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LeftLion Magazine #128

3 August 20

Featuring The Nottingham Project's Greg Nugent, a catch up with some of Nottingham's independent businesses, an XR Rebel in Notts, Nottingham Arts Mela preview, BACKLIT, Nottingham Refugee Forum at 20, Sally Longford on Notts being carbon neutral by 2028, Feixue Huangdu, Natalie Duncan and a treasure hunt of puzzles that could lead you to a free escape room...

Nottingham's Rock Cemetery is Filled with Mass Graves From the Spanish Flu

If you didn’t catch her article in our June issue, (Little Miss Lockdown, #126) Jagoda Brown-Polanowska explained what lockdown...

BelieveMe is Aiming to Create a Safe Space for Victims of Bullying in Nottingham

24 August 20

Being forced into lockdown has seen Notts’ creative cohorts turn their hands to all sorts of projects, from live-streaming music to socially-distanced filmmaking. But for seventeen-year-old Alice Lynn, lockdown provided the opportunity to create something personal. We caught up with her to find out more about BelieveMe, the new project aimed at creating a safe space for victims of bullying...

5 Nottingham Albums to Listen to This Month

25 August 20

The latest Nottinghamshire releases... 

Should the Broadmarsh Site Be Turned Into a Green Space?

19 August 20

After shopping centre giant intu collapsed into administration, causing yet another Broadmarsh development plan to fall by the wayside, Ewan Cameron decided it was time for something different. Creating an online petition calling for the area to be turned into a communal green space, his campaign has over ten thousand signatures at the time of printing. Here’s exactly why he thinks the plan to turn Broadmarsh green is essential for Nottingham...

Mapperley Bakery Betty Rose Bakes Has Been Thriving During Lockdown

22 August 20

A proper good slice of cake can always help put the world to rights, and Sam Rose of Betty Rose Bakes knows how to do just that, and more. Her sweet treats are made with beautiful local ingredients, as she has a keen focus on them being environmentally-friendly. We chat to her about the makings of her business and how she’s been keeping calm and baking on during lockdown…

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum Having Been Helping Asylum Seekers For 20 Years

20 August 20

Stranded boats at sea. Last breaths in lorries. Traumatisation by traffickers. These are just some of the horrific risks refugees take to reach the UK – a place that historically has been full of promise and hope for them. Yet when they arrive here, they’re met with a hostile government and campaigns of hate. However, the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum provides a range of services to help them survive and thrive in the face of adversity. As it celebrates its twentieth anniversary, Eve Smallman talks to Director Matt Atkins about what they’ve achieved and how you can help them carry on their work…

Food Review: Bonzai

19 August 20

Tempura, tofu, and other tasty treats...

Leading From the Back: The Backlit Artists Creating Exciting Projects

18 August 20

From its three-story base in the heart of Sneinton, BACKLIT is home to more than eighty studio artists, spanning a diverse range of practices, including fine art, contemporary craft and creative businesses. The independent, artist-led gallery has provided affordable studio spaces for artists, graduates and emerging local talent for almost twelve years. With the studio currently still closed to the public, we took a look around to find out more about some of their exciting artists, including what they’ve been up to during lockdown...

Feixue Huangdu's Videos of Nottinghamshire Have Gone Viral in China

16 August 20

One of the fascinating by-products of increasing globalisation is the thought that, right now, someone in China is watching a tour of Ruddington Village Museum online. The reason for that is Feixue Huangdu, whose tours of local heritage spots have gone viral in her native China. We caught up with Nottingham Trent Museum and Heritage Development graduate to discuss the surprise success of her videos and the importance of sharing cultures...

Snap Notts: Bromley House Library

15 August 20

How Are Nottingham's Independents Bouncing Back from Lockdown?

