Impact Investigates: Freshers Targeted by Dodgy Promotion Tactics 10-12 Or Ocean Fridays: Navigating Nottingham Nightlife 17Amber Run Breakfast, Babies And The Bodega 38-39
Impact Attempts: American Football 44-45
Mini News Stories 6 - 7
UoN Ranks Poorly in Mental Health League Table 8 Nottingham PCC in the Eye of a Storm After Receiving Speeding Fines 9 Impact Investigates: Freshers Targeted by Dodgy Promotion Tactics 10 - 12
“Your Dad Works for My Dad”: The Classism Behind UoN vs NTU Rivalry 14-15 Rediscovering Nottingham as a Local Turned Student 16 Ring-of-Fire Or Ocean Fridays: Navigating Nottingham Nightlife 17 ‘Tied Up’ in Controversy: Spotlighting UoN’S Non-Conforming Societies 18 - 19 In Conversation with Britain’s Youngest MP: UoN Alumni Nadia Whittome 20 - 21
‘Life in Notts’ Photoshoot 24 - 25 Warming Up to Cold Water Swimming 26 - 27 Pints, Potatoes, and No Parental Control: Life in the UK as an International Student 28 Looks Good, Feels Good? Then Wear It Again 29 Nottingham Dating Spots 101 with Izzy Rodney 30 - 31 Day Trippin’ 32
A Glimpse Into Your Future - Short Story 34 Dodge the Gaming Nerds 35 Depicting Nottingham’s Underworld On Screen 36 - 37 UoN’s Amber Run On Breakfast, Babies And The Bodega 38 -39 University Life: Impact Reviews 40 - 41
Impact Attempts: American Football 44 - 45 Support Your Local Sides: Sports Events in Nottingham 46 - 47 What Your Sport Society Says About You 48 - 49
Meet the Team 50
Thank you for picking up a copy of Impact!
Our theme for this edition is ‘Rediscover Notts’. We picked this to ensure it provides something for everyone.
If you’re a fresher – welcome to the University of Nottingham! This edition is designed to help you learn more about your new home.
If you’re a returning student, I hope you can learn something new about our university or Nottingham. This could be something profound about what it means to be a student. Or simply just remind you about what it’s like to “stumble out of Ocean along with your mates at 3:00am, looking like a rather questionable ABBA tribute act” – as Shakira Hamilton writes in her feature on Nottingham nightlife.
University life is complex and can be chaotic. And our university is definitely not perfect.
India Rose Marriott’s news article about mental health services at UoN highlights the challenges many face when trying to seek help.
Poppy Read-Pitt’s comment piece allows us to reflect on our biases, as she looks at the dark side of the rivalry between UoN and Trent students.
Córa-Laine Moynihan’s feature draws attention to just how diverse the beliefs on our campuses are, as she exam ines where the limits of freedom of speech should lie.
This edition also focuses on random and unlikely moments on campus too.
Our photoshoot spotlights everyday university life. Botond Farago’s short story captures the potential for awkward moments in student halls - such as wandering into your kitchen to be met with girl-you-half-recognise-from-acrossthe-hall crying, blocking you from getting to the fridge.
Our Music Editor caught up with UoN alumni indie rock band Amber Run to chat about what it’s like when your degree is sidelined by a passion project (something familiar to many on the Impact team…).
So, come and ‘Rediscover Nottingham’ with us…
And, if you’re interested in finding out more about joining our team, please come chat with us in the Impact Office. We’re in the ‘Media Zone’ in the Portland Building.
See you there,
Lucinda Dodd, Editor-In-Chief
Photography by Kavindu Ranasinghe
The new energy price cap, set to be introduced from the 1st of October, will see energy bills for a typical household rise to £3,546 a year: around an 80% increase.
A survey conducted on Impact’s Instagram found that 94% of stu dents had seen an increase in their energy bills this year. Only one stu dent (out of 56 voters) did not feel worried about the price increase, with 86% of students saying they would support a general strike.
The sharp rise in energy bills has left students increasingly worried about their financial and living situa tions coming into the new academic year. One student said that they had “got into debt” because they can no longer afford to pay their bills and support themselves with just their loan. Students are now having to rely on their parents more, with one student telling Impact their “parents were meant to retire and they now can’t.”
By Esme MckenzieWelfare and Wellbeing Officer, Gemma Weston, and Postgraduate Officer, Jay Simpson, have resigned from their roles. The SU released statements following both resig nations, in which they reveal that by-elections will not be held for the positions, stating: “it would be dif ficult for student[s] [to] take up the role[s] in the middle of an academic year”. Instead, they announced that the responsibilities for both roles will be “re-distributed across the remaining Full-time officers”.
This may leave students concerned, given Nottingham was ranked amongst the worst in the country for mental health support in a recent league table by mental health char ity Humen. There are also worries about whether Postgraduate stu dents will be sufficiently supported without a dedicated Officer. Union Development Officer, Sully Chaudhury, commented on the situation: “The responsibilities of Officers go beyond just a manifesto, and as a team we will still ensure the wellbeing of students remains a priority for all of us and that the postgraduate community are sup ported and effectively represented this year.”
By Laura ScaifeThe latest data from the National Student Survey (NSS) reveals that 25.2% of University of Nottingham students are unsatisfied with their courses.
The data from the 2022 NSS found that only 74.81% of students at the University of Nottingham are satisfied with their course.
A 2022 psychology graduate told Impact that they were unhappy because they “just had lectures and no seminars”, leaving them to feel disengaged as they felt they had to “just sit and listen” for all their contact hours.
A third year English student shared that “there’s nowhere near as much variety as I thought there’d be, and I don’t even know my tutor.”
This finding from NSS coincides with Nottingham falling in universi ty league table rankings in recent years. In the Guardian’s 2022 uni versity ranking, Nottingham fell from 38th to 52nd.
By Esme McKenzieThe exponential rise in the cost of living is impacting everyone in society - students are no exception. Financial support is not compensat ing for rocketing inflation. Indeed Flex reported that 37% of students are worried about paying back their student loans due to rising interest rates.
INews shared that the value of maintenance loans has reached a seven-year low, with Ben Walt mann, a senior research economist at The Institute for Fiscal Studies, warning that many disadvantaged students may decide not to pro gress to higher education as a result.
Teaching staff are expected to continue to strike over pay and pen sions, meaning that students will lose out on valuable contact hours.
In an interview with GB News in Au gust 2022, Prime Minister Liz Truss described students as having had a “raw deal”, stating that universi ties need to be held accountable, suggesting that they offer refunds where students are not getting what they paid for.
By Hannah Walton-HughesNottingham City Transport (NCT) has increased transport costs. Student single tickets have gone up from £1.80 to £2.00. This increase is the transport company’s response to swelling operating costs. NCT shared in their online statement that the decision to increase was made because “diesel [is] costing us up to 50% more and our gas price is al most double that…driver pay rates have also increased by 8.5-9.5% this year, in response to the nation al shortage of bus drivers.”
However, NCT declared that the company is absorbing most of the high costs they are faced with. Add ing that their average fare increase is still below the current rate of inflation: averaging 6% compared to the 10.1% rate.
