Nottingham has always known how to enjoy itself. The city’s hedonistic nature, first defined in the groundbreaking 1960s novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, remains alive and well today. Thanks to its huge student population (one in 12 people living in the city is a full-time student) and the sheer number of stags and hens flooding into the city centre each weekend, Nottingham rivals bigger cities like Newcastle and Dublin in the good-time stakes. But don’t let that put you off. Away from the maddening crowds, Nottingham is one of the UK’s most cosmopolitan and stylish cities (after all, this is where design guru Paul Smith first cut his cloth): its compact city centre combining a proud history with cutting-edge modernity – from the world’s oldest pub to super-chic eateries and late-night lounges attracting national acclaim. In recent years, the emergence of a buzzing restaurant culture (demonstrated by the city’s first restaurant awards in 2003) has seen exciting new venues to rival the already legendary nightlife. Enjoy!
DON’T MISS…
- GOURMET BRUNCH AT DELILAH DELI
- LUNCH WITH THE CITY’S SLICKERS AT HARTS
- INNOVATIVE COCKTAILS AT THE FUNKY BRASS MONKEY BAR
- DINNER AT THE AWARD-WINNING WORLD SERVICE RESTAURANT
- AFTER-HOURS DRINKS AT THE CELEB-FRIENDLY SAINT BAR
GREAT EATERIES
1. Geisha (3 The Broadway, Lace Market, Tel: 0115 959 8344. www.geishauk.com)Since opening in 2004, Geishahas raised the bar as Nottingham’s most ambitious destination restaurant. Offering a dazzling Far East-influenced menu, this top-end venture aims to slim the wallets of urbane locals with designerdrinking, dining and dancing within a 60-cover restaurant, lounge bar and basement club. Don’t miss the tempura lobster in creamy curry sauce (recently voted the UK’s best curry dish by Restaurant magazine).
2. Alley Café Bar (Cannon Court, Long Row West. Tel: 0115 955 1013). Loved by local veggies, this tiny venue is well worth seeking out. Dishes like black bean burrito and Tandoori tofu kebabs for under a fiver ensure it’s constantly busy. Intimate, bohemian and friendly, the bar also hosts funky evening events like beat poetry slams.
3. Shaw’s (20/22 Broad Street. Tel: 0115 950 0009).Despite being located near the arty Broadway Cinema, Shaw’s still feels like a ‘find’. Housed over two floors in a beautiful old industrial building, the antique shop fittings, red lamps, wicker chairs and comfy sofas create a rather eccentric neighbourhood eaterie. Genuinely charming and the bistro-style food – from a daily hand-written menu – is good value.
4. Chino Latino (Maid Marion Way. Tel: 0115 947 7444)There aren’t many places in town you’ll find dishes like green tea soba noodles, breaded lobster and jalapenos with coconut rice and lotus seeds. But you can here at this Japanese-South American fusion restaurant (the chef was recruited from London’s Nobu). Recommended cocktail: Sherwood Dragon.
5. CAST (Nottingham Playhouse, Wellington Circus. Tel: 0115 852 3898) Designed by award-winning architect Peter Moro (of Royal Festival Hall fame), Nottingham Playhouse is a listed building. And thanks to a £1.2 million lottery grant, it now boasts a delicatessen, CAST restaurant (decent modern European menu) and café bar –overlooking Anish Kapoor’s huge ‘Sky Mirror’.
6. Hart’s (Standard Court, Park Row. Tel: 0115 911 0666 www.hartsnottingham.co.uk). While fans (and it has many) believe Hart’s offers the finest kitchen and smartest service in town, critics find it rather too slick and corporate. Nevertheless, Hart’s has earned its place in the affections of Nottingham’s cognoscenti since opening in 1997 – the modern British cuisine has ensured a loyal clientele of lunching solicitors and affluent diners.
7. World Service (Newdigate House, Castle Gate. Tel: 0115 847 5587) A major player in Nottingham’s restaurant revolution, World Service is housed in a 17th Century building skilfully converted into a voguish restaurant with a Japanese walled garden. As well as regaining its ‘Restaurant of the Year’ title at the Nottingham Restaurant Awards for a third successive year, it continues to garner national recognition. Signature dishes range from Gressingham duck leg with spicy plum sauce and roasted cashew nuts to belly pork with roast potato and Bramley apple sauce.
8. Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms (Old Lenton Lane. Tel: 0115 986 6566) Proof that Nottingham has arrived on the UK’s food scene comes courtesy of talented local chef Sat Bains retained his Michelin Star (the city’s first and only) at his recently revamped restaurant. Although located on the outskirts of town (taxi required), the nine-course Menu Degustation (£65 per head) is a sublime experience – look out for the surreal ham and pea course with liquefied peas poured from a teapot!
