a place where all ‘alt’ artists and creatives, at all stages of their creative career, can feel seen and supported. 

Festival review: Beeston Oxjam 2026

Gig review: Jim Ghedi at The Old Cold Store

Sheffield folk artist Jim Ghedi plays the Old Cold Store, celebrating his soundtrack for recent film The Death of Robin Hood. 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #53: Notts music we're currently spinning

In the 53rd edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews releases from Otala, Matt Blaney, Wayne Banks and Make Strangers...

LeftLion Issue #200 October 2026

It's our 200th issue featuring Kid30, Claire Ward the Mayor of the East Midlands, Hockley Hustle, Neon Raptor, Nottingham Arts Theatre, psychic Kerry Ward and lots more...

Overheard in Notts: September 2026

Nicotine and the Babadook feature in this month's Overheard in Notts. 

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

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

From the kitchen: With Massimo Bellavista, owner and head chef at Compa

For this month's instalment of From the Kitchen, we heard from Massimo Bellavista: owner of twin family-owned Sicilian restaurants Compa. 

Out of time: anti-vaxxers in Victorian Notts

When we think of the anti-vaccination movement, we tend to think of COVID and anti-lockdown protests. However, the anti-vax movement is surprisingly far older than typically expected – and one that the East Midlands played a significant part in. In the Victorian era, thousands demonstrated against the new compulsory smallpox vaccinations, leading to fines and arrests… 

How Much Does a Divorce Cost? Court Fees, Solicitors and Online Options

If you’re trying to work out how much a divorce costs, there isn’t one figure that covers everything. You’ll usually need to budget for the court fee, any solicitor’s fees and, separately, the cost of sorting out finances or arrangements for children.

Theatre Review: Grindr the Opera at the Nottingham Arts Theatre

If you’ve ever opened Grindr “just for a look” and somehow found yourself three hours later discussing your entire life with a stranger, then Grindr: The Opera might feel less like theatre and more like an intervention...

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

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

Make your mark: ten creative opportunities coming up in Nottingham

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

Left Brian Sept 2026 - Glasnerism

For fans of the red team it’s been quite the summer for upgrading to a new leader who seems to have genuine beliefs and a determination to implement them. For this edition of Left Brian, I’ll focus on the steady opening month for Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest...

Overheard in Notts: August 2026

Karma and iPad watches feature in this month's Overheard in Notts...

From the Kitchen: With Bryan Henesey, owner at Breadmill Bakery

Bryan Henesey owns Sneinton Market Avenues' award winning Breadmill Bakery. For this month's instalment of From The Kitchen we chat to him...

Out of time: Nottingham's history of opium

Content warning, substances and the historical passing of children

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

Preview: Our Story at Nottingham's Libraries.

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