NCT’s Managing Director David As till said: “We are confident our fares continue to offer value for money with many discounted fare options for the regular travellers.”
By Lottie MurrayA review into the failings of Notting ham University Maternity Services, which includes Queen’s Medical Centre, has begun after a series of complaints about the hospital. A report from the Care Quality Com missions earlier this year found the services “inadequate” with “not enough staff to keep women safe”. Complaints about the hospital include unnecessary deaths of both mothers and babies, as well as babies born with injuries, such as brain damage.
Senior midwife Donna Ockenden, who led an inquiry into the failings of Shropshire’s Maternity Services, is leading the review that will inves tigate how dozens of deaths took place at Nottingham University Hos pitals. Ockenden says that stories from families she has already spo ken to are “absolutely harrowing”. People with negative experiences with the trust’s maternity services are being asked to come forward.
The review is expected to take 18 months, but Ockenden hopes to share “learning points” throughout this time. This review is welcomed by families all throughout Notting ham, who have campaigned for an investigation into the services for years.
The University of Nottingham ranked as 73 out of 80 universities in a mental health league table produced by mental health charity HUMEN as part of ‘a one-year study to create a first-of-its-kind university mental health ranking.’
The league table focuses on 6 factors:
• Service Provision
• Financing
• Awareness Engagement
• Satisfaction
• Total Mental Health Score
Over 7,200 students ‘shared their levels of satisfac tion and engagement’, which was then ‘combined with in-depth data on mental health budgets and staff training’. For each category, every university is ranked using a scale from ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Excellent.’
The league table ranked Reading, Oxford, Central Lancashire, York, and Canterbury Christ University as the best for dealing with mental health - with Oxford scoring ‘Excellent’ in every category. In contrast, the University of Nottingham was the only university clas sified as ‘Very Poor’ in every section.
However, there are doubts surrounding the validity of the league table itself. UK student mental health char ity, Student Minds, has stated that whilst the league table was ‘intended as a tool to inform students,’ it has questions regarding its ‘robustness and methodology’with concerns it could be misleading and harmful.
Student Minds elaborated that focusing on a factor such as the amount of money a university invests in mental health services can oversimplify things and disregards a multitude of varying factors that are also detrimental to a student’s mental health.
This includes whether funding is going towards ‘qual ity, student-appropriate services, the size and makeup of the student population, whether a university is instead investing in preventative measures, or how strategically and holistically this funding is used.’
Impact spoke to UoN students to see if their expe riences with the university’s mental health services were aligned with HUMEN’s findings. One student stated that after contacting their tutor for support, they were pleasantly surprised with how quickly the University responded, providing them with a wealth of information regarding how they, in conjunction with Cripps Health Centre, could help: “the university was, on the whole, very helpful.”
Yet not every story was positive. A common cause of concern is counselling waiting times. A Nottingham student told Impact that after registering with the counselling service, they had to wait 4 months for an appointment. After their first session, they had to wait another six weeks for a second.
Another student - who waited 5 weeks for an appoint ment - said: “I think the counsellor I had was really good, obviously I don’t know if all the counsellors are that good. But the issue is that more time and money need to be invested into the service so that students can get more regular appointments.”
by India Rose Marriott Illustration/Page Design by Catrin Dimond
, Caroline Hen ry defended her actions: “At the time one of my children had tried to take their own life and had been sectioned in hospital. I was regularly travelling to and from the hospital and I was under very significant pressure.”
incidents took place in March 2021 - whilst Henry was campaigning to become the Police and Crime Commis sioner, promising she would prioritise “effective and effi cient” responses to speeding. The other three incidents took place weeks after she was elected.
All of the incidents occurred in 30mph zones, and Henry was caught reaching speeds between 35 and 40mph. Two of the breaches occurred on Oxclose Lane in Day brook, near Burford Primary School.
Along with the £2450 fine, Henry lost her licence and was handed a 6-month driving ban, effective immedi ately. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190 alongside prosecution costs.
During the hearing, the court heard how Henry’s chil dren rely significantly on her. However, the judge dismissed her argument to retain her licence on the grounds of exceptional hardship, stating that her hus band could also facilitate the visits to her children.
Her husband, Darren Henry, has served as the Con servative MP for Broxtowe (covering Beeston and parts of Wollaton) since 2019, while Caroline Henry was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Notting hamshire in May 2021.
Her actions have provoked outcry in the community. Local publisher Matt Turpin, who lost a family member due to a speeding car, said:
“Of course, it’s possible to feel sympathy for her family situation while still thinking what she did was wrong, but the mitigation didn’t impress the judge. It’s also worth noting that anyone who has a child die due to speeding cars - and I along with many have - knows that it rings hollow.” He continued: “Once could have been excusa ble. Five times in just a few weeks is not.”
Approached for comment by Impact, the Commissioner referred us to the Nottingham Post interview and stated: “..to be clear I am not trying to make excuses. I am truly sorry. Quite properly I’ve been fined and banned from driving for six months.” She added: “I remain committed to serving the people of Nottinghamshire as Police and Crime Commissioner.” This is despite calls by some Nottinghamshire residents for her to resign.
“Every day she continues to hold office she debases and demeans it,” says Mr Turpin. “She should resign immediately and give us, and the force she represents, a commissioner who doesn’t think she’s above the law.”
by Kit Sinclair Illustrations by Kritika Routh Page Design by Zainab ShakeelUoN freshers are being targeted by club event promoters who are incentivising people to pose as students to entice them to buy expensive club tickets long in advance. These ‘students’ give freshers the impres sion that they’ll miss out on popular club events if they don’t buy tickets rapidly. Impact investigates.
Before I first started university in 2019, I joined various Facebook groups and pages, hoping to find my flat mates and meet people on my course. I was quickly inundated with messages from people presenting themselves as fellow freshers, telling me I needed to buy various club passes and wristbands. While some people attempted to get to know one another in course chats, others just repeatedly probed: ‘Who has bought their freshers wristband?’
I transferred to the University of Nottingham (UoN) in 2020, and even with Covid-19 regulations preventing clubs from opening normally, accommodation and course chats were brimming with links to various events. Students were advised to purchase tickets quickly as events are ‘guaranteed to sell out’. These experiences, combined with chats with friends at different universities, confirmed how widespread this phenomenon is.
Impact has discovered numerous experiences of freshers feeling pressured to buy tickets to events be fore getting to university, worried if they don’t, that they will miss out on key university experiences. However, upon arriving at university, they find that no one they know is going to these events. The investigation by Impact has subsequently found that freshers are being manipulated and catfished by people promoting club events, who are exploiting student fears of missing out to sell expensive club tickets.
Throughout Britain, tickets for club events can be purchased on Fatsoma – which markets themselves as “provid[ing] the technology to connect people with the events they love”. Fatsoma is a platform which ticket sellers use to sell their events. For 2022 freshers at UoN, the following tickets are available to buy:
• ‘The Big Freshers Pass Nottingham’ – costing up to £109.99 (sold on Fatsoma by ‘The Big Fresher Pass’).
• ‘Notts Freshers Invasion 2022 Wristband’ – costing up to £43.99 (sold on Fatsoma by ‘Nottingham Fresh ers Events’).