10 August 20

It’s impossible to underestimate the devastating impact COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown has had on independent businesses. The boutiques, breweries and bars that form the lifeblood of our community were forced to shut their doors four months ago, with many never to open again. But with some semblance of normality returning to the high street, we decided it was time for a catch up with some of Notts’ independents to find out how they’ve coped during lockdown, and the steps they’ve taken to re-open safely…

The Nottingham Project's Greg Nugent: "We’re a creative city where culture thrives, but when other cities were upping their game, we stood still"

14 August 20

With a ten-year vision of turning Nottingham into a globally-recognised cultural heavyweight, and a board including the likes of Shane Meadows and Vicky McClure, last month saw the ambitious launch of The Nottingham Project. Spearheaded by the new Nottingham Board for Culture and Creativity, the project will seek to rejuvenate the city in the wake of a pandemic that has decimated much of the creative industry. As the director of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, Project chairman Greg Nugent knows what it takes to deliver on the biggest scale. We caught up with the man at the helm to find out more about what the city’s creative community has to look forward to...

Food Review: CHEFF

12 August 20

Cheat day without the guilt? Yes please.

City Stylin' #28

10 August 20

We took to the streets to find the most stylish folk in town...

Ruddy Fine Gin is Crafted By a Married Couple in Ruddington

09 August 20

They say it takes a village to raise a child. But really, they should be saying it takes a village to make a bloody good bottle of gin. Ruddy Fine Gin has been two years in the making, but now they’ve perfected their recipe, and they’re ready to launch in Ruddington and beyond. We chat to the co-owners, husband and wife duo Cheryl and Rory Stretton, to find out all about it…

Notts-Born Singer-Songwriter Natalie Duncan on Her New Album, Free

08 August 20

There aren’t many things in life that are a given these days. One exception, however, is the guaranteed beauty of a new album release by Notts-born singer songwriter Natalie Duncan. Free, which was released on 31 July this year, is Nat’s first full-length album since 2012, and is full of her customary soul-infused melodies and candid lyrics. Featuring tracks written over a number of years since 2012, it’s one heck of an expansive record, brimming with vivacity and ambition. We caught up with Nat to chat about her Notts roots, the new record and her musical life in the age of COVID-19….

An XR Rebel in Notts

07 August 20

What it's really like to be a part of one of the most controversial groups in the UK... 

The Hunt is On...

07 August 20

We've turned this month's magazine into one big treasure hunt of clues and puzzles. If you think you're smart enough to solve all of them, you could bag yourself a free escape room at Escapologic...

Under Cover Artist: Stuart Jones

05 August 20

We’re back in print with a bang, and Stuart Jones’ cover – a love-letter to all things print – is the cherry on top of this 48-page cake. We chat with this month’s cover artist to find out more about his work...

The Thompson Brothers on Amazon, Princess Beatrice and August Christmas Parties

04 August 20

Nottingham's most opinionated grocers on...

Nottingham Arts Mela Returns to the New Art Exchange for Its 32nd Year

04 August 20

As Nottingham Mela Network, in partnership with New Art Exchange, gets ready to celebrate the 32nd year of Nottingham Arts Mela in the UK, Alex Stubbs previews the exciting, eclectic online programme of cooking, films featuring South Asian diaspora worldwide, music, dance, debates, poetry and spoken word, family art workshops, murals, archives activated, morning raags and yoga…

Overheard in Notts

03 August 20

Big Baby's back on the prowl...

Nottingham City Council Wants the City to Be Carbon-Neutral by 2028

29 July 20

Since 2005, Nottingham has reduced its carbon emissions by more than double the target goal first laid out by Nottingham City Council. But now there is a new target – to become the first carbon-neutral city in the UK by 2028. Ahead of the launch of their 28 day challenge, taking place on social media throughout August, we speak to Sally Longford, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder Energy, Environment and Democratic Services about how they intend to make it happen… 

For King, Not Country: Why We Need a More Inclusive War Narrative in the UK

13 July 20

As the world gets ready to remember the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, photographer Jagdish Patel explores the role of Commonwealth soldiers – many of whom were conscripted under the threat of violence – in Britain’s victory.

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