BEST BARS
9. Bluu (5, Broadway. Tel: 0115 950 5359) This large bar is typical of the venues around the regenerated Lace Market/Hockley area – a minimalist, industrial interior with a basement DJ bar where Nottingham’s cognoscenti hang out on huge leather sofas.
10. The Dragon (67, Long Row. Tel: 0115 941 7080). This previously scruffy pub close to the Market Square has been intelligently renovated into a comfortable boozer for grown ups. A friendly place for a pint.
11. Brass Monkey (11 High Pavement. Tel: 0115 840 4101). This is where the city’s most innovative cocktails are served from the long, Manhattan-style bar on High Pavement, a historic street in the Lace Market that’s now a boozer’s paradise.
12 & 13. Cock & Hoop (27, High Pavement) a real-ale, no smoking enclave given a stylish makeover by the adjoining Lace Market Hotel (recently earned acclaim from the Michelin guide). Meanwhile, the cosmopolitan Saint Bar (29, High Pavement), within the hotel, is an oasis of style and sophistication with a cocktail list (and prices) to match.
14. Dogma. This ever-popular bar(9 Byard Lane. Tel: 0115 988 6833) features a lively basement area that’s loud and lively, especially at weekends. Flirty and fun.
15. The Social (23 Pelham Street. Tel: 0115 950 5078). As the northern outpost of London’s famous Heavenly Social, this is the hub of the city’s trendy music scene – and has showcased early performances from major bands including The Strokes and Coldplay.
16. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (Brew House Yard. Tel: 0115 947 3171). It’s almost compulsory for visitors to sup at this atmospheric ancient inn (it claims to be the world’s oldest pub and is reputed to be haunted) carved into the limestone cliffs beneath Nottingham Castle.
COOL SHOPS
17. Gauntleys (Exchange Arcade, Tel: 0115 911 0555, www.gauntleywine.com) Since 1880, Gauntleys has been the place to come for fine wines, spirits and smoking paraphernalia. With more than 120 types of spirits on offer, the musty cellar boasts rare vintage cognacs and whiskies and Armagnac – not to mention 500 different wines. And the expert knowledge of the staff comes as no surprise because every wine sold is personally tasted at source, from the cask. Nice work if you can get it, we say…
18. Delilah (15 Middle Pavement. Tel: 0115 948 4461). My, my, my… this is an epicurean paradise for Notts foodies selling rare produce such as Spanish Iberico ham. There’s a cosy communal food bar for tapas-style ‘grazing’ including all-day breakfasts, or you can nibble free samples of dips, oils and chutneys. From Cropwell Bishop Stilton (one of 200 cheeses) to Wicked Hathern beers, many products sold are locally sourced. The try-before-you-buy policy is proving a popular way of educating the taste-buds of Nottingham’s more adventurous food shoppers.
19. Victoria Food Market. Based on the top floor of the Victoria Shopping Centre, the food court includes a genuinely retro Italian coffee bar (Aldo’s Café) and one of Nottingham’s quirky contributions to British cuisine – mushy peas with mint sauce from The Hot Pea Man stall.
20. Chocolate Utopia (30 Friar Lane. Tel: 0115 947 0016. www.chocolate-utopia.co.uk)WatchBelgian style chocolates being made the old fashioned way at this new shop dedicated to the art of confectionary. The Amaretto truffles are particularly irresistible.
HOT HOTELS
21. Lace Market Hotel (29, High Pavement. Tel: 0115 852 3232 www.lacemarkethotel.co.uk) These lovingly converted Georgian townhouses have undoubtedly been Nottingham’s hippest address since it opened as a boutique designer hotel in 1999. A pivotal part of the Lace Market scene, it has hosted many a discerning celebrity – from pop stars to footballers. Expect charming service, great food (in Merchants, the hotel’s popular brassiere) and drinks (see 12 & 13), and Aveda goodies in the minimalist bathrooms. Still the place to stay in the city.
Doubles from £119.
22. Hart’s Hotel (Standard Hill, Park Row. Tel: 0115 988 1900)Built upon the success of the eponymous restaurant and Hambleton Hall in Rutland, Hart’s Hotel is quietly cool. The 32-bedroomed boutique hotel stands upon the ramparts of Nottingham’s original medieval castle and the site of the former Nottingham General Hospital. Inside, things are resolutely contemporary – from the minimalist furniture to the Bose audio-visual gadgetry. Doubles from £120.
23. Jury’s Inn (Station Road. Tel: 0115 901 6700. www.jurysdoyle.com)
Situated next to Nottingham train station (a few minute’s walk from the Lace Market), the city’s newest hotel boasts 264 bedrooms, a restaurant and a waterfront bar. Doubles from £69.
24. Park Plaza Nottingham (41 Maid Marian Way. Tel: 0115 947 7200)
While not as hip as the boutique hotels, the four-star Park Plaza Nottingham offers a good compromise. Features 178 fully air-conditioned guestrooms, fitness suite and in-house restaurant – Chino Latino (4). Doubles from £90.