• ‘Nottingham Freshers Welcome Party ZOO Theme Special’ - sold for up to £12 (sold on Fatsoma by ‘Nottingham Freshers Events’).
These events are promoted with labels including “we sell out very far in advance every year, so please make sure to buy your ticket early” and “less than 100 passes left”. Wristbands and event passes are sold in tiers, with stu dents told that the closer they purchase to the event, the more expensive tickets are likely to be. The selling and promotion of these passes for this academic year began before results day - when potential UoN students did not know whether their place at the University was confirmed.
However, it is just after results day that the promotion for these events usually peak. Despite this, on the 23rd of August, a week after 2022 A Level results day, locations and dates for events in the ‘Invasion’ wristband were still “TBA” - calling into question the validity of the events. As of 10th September, the wristbands still did not indicate where and when all events would be.
Despite Facebook remaining the main way reps sell tickets, providing links to WhatsApp groups is also a technique used to promote tickets to freshers. Once they have managed to get someone to join a WhatsApp group, promoters spam chats with links, message indi viduals one-on-one, and from my experience, add you to lists so you are texted about events as well.
WhatsApp chats are filled with messages from peo ple claiming to be students, messages include: “Has everyone bought that freshers wristband?” and “Yes party crew! Just got my place confirmed. Couple of questions for everyone 1) what’s everyone fav drink, 2) also what event is everyone off too in freshers?” (SIC)
I asked in the chat if anyone was worried about buying a wristband and getting to university and finding out their flatmates had different plans, the immediate reply was “everyone’s going”.
Shortly after this, another person in the chat told me “these are just all reps that want you to buy”.
As part of the investigation, after joining a WhatsApp group chat called ‘Uni of Nottingham 2022/23’, I began to receive individual messages from people claiming to be students trying to sell me club tickets. I was approached by one person going by the name ‘Gem ma’, who told me they were starting at UoN this year, living in Cripps Hall. She messaged me: “We have all planned a big group night out to the icebreaker event it’s included on the big fresher pass! If you want to join, I can send you the link”. Her next message was a link to a £40 pass: “That’s the ticket most of us got and we got queue jump as well”.
Later, I told her I bought the ticket, and asked if there was an update on the plans. I have not yet received a response.
Impact looked into how to become a rep. To sign up, all you need to do is provide your name and email address before you are sent an email from Fatsoma confirming that your ‘rep request is accepted’. There was no screening process – meaning anyone of any age and location can become one.
Once a rep, Fatsoma gives you a ‘Rep Dashboard’ which tells you how many clicks and sales you have had from your links. My dashboard states that for every ‘Invasion’ wristband sold, I will get £3 commission, and for every ‘ZOO Theme special’ ticket sold, I will get £1.*
A Reddit thread from this summer sees a poster share that they had a social media marketing internship “for an events management company that markets student oriented parties”.
They write: “Day one, I got handed a company phone with 7 different university group chats on it. On this phone, I attended Bristol Uni, MMU [Manchester Metro politan University], Notts and Trent, UOG [and] Swansea [for] childhood studies. My job was to basically act like a confused student in these group chats. Then I’d be prompted to ask about parties. I’d then shout out to my team, who [were] role playing students in the chat, to go to chat so and so. They’d then invite me to said event that we’re promoting.”
Feeling bad about the situation, they end their post by stating that they’re quitting as “a girl said my fake account is her first friend in the U.K”. This poster’s story reminded me of my experience with ‘Gemma’.
An Impact survey found that 62% of students have been contacted by what they believed was another student to buy a freshers wristbands or ticket.**
Upon speaking to Nottingham students about their feelings towards the way in which tickets are sold to freshers, Tessa Williams, who is entering her third year at UoN shared: “Once a student firms their university choice they begin to look at the city they’re moving to and join certain groups which leaves them vulner able to scammers. I can remember joining freshers WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups and people were saying everyone needed to get certain tickets or they’d miss out on freshers week.”
She continued: “Looking back, it annoys me even more as it is probably current students trying to promote tickets so they can take a cut of the profits.
In doing so, they’re using already anxious students and pressuring them into giving over their money by claiming - as current students with knowledge of the city - that a student’s freshers experience would be ruined without buying certain club tickets which are overpriced.”
Impact found concerns regarding the validity of the events too, one student informed us that when they were a fresher in 2020, they bought a ticket to an event which was cancelled owing to lockdown. They told us the organisers rescheduled the event and changed the location: “I couldn’t make the new date and never got a refund or any compensation”.
Our survey found that 1 in 5 students felt they had been scammed by fresher event companies.***
The intensity and scale of operations to sell tickets to freshers through fear mongering and catfishing is growing every year. Unless something changes, next year’s freshers are destined to become victims of ava ricious club promoters and reps too.
By Lucinda DoddImpact contacted Fatsoma, and changed the terminol ogy in one instance on its request from ‘club promot er’ to ‘rep’. Impact asked Fatsoma if it wanted to make any further comment, and gave a deadline for this, but did not hear back before the stated deadline.
*No one on the Investigation Team has attempted to sell tickets **63 students took part in this survey ***59 students took part in this survey - 11 participants felt they had been scammed by freshers event compa nies.
If you can, wait until you’re on campus before purchas ing any club tickets.
For your own safety, wait until you can be sure you know you have people to go to events with before purchasing tickets.
Do not buy tickets to events where dates and location are “TBA”.
Buy tickets straight from legitimate clubs where possi ble to ensure events are genuine.
Investigations Team comprised of: Lucinda Dodd, Cora-Laine Moynihan, Arabella Mitchell, Kit Sinclair and Gareth Holmes.
Photography by Kavindu Ranasinghe
The rivalry between the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent is one of the most infamous in the UK. Is it just harmless fun, or is there a more sinister side to it? Impact’s Poppy Read-Pitt exam ines how the rivalry originates from classist ideas surrounding working class access to higher education.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the rivalry itself is classist, or that most things that come from it are either – most universities that exist in the same city as the other have a jovial rivalry like the one between UoN and NTU. More often than not, that’s what the rivalry is: jovial. My friends at Trent and I always joke that the oth er’s university is worse – it’s practically a rite of passage for a Notts student to receive ridicule based on which university they attend.
Yet, some UoN students seem to level jokes at Trent students in the name of this rivalry that feel more insid ious and can echo classist ideas about universities and education.
Some of the chants UoN are notorious for yelling at Trent students during our annual Varsity games or wearing on bar crawl t-shirts include: “Your dad works for my dad”, “If you can’t go to uni’, go to Trent” and “You’re thick, you’re poor, you couldn’t even score, Nottingham Trent, Nottingham Trent”.
Students from Trent, who I am friends with, confirmed that they have felt looked down upon by UoN students on occasion. One stated that it was something they en countered so often that it was “in the back of their mind to avoid the talk of what uni they go to” upon meeting someone their age.
It is easy to say that this rivalry is more about academic pedigree than classism, especially when Trent students are often insulted regarding their ‘lesser intelligence’ and ‘worse university.’ UoN supposedly ranks higher in the league tables, has higher entry grades and is a more prestigious institution, while Trent is a former poly technic and doesn’t boast an equivalent pedigree.
