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Life behind bars: With Tommi Levitt, General Manager at Loose Ends

We chat to Tommi, who manages Loose Ends: a colourful coffee and cocktail joint that greets people on their walk up to the Castle... 

Classical music at Nottingham Theatre Royal & Concert Hall with Matt Wigley, Music Programme Manager

Whatever genre of music you’re into, it’s likely you’ll be able to find an iconic music venue in Notts catering for your taste. Taking care of the classical corner, Matt Wigley has been Music Programme Manager at the Royal Concert Hall since the end of 2024, attracting top orchestras and classical superstars to the city. He talks to us about upcoming acts, world-class acoustics, and why anyone can get into classical music…

Left Magpie: November 2026 - In Finneran’s Wake

Our regular Notts County columnist Julian McDougall mulls over a month of mixed fortunes at Meadow Lane...

Mansfield Town Film Festival Celebrates Independent Film at 2026 Awards

The 2026 Mansfield Town Film Festival celebrated independent cinema and diverse voices, recognising filmmakers across a range of categories. With award-winning films, inspiring stories from local and international creatives, and its BIFA-qualifying status, MTFF continues to champion emerging talent and establish Mansfield as a growing hub for independent filmmaking.

Gig review: Man/Woman/Chainsaw at Rescue Rooms

Let’s start with a little history lesson. Around the late 2010s, a scene began to emerge based out of the south of London. This was a scene full of experimental and boundary-pushing artists, all based around The Windmill in Brixton. Many young bands cut their teeth at this venue, eventually blowing up into juggernauts of the underground. One of these bands is, incidentally, Man/Woman/Chainsaw. Formed in 2019 by Billy Ward and Vera Leppänen, they have expanded into a sextet of some of the finest musicians in the British Isles. Now, they are taking their critically acclaimed debut album Cannonball on the road - and they stopped at Rescue Rooms to show just how much they can do...

Competition: Win A Pair of Tickets to watch Suede and the Manic Street Preachers at Motorpoint Arena

Two of the UK's biggest indie rock bands are playing a double-header at the Motorpoint Arena on Wednesday 11 November. We have a pair of tickets to give away, all you have to do is enter our competition below...

The Thompsons on Mansfield, The Death of Robin Hood, and vaccinations

Nottingham's most opinionated grocers on Mansfield, The Death of Robin Hood, and vaccinations 

Life Behind Bars: With Jake Jenkinson, assistant manager at Effy

For this month's instalment of Life Behind Bars we spoke to Jake Jenkinson: assistant manager of Effy, Heathcoat Street's cosy haven for coffee.

Mansfield Town Film Festival 2026: in conversation with director Jay Martin

Coming up later this month, Mansfield Town Film Festival provides a packed three day schedule of working-class voices, locally made films, live screenings, masterclasses, and Q&As. We spoke to festival director Jay Martin about representation, community and why Mansfield is putting the East Midlands firmly on the cinema map… 

Forged in Mansfield: local playwright Beth Steel on her play Till the Stars Come Down and going international

Born and brought up in Warsop, playwright Beth Steel has seen her work performed in London, Tokyo, Mexico, Iceland, Peru and more.  What’s particularly brilliant about this is that they’re usually set in her hometown of Mansfield. She tells us more about her fifth play Till the Stars Come Down, which is coming home to Nottingham Playhouse one week from now …

Theatre Review: The Mantrap at Theatre Royal

Set on a wet and wild winter night, a desperate husband is searching for his missing wife and is confronted by a woman claiming to be her... 

Life Behind Bars: With Gaz Peacham, Deputy Manager at The Embankment Pub

For this month's edition of Life Behind Bars we take a jaunt down to Trent Bridge to speak to Gaz... 

Gig review: Man/Woman/Chainsaw at Rough Trade

It was a baking hot Tuesday in mid-August, the nation was awaiting an eclipse, and Man/Woman/Chainsaw were in the mood for dancing. Rough Trade Nottingham provided the venue...

Spilling the tea: Frances Russell on managing the White Rabbit Teahouse through adversity

Serving tea, cake and scones, White Rabbit Teahouse is a quintessential British tearoom, providing a peaceful setting among the noise and crowds of the city centre. Behind the scenes, owner Frances Russell has weathered many storms to keep the business alive. Food co-editor Lucy Campion sat down with Frances to talk about the evolution of her teahouse, how the hospitality landscape has changed and what the future holds. 

Life Behind Bars: with Isad ‘Happy’ Habibovic, General Manager at 400 Rabbits

We visit 400 Rabbits to chat to Isad the General Manager about cocktails and Ed Sheeran.

Life Behind Bars with Tong Man, Proprietor at The Pillar Box Sherwood

We dropped into Sherwood hotspot The Pillar Box to speak to proprietor Tong Man

Gig review: Connexion Man at The Grove, with flöat and Andrew Tucker Leavis

The Grove has hosted a steady run of single, EP and album launches over the past year and a half, and this time it was Connexion Man stepping up to mark the release of their debut record A Forest and a Town...

Notts folk rockers Connexion Man talk songwriting and shared history

Connexion Man are a relatively fresh name on the Nottingham circuit, but their roots in the city still run deep. Built on long standing friendships, shared history and a renewed love for their home’s music community, the group are reconnecting with the scene that first shaped them. Ahead of a debut record and gig at The Grove, the band talk about returning to Notts and their evolving sound. 

Julie Pritchard 1966-2026

It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Julie Pritchard, columnist for LeftLion and the founder of the original Nottingham Forest fanzine Brian, who passed away after a short illness on 17 February 2026.

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...

Comedy Review: Mike Rice's Cruel Little Man at the Nottingham Arts Theatre

One of Ireland's finest new comedians has Nottingham rolling in the aisles...

In photos: Bored Marsh at The Bodega, with Mandibles

From the kitchen: with Paddy Sneath, owner at Working Man's Kitchen

For this instalment of From the Kitchen we reached out to loved Sneinton Market pizza slinger Paddy Sneath, owner of Working Man's Kitchen.

Project bucket list: how one Notts man is changing his life one goal at a time

We all have life goals, whether they be modest or lofty – but how often do we put a plan in place to achieve them? Notts-based marketer Dan Davison is one man who is well on his way to fulfilling his ambitions. From trying out foraging, beekeeping, and rock climbing, to seeing the sunrise at Stonehenge, his Project Bucket List adventures are sure to provide a little inspiration…

Fright night: The many ghosts of the National Justice Museum

When it comes to haunted buildings in Nottingham, the first that springs to mind is the National Justice Museum on High Pavement. While the building became a museum in 1995, it was once a working courthouse and prison for over 600 years. As we head into spooky season, CJ De Barra investigates one of Britain’s most haunted places…