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To paddle or not to paddle? Meeting canoeist and researcher Beth Gill

Beth Gill has seen many things in the River Trent: e-scooters, bins, floating plastic. But, the thing that interests her most is invisible to the naked eye. When not training and competing as a world champion canoe athlete, she is researching microbial contamination, and the health risks that it poses to communities using Nottingham’s rivers. Beth told us more about her research and why it’s important.

Stirring things up: meeting the voices behind local chronic illness and business podcast 3Spoonies

Running a successful podcast is quite the task in itself, but what happens when you pair it with chronic illness, fluctuating energy levels, and times when you feel like your body is fighting against you? Emily Davies sat down to talk to the minds behind 3Spoonies, a Nottinghamshire-based podcast hosted by Karen Duncan, Claire Napper, and Jo O’Neil, about everything from balancing their work and home lives to how we can make entrepreneurship more inclusive.

Gig review: The Boomtown Rats at the Royal Concert Hall

The Boomtown Rats demonstrated they are still very much a force to be reckoned with in today’s music scene with a powerful performance at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall - the opening date of the band's 50th birthday tour...

A laughing matter: meeting four performers at the Nottingham Comedy Festival 2025

The Nottingham Comedy Festival returns between Friday 31 October - Sunday 9 November for its 17th year, and will see a diversity of comedians from across the country visit Notts for ten days of unparalleled fun and laughter. Wondering what to expect? Below we meet four performers featured on the festival line-up…

Meeting local actor Charles Evans, who's running a backwards marathon for charity

In an effort to raise money for Autism East Midlands, a local charity supporting autistic people and their families, Notts local - Charles Evans - a creative, an actor, and autistic person himself takes on part challenge, part statement: a backwards marathon that’s as much about community and visibility as it is about proving that difference is strength. We spoke to Charles about his mission to celebrate neurodiversity and Out Of Order, a documentary being made about his training and self-discovery…

Feeling supersonic: how Sonic Boom Festival is boosting the arts in Burton-on-Trent

Sonic Boom Festival might only be in its second year, but it’s already made a mighty bang in the nearby Burton-on-Trent — and if founders and organisers Chris Baldwin and Andi Jepson have anything to do with it, the aftershocks are just getting started.

Playwright Caroline Bird on writing The Last Stand Of Mrs Mary Whitehouse

The Playhouse continues its streak of consequential new plays with the upcoming The Last Stand Of Mrs Mary Whitehouse, starring Maxine Peake behind those infamous horn-rimmed spectacles. Caroline Bird speaks to Leftlion about how and why she wrote about the 'most dangerous woman in Britain'... 

In photos: Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer at JT Soar, with Revenge of Calculon

93-year-old Edna Owen recounts meeting her husband at The Palais in 1950

This month's cover, illustrated by our designer Natalie Owen, draws inspiration from the generations of dance at The Palais. Adding a personal touch, Natalie spoke to her grandma, Edna Owen, about how her grandparents first met there.

A very serious conversation with Mr Brian Butterfield ahead of his Nottingham Theatre Royal seminar

After decades spent opening and closing businesses, entrepreneur extraordinaire Mr Brian Butterfield has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to impart. Reflecting on his illustrious career, which has included everything from karaoke bars and injury solicitors to inaccurate speaking clocks and dubious diet plans, he’s coming to the Theatre Royal next month. We sat down with Brian for a very serious chat about finance, tax and the secret to success…

Back with a Boom: The Return of Nottingham Artists amillionsons

When it comes to talent spotting, Pete Tong isn’t often wrong – and amillionsons, an act he first picked out years ago, is back on the scene with a very special release. We caught up with the Nottingham-based artists on Misti Blu Two, featuring vocals from legendary soul siblings Taka Boom, Chaka Khan and Mark Stevens.

CBeebies Favourites and ‘Mr Nostalgia’ to Bring Fun For All The Family at Gloworm Festival

Gloworm, Nottinghamshire’s biggest family festival, has announced some exciting additions to the line up across the August weekend at its new Holme Pierrepont home. With more than 100 acts and activities in total, hands-on fun and new outdoor adventure activities, the 20,000 capacity festival delivers a huge amount all included in the ticket price...

Kicking Off the New Year in Notts - Theatre, Music and Meeting New People: Here’s What’s on in Notts 8 - 14 January

If it's your resolution to get out more in 2024, kick off your year with some theatre, cabaret and social events to meet new people in Notts this week...

University Dos and Don’ts: Here’s How to Get the Best Out of Your Student Experience When Meeting New People

One of the best parts about transitioning to university and moving to a brand new city is the opportunity to widen your friendship circle and meet people from all across the country - and even the globe. For lots of people, it can be daunting coming into a brand new environment with expectations created by the likes of social media, trashy teen movies, and older siblings.

But the uncertainty of who you will meet and spend at least the next three years with should be an exciting prospect. During Freshers’ Week, you will end up repeatedly telling people what you’re studying and the name of your childhood pet - and as frustrating as this may get, it will all be worth it, because eventually you will meet the people who you will share this entire experience with.

When settling into a new environment, university included, you have a very simple responsibility to respect everyone that you encounter, even if there is a difference of opinion - whether this is political or religious beliefs, interests and hobbies, attitudes towards drinking alcohol, or different cultural backgrounds. So, we have curated some dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind when you arrive in your new home and meet your new flatmates and friends…

We Chat to Legendary Broadcaster Clive Tyldesley About Meeting Brian Clough and Studying at Uni of Nottingham

World Cup ties; Champions League finals; England internationals: If you’ve watched a major game of football over the past five decades, you’ve likely heard the iconic voice of Clive Tyldesley commentating on said game. We had a chat with the legendary broadcaster about working in his beloved sport, meeting Brian Clough, and studying Industrial Economics at the University of Nottingham… 

Notts Sneaker Heads Discuss the Boom of the Trainer Industry

It’s hard to imagine a time when trainers weren’t everywhere you looked. For most of us, figuring out which sneakers to wear is just as, if not more important than, the rest of our outfit. But from an engineering breakthrough of fusing canvas and vulcanised rubber together in the early twentieth century to a multi-billion-dollar global business, the sneaker industry has taken over the world in a relatively short time. And Nottingham is no exception – walk down any high-street in the city and you’ll see multiple retailers flogging the latest creps, with queues forming outside some of the biggest brands before they open on most days. Footwear fan Isabella Read talks to some of Nottingham’s biggest sneaker heads to find out more about trainer culture in the city…

A Tribute To Colin Slater MBE 1934-2022

Colin Slater MBE, the BBC Radio Nottingham Sports Broadcaster who spent over half a century covering the fortunes of Notts County FC, died on Monday 10 January at the age of 87.

Film Review: Tick, Tick…Boom

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut is a passionate tribute to musical theatre...

Out of Time: Sir Peter Mansfield, The Nobel Prize Winning Notts Lecturer Who Pioneered MRI Scans

From becoming a University of Nottingham lecturer to winning a Nobel Prize for his work on the technology behind MRI scans, Sir Peter Mansfield is one of the finest minds in Nottingham’s history. On what would have been his 88th birthday, we celebrate the life and legacy of a true genius who, despite his incredible achievements, always remained humble…