However, these preconceptions of our respective uni versities are false. We are not necessarily intellectually superior to Trent. For example, the idea that we are a ‘better’ university because we are in the Russell Group is false. Being a member of the Russell Group is not an indicator of academic excellence, and the fact that Trent was a polytechnic doesn’t necessarily mean its re search, education, and degrees are lower quality. There are many non-Russell Group universities - such as Bath and Lancaster - that are ranked highly in the league tables, as well as many non-Russell Group universities dominating the individual subject league tables too. 50% of the top 10 universities for English and Creative Writ ing are not Russell Group members and 30% of them are former polytechnics.
Further to this, UoN doesn’t often rank much higher than Trent in the league tables. In the 2022 Guardian league table, UoN ranked 52nd while NTU is only three places behind. In fact, we are far closer to NTU in the
ranking than we are to other prestigious Russell Group institutions like Durham or Warwick. Nottingham Trent is also rated gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework and excels in places we don’t, for example in Philoso phy, where they often rank higher than UoN.
So, considering that we are not intellectually superior to Trent, where does the idea that we are come from?
I’d argue it comes from the perceived connotations of our two universities, with Trent perceived as ‘worse’ than us because of what society subconsciously attrib utes to former polytechnic universities.
Polytechnics existed from the 1960s until 1992, when the Further and Higher Education Act gave them univer sity status. Before that time, they were, as their name in dicated, technical colleges that were created to expand access to higher education. They focused on producing vocational degrees such as Engineering, Management, Town Planning - unlike their contemporaries who were teaching more abstract degrees, like Maths or History. As a result of the vocational degrees focusing on pre paring you for employment, the cohort of polytechnics were predominantly working-class students.
Despite only offering a different type of education, as opposed to one of a lower quality, polytechnics were looked down upon. A large part of this was because polytechnics widened tertiary education access to “‘middle England’, working class homes and ethnic minorities”, as Sir Peter Scott (former vice chan cellor to Kingston University and current professor of higher education studies at UCL) wrote in his Guardian op-ed ‘It’s 20 years since polytechnics became universities – and there’s no going back.’
He argued that this inclusivity was something soci ety took issue with as many believed “a university education should be rationed to the socially privi leged and economically successful – plus, perhaps, a few deserving ‘scholarship boys.’” These attitudes have filtered down through our culture and into the subconsciousness of current
students, the anti-Trent chants that combine wealth and educational merit into the same insult is evidence of that. The fact that so many of our students have an intellectual superiority complex over other students from Trent is further proof. Students often make these jokes without understanding the venom behind them, and how would they know?
All the conflict over the expansion and legitimisation of polytechnics was resolved before most of us were even born, let alone even thinking about what universities to attend. For our generation, polytechnics are universities, so perhaps it’s time we started treating them as such and ditched the classism of the 80s.
While I’m not saying never joke about Nottingham Trent again, I do want you to think about why you’re making the joke and what prejudices you’re playing into.
I’m sure that anyone who makes these comments to Trent students, or sings those chants, are not a fullblown classist However, perhaps they haven’t put any thought into what their joke is actually implying. Still, maybe it’s time to retire those varsity chants.
by Poppy Read-Pitt Illustrated by Cora-Laine Moynihan
“They focused on producing vocational degrees... unlike their contemporaries who were teaching more abstract degrees”
For many students, starting university is synony mous with a new lifestyle, new friends, and living in a new city. Jemima Tilzey is going into her second year of nursing at the University of Nottingham (UoN). Despite growing up in Nottingham, 20 minutes away from University Park campus, Jemima decided to live on campus for her first year.
Jemima’s reason for choosing UoN was simple: the course was one of the best for nursing. Originally, she had planned to go to Manchester University, however, after retaking Biology, she got the grades for UoN.
Living so close to University Park and the QMC, Jemi ma could have continued living at home, or chosen the apprenticeship route. Yet, the university lifestyle was a major factor in her decision to live in catered halls on campus.
“I wanted to meet new people and make new friends,” explains Jemima, “I didn’t think I would make as many friends as I have…The social aspect of living on campus really surprised me. I was a bit nervous about catered food and sharing bathrooms, but I’ve actually really en joyed it.”
Jemima grew up visiting Nottingham hot spots as a local, but being a student has given her a fresh perspective: “It does feel like I’ve explored a new city. Even though I live in Notts, I’ve discovered a whole different side of it and learnt so much more about it.”
She has introduced new friends to her favourite places like Pepper Rocks and Falafel Jemima’s also discovered some for herself, including countless evenings spent at Sushi Mania making the most of the 50% off deal. Jemima had never visited Beeston before university, and hadn’t known about its great charity shop scene.
Nightlife as a student and a local in Nottingham are two extremely different experiences. Before university, Jem ima had only gone to Rescue Rooms, Stealth and Rock City. She’d never gone to student nights.
Initially joking that Pryzm has an awful reputation amongst her home friends, Jemima shared that Monday Pryzm is now one of her favourite nights out. The Cell only runs during term time and is a relatively new club, so Jemima had never gone there either before she was a UoN student.
Sharing her stomping ground with university friends has made her appreciate the city even more. Jemima grew up visiting Wollaton Park and Lakeside as a local, and over the past year she’s watched new friends also grow to love these places. It’s clear how much Jemima adores her city- raving about the variety Nottingham offers. “There are so many bars and clubs, restaurants, beautiful parks, and fun things to do.”
“People sometimes think it’s a waste to move out to only live 20 minutes away, but it was the best decision I could have made… I’ve explored a whole new side to Notts and I love it.”
by Anna Boyne Photography by Gemma Cockrell (above) & Kavindu Ranasinghe (left)
Photography by Kavindu Ranasinghe
Universities provide a space for diverse groups of people to meet and connect through their numerous student networks, societies, and sport clubs. Alongside these groups come many op portunities for inclusivity and freedom of speech. However, how lenient are Student Unions and communities when it comes to the types of groups that are affiliated?
Founded in 1887, the University of Nottingham has witnessed the lives of over a century’s worth of people from different demographics and, with them, generations worth of opposing opinions and values.
In the decades since, the University of Nottingham has continued to observe movements of beliefs, opinions, and values ranging from mainstream to controversial, particularly through the Student Un ion’s 200 odd societies and around 70 sports clubs.
Over 30,000 people attend the University; all stem ming from a range of diverse backgrounds. Accord ing to research by the Office of Students, 6.6% who joined in 2020-2021 were mature students; 29% were identified as BAME; 17.2% reported having a disability; and finally 9.8% were considered to come from the ‘most deprived’ backgrounds. Every one of these students at the University have individual inter ests, hobbies, and values. Yet some feel silenced or judged when it comes to them.
ident, people think it’s a sex society,” the society’s president, Erin Cranston, explained over a video call. The sparse knowledge and understanding of BDSM and the student group itself, often lead to misguided judgments towards it and its members. Illustrating this, Erin shared that at their first meet and greet, somebody attended who thought that it was “more like a hook up event.” This assumption resulted from the endless rumours that BDSM is all about sex, sex and more sex. But, in reality, the meet and greet was just a social event for members to meet, get drunk, and make new friends over a common interest. It was a “safe place for members to meet without judgement.”
And that last comment is entirely what Erin asserted the BDSM society is.
With an average of 80-90 members, the BDSM society aims to educate people about practising Bondage, Dominance/Discipline, Sadism/Submis sion, and Masochism safely in their private sex lives, while also offering a safe and accepting space for members to talk both online and in-person. They also run educational workshops where a profession al demonstrates how to correctly practise Bondage and Shibari (Japanese Rope Bondage), all the while ensuring consent is given and received throughout every step.
The BDSM society is in its infancy but faces numer ous unwarranted rumours, judgement, and miscon ceptions because of the subject matter.
“The most common misconception I’d say is that people think it’s a sex society,” the society’s pres
To further offer members a safe haven, the commit tee provides and regularly monitors a members-only discord server. Offensive, demeaning, and discrim inatory messages, comments, and behaviour are not tolerated - with miscreant members receiving a warning first, followed by removal from the group if they continue.
Impact’s Cora-Laine Moynihan checks out two of the more controversial UoNSU societies - BDSM Society and Students For Life.“The endless rumours that BDSM is all about sex, sex and more sex.”
“They thought people who like BDSM have experienced trauma”
“One member at the start was sending dark humour jokes, as they called it, but it just wasn’t very funny and they thought that was okay. They thought people who like BDSM have experienced trauma or dark things. That’s not always the case. So they were making these jokes thinking it was fine, but it wasn’t.”
This story is just another instance of where a mis conception has warped perceptions of a community. What we learn online, in the media, and from others unrelated to a group may not be the truth. But the BDSM society is not alone in facing this. It is not the only group causing controversy on campus.
Although formed under hostility, the society now ex periences little backlash from the student community: “I don’t feel threatened by most people,” Cameron shared, “since it’s not something they think about too often or feel passionate towards.”
However, he mentioned that a loud and aggressive minority does occasionally rear their head, particular ly during fresher’s week.
While running a stall at the 2021/22 Freshers Fair, two security guards were stationed beside them.“So much is how you talk about things”, Cameron stated before describing how one girl kept trying to bait him into arguments, hoping to goad him into behaving like the violent and misogynistic stereotype the me dia presents pro-lifers as: “I told myself to be calm Be polite.”
Nottingham Students For Life (NSFL) - who describe themselves on the SU website as “dedicated to the protection of that which is most beautiful, pure and innocent, namely the unborn” - have unsurprisingly faced more stigma than most groups on campus.
The current President, Cameron Macadam, ex plained that in 2019 the founding committee of NSFL had to battle the UoNSU to become an affiliated soci ety. The society’s application for affiliation was initial ly rejected because the group’s aims “went against the UoNSU’s policies/values” or “against the overall current student viewpoint.” Fears that NSFL would “become a ‘Campaign Group’” were also mentioned.
After highlighting that the UoNSU were in violation of the Equality Act 2010, which protects people from discrimination based on protected characteristics including religion or belief, the NSFL was officially affiliated with the Student Union.
Since then, the pro-life group has maintained their presence on campus with around 25-30 members. Cameron emphasised that the society is there for people with this common belief to meet each other and talk in a safe environment.
Mixed responses and opposition to controversial groups are expected, especially when discussions of the subjects are prominent in the media’s current fo cus on abortion and women’s safety. While freedom of speech on campus is important, the existence of both societies raises questions about the limits of what our Student Union should affiliate with, and how exactly the SU assesses these groups during the application process. Whether the BDSM Society and NSFL are comfortable with the other’s affiliation is questionable, but they do illustrate the dilemma re garding who and what is okay for our Student Union to endorse.
by Cora-Laine Moynihan“Fears that NSFL would ‘become a ‘Campaign Group’’ were also mentioned.”
“So much is how you talk about things”
Former University of Nottingham student, Nadia Whittome, is the youngest MP in the House of Commons - currently serving as the MP for Notting ham East. Impact’s Lucinda Dodd asked her about what it’s like to be the youngest MP, her time at the University and where she stands on current politi cal issues.
Nadia grew up in Nottingham, a child of working class immigrants: “I didn’t feel like caring about politics was something I could opt in or out of, it was the daily lives of my family and friends.”
She first became involved in politics as a teenager, as she puts it: “when the Tories came into power and start ed dismantling the welfare state and public services… I saw first-hand the impact of austerity on my life and the people around me, and knew I had to fight back.”
Despite this, she shared: “I never saw politics primarily as a career, and I was honestly a bit surprised when I was selected as the Labour candidate for Nottingham East.”
In 2019, aged 23, she became the ‘Baby of the House’. On how she finds this term, she revealed: “it’s a bit patronising but I don’t really mind it.”
“In my first weeks in Parliament, it felt like that’s all people kept asking me about.” She continued: “To be honest, I wish I wasn’t: it makes no sense to me that out of 650 MPs elected in 2019, only 21 were under 30. From precarious, low-paid jobs to insecure housing and the prohibitive costs of education, young people in the UK face huge issues - and deserve to get our voices heard… I’m proud to represent my generation: one that’s forward-thinking, passionate about equality and addressing the climate crisis.”
Asked about how she is treated by older politicians, she revealed: “I do sometimes feel patronised - and not just in Parliament. I’m not always treated with the same respect that some other MPs generally receive. I think that’s a lot to do with my age, but also being a woman of colour with left-wing politics.”
Nadia studied Law at the University for two years, and was involved with Labour Students, the BME Network and Left Soc before dropping out: “Due to difficult life circumstances I had to resit my first year, which meant the cost to study was then higher than I’d budgeted for, and I couldn’t afford it anymore.”
When asked about what the government should do to make sure students don’t have to leave university for financial reasons, she said: “I’m a big supporter of free further and higher education. Education is a public good - not a commodity like any other. I also know the prospect of decades of debt repayments puts even more pressure on students, especially those from work ing class backgrounds.”
“However, scrapping tuition fees is only one aspect of making education genuinely free and accessible.”
“I want to see student maintenance loans turned back into grants, to make learning truly debt-free, and raised to livable levels. Students who can’t count on family support shouldn’t have to spend their nights working exhausting part-time jobs, at the expense of their edu cation.”
Of course, I had to ask her the important question of what she regards as the best nightclub in Nottingham: “We went to Pryzm a lot as students but my favourite club has always been The Bodega - I still go a lot.”
This winter, students will undoubtedly struggle as a result of the cost of living crisis, so what advice does Nadia have for students? “It’s not my place to tell any one to take shorter showers and put on an extra jumper when the government’s failures are plunging people into poverty.”
She did have one tip though: “If you have a job, even if it’s part-time, join a trade union. Higher wages are key to beating the cost of living crisis, and we can’t count on employers to voluntarily raise them at the expense of their profits.”
As for what the government should do to help stu dents, she believes: “We must make sure that peo ple’s incomes increase in line with inflation - and that includes your student maintenance package, too! According to NUS, almost a third of students are left with just £50 a month after paying rent and bills. This simply isn’t acceptable.”
As Nadia is a rigorous advocate for environmental action, I was interested to hear what she made of Liz Truss’ policies: “Seeing her cabinet appointments didn’t fill me with optimism, to say the least.”
“Liz Truss herself complained about solar panels during her leadership campaign, and among her first announcements as Prime Minister was lifting the ban on fracking. This move will do nothing to help people struggling with their bills today, and is a disaster for the planet.
“The climate emergency has been one of my top prior ities as an MP, and I will continue holding the govern ment to account and calling for more action.”
For students, she suggests: “I strongly encourage you to get active, too! There are lots of local campaigns to support, from Climate Action Nottingham, to Extinction Rebellion Nottingham, to Nottingham Climate Assem bly. Check them out and get involved.”
With Liz Truss becoming the Conservative Party’s third female PM, I asked her whether she felt it was an issue that Labour are yet to have one: “Of course! We have never even had a woman leader, or anyone who wasn’t white, or an openly LGBTQ person. This is a great shame, and we must carefully look at the barri ers that marginalised groups face at every level of the Labour Party.”
However, she was mindful that the issue is complex: “We also have to recognise that women and minorities still face a huge amount of toxicity in public life, even more so if they’re left-wing.”
“More diversity at the top is not enough.” A black child in poverty won’t be inspired by a black Chancellor allowing him to go hungry, and working class women didn’t cheer on Theresa May cutting their benefits and closing refuges..”
“We must transform our politics so it genuinely lifts up the people who bear the brunt of structural sexism, racism and other forms of oppression.”
by Lucinda Dodd“ALMOST a third of students are left with just £50 a month after paying rent and bills”
After having to make the best of the lockdown nightlife scene (mingling in halls rather than clubs), Shakira Hamilton gives the lowdown on the best ways to socialise as a fresher.
21st of July 2021: Everything reopens and we’re finally free to dance the night away with sweaty strangers and students across the UK to celebrate.
Flashforward to the end of the night and admittedly this isn’t your proudest moment stumbling out of Ocean along with your mates at 3:00am, looking like a rather questionable ABBA tribute act.
There’s a ringing in your ears that’s so constant you could confuse it with your mum’s daily check ups and a sudden urge to ‘tactical chunder’ all over the pavement. As you walk, stumble and possibly crawl through the streets of Nottingham you begin to wonder whether this was worth it.
Miraculously, you wake up at home. Not only are you flooded with missed calls and notifications from Uber Eats, your ex, and your mum (bless her), but you’re convinced those last 3 VKs, copious mixed drinks and shots for your whole flat, along with the flat downstairs, may have sent you into your overdraft. You’re too scared to check.
With a pounding in your head you think I’m never club bing again. Inevitably you head back to sleep (knowing full well you will be clubbing next week).
Clubbing, although fun in moderation, is arguably not the best way to bond with your fellow freshers. With creepy strangers at the bar and that one over-friend ly flatmate buying you a few too many drinks, maybe opting for a night in could be a better alternative? It is sometimes hard to find a balance between socialising in halls and exploring what Nottingham has to offer you on a night out so take your time to do both! Don’t forget you can club all the way through your university years but remember flatmates will come and go. So, try your best to get to know them.
Pubs are great if you’re looking for a more casual setting for drinks so why not see what Sheaves - a favour ite amongst our second years - has to offer? Too lazy to
travel? Mooch is literally on campus. Cheap and cheer ful, pubs are a fun way to socialise without having to rely on your notes app to tell your friends you’re off for another drink. Or, for a ‘lockdown esque’ vibe, why not throw a good ol’ fashioned flat party? They were all the rage when clubs were closed... Drunk Twister, Ring-ofFire, and Paranoia are an excellent way to get the party started. How could you not have fun when taking shots of Tesco’s own Vodka, and continually thanking that one friend with the JBL speaker for being the DJ?
With plenty to explore in Nottingham remember to keep your Friday night options open. The club could never capture the bonding that a hall social does, and, sure, you may end up as the designated cleaner come morn ing, but at least your overdraft is thankful.
Before you rush out this Freshers’ Week, consider ditch ing the pre-drinks for a pack of playing cards instead.
by Shakira Hamilton Illustration by Karina Pang Page Design by Catrin Dimond
Photography by Kavindu Ranasinghe
Impact’s Anna Boyne shares the physical and mental benefits of cold-water swimming and reveals her own experience of trying it out at Colwick Country Park.
Swimming in a lake may not sound like most people’s idea of fun – let alone in winter when temperatures are in the single digits. However, cold-water swimming is swelling in popularity. Participants are raving about their experiences and the rejuvenating effects. Anna Boyne wanted to test the waters and see if cold-water swim ming lived up to the hype. Could numb toes and shivering for hours afterwards really be worth it?
Cold-water swimming - also known as open air swim ming - has numerous scientifically proven health benefits. Of course, it’s great exercise, but compared to a heated swimming pool, the heart has to pump faster and therefore more calories are burned. The natural conditions of open-air water means your body might have to work harder than in a laned and chlorinated swimming pool.
Studies have also shown that it can improve sleep through stimulating the parasympathetic nervous sys tem - a network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger - and, ultimately, help the body to rest and repair itself.
You may have heard about athletes taking ice baths af ter intense exercise. Cold-water swimming provides the same effects. It narrows the arteries, reduces potential inflammation, and soothes sore muscles.
Regular exposure to cold-water can boost your immune system. As the body is forced to react to the changing conditions within the water, more white blood cells are produced. It also increases your levels of the powerful antioxidant glutathione which is reduced by poor nutrition, environmental toxins and stress.
As well as physical impacts, cold-water swimming can be beneficial for improving mental health. As the body is submerged in cold water, we get close to our pain barriers.
Endorphins, a chemical produced to make us feel good during physical activity, are then released to help us cope with it. The result is a feeling of a natural high, mental clarity, reduced stress and improved concentra tion.
With so many potential benefits, why would you not want to dip your toe in some cold-water swimming?
Following a little research, I decided to go to Whole Health’s Mindfulness Dip in Colwick Country Park. Although apprehensive, I felt very safe. The team there was extremely knowledgeable and there was a life guard at hand. Before entering the water, Coach Cat answered all my questions and gave me a safety rundown. As the water was 6ºC, I was told that 6 minutes was the recommended swim time for a beginner.
At first, I walked in gradually to hip height then had to jump forwards to submerge my shoulders and start swimming. It was painfully cold, and my fingers and toes became increasingly numb. I also found my breathing became irregular so I had to focus on keep ing calm.
Most people find that getting into the water is the most unpleasant part of a cold-water swimmer’s experience. However, I found the immediate after-effects were worse.
Even when I was dry with many warm layers on, I was shivering nonstop and didn’t regain feeling in my toes again for another hour at least. I was decidedly unim-
pressed to be told that I might not properly warm up until the next day!
I certainly felt a sense of achievement for having com pleted my first cold-water swim and the overall experi ence was quite rewarding. However, I’m in no rush to make it my new hobby. I found that it was probably too much faff and too expensive to fit my student schedule and budget. 6 miles from University Park Campus, Colwick Country Park is relatively inaccessible by public transport, so I had to get a Bolt on my journey there as I was tight for time. On my way home, I had to walk an hour into town where I then got a bus back to campus. This was both time consuming and expen sive, on top of the £10 I’d paid to do just 6 minutes of swimming!
The plunge pool in the Sports Injury Clinic in David Ross Sports Village could be a more student friendly alternative.For just £2.50, you can have a similar ex perience and reap many of the same benefits. In fact, some people might prefer not having to swim amongst animals and whatever else you might find in Colwick Lake.
If you’re considering giving cold-water swimming a go, I’d definitely recommend it. To see any noticeable benefits, you’d probably have to commit to swimming on a regular basis. Nonetheless, a one-off experience can still be fun, and I’m certainly not ruling it out as a potential hobby later down the line.
by Anna Boyne Images by Anna BoyneLife in the UK may seem perfectly normal to those who’ve grown up here, but how does it appear to a pair of fresh eyes? Shashwat Goyal, an international student from India, lays bare
“You can just use the tap for drinking water.” Back in 2021, when I was still a fresh-faced young’un new to the UK, this nonchalant remark alarmed me. Horrifying accounts about the fate of tap drink ers are all too common back in India - I’ll leave the details to your
Now, one whole year later, the vigour of youth has departed my creaky bones and I have succumbed to the quirks of the so-called ‘United’ Kingdom. I’ve visited every pub in a one mile radius of the University to hunt down the cheapest pint, and probably drunk more in my one year here than in the 22 years prior. I may be a Cancer
However, some things were good for my health. My intake of fried potato has declined as I refuse to eat chips here. This may seem blasphemous to you but I grew up on a healthy diet of french fries, and, in comparison, chips are merely a cheap British imitation of their French brethren’s glorious, crispy batons. Now, of course, french fries aren’t really French, but it gives France another culinary
I have to say, for how much one hears about the British Raj back in India, I am yet to see where all the stolen spices went - it’s certainly not in the food. Actually, I’m not entirely sure what the British Empire did achieve, beyond paying for the monarch’s swans (the sun setting on the Empire must have hit the monarchy’s bottom line pretty hard). I assume it happened just after 4pm on one winter’s day, based on
The way I’ve made sense of the weather is that the sun in the UK is like a toxic ex: they’re never there when you want them, but the moment you accept their absence and get used to life without them,
All this said, one thing I do appreciate is the freedom afforded to kids in the UK. They’re allowed to be in charge of their own life. In contrast, almost everyone I know studying abroad in the UK is funded by their parents. This struck me particularly hard when my English friend told me his dad kicked him off the family Spotify plan since
The adjustment to life in the UK has been interesting. From pub crawls to chip butties, I have definitely found this country to have
by Shashwat Goyal Illustration by Catrin Dimond
Everyone knows the feeling of having an outfit that we absolutely love and want to wear all the time. But what if someone notices that we only just wore it a few days ago? In the media, celebrities con stantly shove designer brands in our faces, only to never wear these items again. Some people have wardrobes full of clothes they barely wear, but they never donate or recycle them. If we only see outfits once, what happens to them?
The stigma surrounding outfit repeating is not only financially unviable, especially as students, but also detrimental to the environment. The number of gar ments produced annually has doubled since 2000.
Buying ridiculously cheap fast fashion items comes with a hidden cost. Many buyers rarely stop to think about the workers who are paid below the legal minimum wage; who are forced to work long hours in unsafe environments, and don’t have access to health care or paid leave.
Is it really necessary to keep buying excessive amounts of new clothes just to avoid outfit-repeating? The amount of textile waste produced and the human and environmental cost is certainly not fashionable.
Curating a wardrobe of pieces we want to wear over and over can help us combat the stigma of outfit repeating. If we truly love what we already own, why wouldn’t we want to wear these items as much as possible? It’s also much less expensive to keep wear ing what you already own, instead of regularly buying cheap clothes that won’t last or stay trendy for long.
Though every different style comes with different sta ples, there are some universal ones which enable us to all appreciate people’s style and fashion. Investing in good quality basics is a must. Simple tops, trousers and skirts that can all be worn in rotation and paired with one another are staples for any style.
Accessories can instantly elevate a look. There are endless ways to recreate the classic jeans and t-shirt combination you might wear to lectures. Wearing some statement earrings, adding a leather jacket, or changing up your shoes are just a few ways to rewear without repeating.
Another great reason to repeat outfits you’ve already worn countless times is that it’s simply easier. You can roll out of bed for your 9am lecture and throw on an outfit you know looks good.
You can say yes to last-minute plans without panicking that you have nothing to wear. It’s much more liber ating to stop caring if people have already seen your outfit.
Even then, what is really the big deal with re-wearing an outfit? Fashion is a form of self-expression. If an outfit makes you feel great, you should be entitled to wear it as many times as you want.
By Ella Keene Illustration by Zainab Shakeel Page Design by Catrin DimondWant to know how to get your date swooning over you? Izzy Rodney covers the best places Nottingham has to offer for a romantic night out.
First dates can be scary. The one thing I learned as a child from The Princess and The Frog movie is that the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach (and in my case this is very much the truth!). Whilst I can’t promise you that your date will be perfect, I can assure you that at these spots, the food will not disappoint.
I find that dates are very important regardless of whether you’re in ‘the talking stage’ or an established relationship. They allow you to spend quality time with your (potential) loved one and build connections. When you spend one-on-one time with someone, you are able to learn their likes, dislikes, the name of their pet bird or why their ex left them (hopefully not the latter though - that definitely should not come up in conversation on the first date).
When I plan a date, I always recommend restaurants or bars that serve mouth-watering but affordable food and drinks to finish the night on a high. On that note, I wanted to share a few of my personal favourite places in Nottingham that I’ve found over the past two years. WITH IZZY RODNEY
“I always recommend restaurants or bars that serve mouth-watering but affordable food and drinks”
Romance Ranking: 2/5
Price: ££
If you’re new to Korean BBQ, then you need to go to this place! Upon visiting the Beeston based restau rant, I had never tried Korean cuisine despite Kimchi and Korean Fried Chicken flooding my TikTok ‘For You Page’. That is why I decided to try Korea House and I was not disappointed!
Personal favourites:
The Bulgogi Chicken Deop-Bap (a rice bowl topped with a mildly sweet and salty fried chicken and stirfried vegetables), and the Beef-fried Rice was amaz ing. I often still think about that rice bowl because I finished it within minutes (no exaggeration!). On a weekday, when there are fewer people, this is the perfect setting to really get to know your date.
Romance Ranking: 3/5
Price: ££
My first experience with Tamatanga was in Leicester with my best friend but Nottingham has its own Tama tanga restaurant in Trinity Square. The standard set in Leicester was extremely high so you can expect the same quality at the other locations.
Tamatanga offers a variety of options from wraps, to curry bowls, to authentic clay-oven cooked meats and small plates for if you’re in the mood for some thing small. I recommend the Prawn Tempura if you’re feeling peckish.
Personal favourite: The Chicken Wrap and legendary Tama Chips are not something you want to miss. However, this res taurant is best left for spice-junkies to enjoy on a firstdate. So keep that in mind to avoid your date running to the bathroom.
Romance Ranking: 4/5
Price: £££
House of Coco Tang, located in the city centre, offers an experience beyond par. With a slim doorway lead ing to an underground bar as the entrance, its interior alone will make you feel as if you are walking down an alleyway in Hong-Kong with its bright, illuminous, LED signs. The aesthetic of Coco Tang is actually based on the Mong Kok alley from the 1980s. Its ro mantic ambience - colourful lanterns and its club-like essence with old-skool classics playing in the back ground - makes it one of the best date night settings.
Personal favourites:
The Fight Club Iced Tea (which comes with an edible Fight Club bar of soap) and the iconic Regina George Cocktail. These drinks are not only aesthetically pleasing, but will also have you and your date feeling tipsy and definitely comfortable with one another. If not, you’ll have some great material for your Insta gram.
Romance Ranking: 5/5 Price: ££
Whether you’re a sweet or savoury kind of person, Pudding Pantry will have your date falling in love with you or simply drowning in their pancakes. Using homemade recipes, they offer stunning stacks of pancakes, sickly puddings and many other break fast items. Brunch is served until 4pm, and you can get a full English breakfast for just under £12 (which includes American-style pancakes and maple syrup!). It’s not only date worthy but also a great spot to bring your friends and family too.
Personal favourites:
When I fancy something savoury, my go-to order is the scrambled eggs with sourdough toast with the addition of smoked salmon and avocado. However, I have to admit to stealing a few bites from my date’s Loaded Salted Caramel Brownie Pancakes so I can vouch that they will send you into sugar-heaven! With its dainty interior, if you’re looking to have your Lady and Tramp ‘spaghetti kiss’ moment, the pancake platter for two is your best option.
Even if you find that your date is not marriage-worthy, I can assure you that you will have many more successful dates and at least you’ll have fallen in love with something - that being these places!
By Izzy RodneyYou’ve finally arrived in Nottingham: a diverse city full of attractions and activities to keep you busy. From the picturesque scenery of Old Market Square on a weekend, to the bustling line for Ocean on a Friday night, you’ll never find yourself bored. However, sometimes you just need to break free from your normal routine and have a day trip somewhere. But where? To that end, I present to you the very best attractions the surrounding area has to offer.
This is for the hikers, the photographers, the birdwatchers and the animal lov ers... and practically everyone else who enjoys nature. There are lots of walks around the centre to choose from - something for every ability. If you need a rest after your walk, there is a café too. What makes this even better is that it is about a 20 minute car or bus ride away from the city.
It’s about an hour’s drive away, or about two with public transport. I know it sounds like a lot, but I can assure you it’s worth it. If you’re not a fan of roller coasters, there are plenty of family rides and smaller attractions (Bonus - these will have a much shorter wait time too!). Make sure to get lots of pictures of the beautiful grounds as well as the rides, and there’s some hidden hiking routes to discover around the gardens. Don’t forget to use the student discount too.
Are you a little creative? Have an artistic side? At this art café in Nottinghamjust a tram stop away from campus - you can relish in creative activities such as painting your own glass coasters whilst indulging in a fresh and delicious after noon tea. The Tea House also holds a variety of creative workshops, including embroidery, floristry and candle making. The perfect antidote for your hangover.
A thirty-minute train ride away from Nottingham, Leicester is another city in the Midlands that you should definitely check out. It’s worth visiting during one of their many festivals, including the Leicester Comedy Festival, Leicester Pride, and their International Short Film Festival - which is coming up soon in November. If you’re feeling cultured, you could also take a trip to one of the independent thea tres or art galleries.
Okay, so you’re 18, and this place is technically more for 8 year olds, but bear with me. Just a short trip from the city centre, Stonebridge City Farm is both easy to get to and entertaining. The main attractions are the farm animals (that you can hand-feed), the café and the playground. Perhaps that last one is mostly for kids, but who is stopping you from going on the swings and living your best life? Be prepared to make a quick getaway if a parent snitches on you though…
by Amelia Brookes Illustration/Page Design by Catrin Dimond
Photography by Catrin Dimond
The kitchen was surprisingly busy for 9 in the morning, even considering that everyone in the block shared it. The room was occupied by people Stephen had seen before; someone who lived Across-The-Hall from him was crying and it appeared he was being comforted by that one Girl-From-Top-Floor (GFTF), Guy-Not-FromThis-Block (GNFTB), and several others. Quite annoyingly, they were all congregating in front of the fridge. There didn’t seem to be a world outside of their huddle; certainly not to them at least, since they paid Stephen no mind as he watched the scene unfold.
“…Dude, if you break up, who’s gonna get the Minecraft server?” GNFTB blurted out. Across-The-Hall’s crying died down to a soft whimper and the kitchen fell into a moment of silence. Just a moment it was, however, be cause Across-The-Hall broke into a snotty bawl. GFTF reached across and smacked GNFTB on the back of the head.
“Who cares about the Minecraft server?” She hissed, while the others grouped around Across-The-Hall to coo them into some kind of calm. GNFTB rubbed the back of his head and muttered something that Stephen couldn’t quite make out, though he did see GFTP roll her eyes. Stephen edged closer and cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Do you guys mind if I..?” GFTP whipped around to face him, clearly ready to throw hands at the slightest provocation but realising that they were between Ste phen and breakfast, she stood down.
“Oh, sorry.”
“No worries, is everything alright?”
“Dude, read the room,” She snapped. Stephen flinched but before he could get an apology out, she started shepherding the others out of the kitchen. Stephen final ly managed to attempt breakfast, only to realise that he was out of milk anyway.
through the Cognition lecture. Danielle shuffled along the row of filled seats, leaving a cacoph ony of apologies and excuses as she made her way to the seat he had saved her in the middle of the row.
“Y’know,” She whispered, the whole year group glaring in their direction, “Sometimes I think you do this on pur pose.” Stephen rested his chin in the palm of his hand and simply smiled.
“I don’t know what you mean by that.”
“Ass.” Danielle sighed as she plopped herself down on the seat and began setting up. Out came a laptop covered in stickers, a book the size of the Bible titled Building Experiments In PsychoPy, and, of course, her signature water bottle that was a rinsed-out bottle of Smirnoff Vodka. They had only known each other for 3 weeks but Stephen could tell that the bottle was freshly out.
“So, what caused the hour-long delay?”
“It was so weird, one of the girls in my block had a fight with her boyfriend-“ She was cut off by a Shhh! from two rows above. Danielle spun around and flipped off the general direction the interruption came from. “-cause she got off with a rando in Ocean and they got caught on camera. Apparently, a Minecraft server is involved? I’m not too sure but when you see a girl down, you help cheer her up.” Stephen let out a breath of amusement.
“Huh. Small world.”
By Botond Farago, President of UoN’s Creative Writing Society Illustration/Page Design by Zainab ShakeelImpact’s Gaming Editor Alice Bennett playfully ex plores the gaming landscape in Nottingham, and the top places to visit for UoN’s newest arrivals!
Despite no longer homing the National Videogame Museum - which has, unfortunately for us Notting ham-based gamers, moved to Sheffield - Nottingham has plenty to offer in terms of its gaming scene. This includes clubs and societies at the university, as well as places to visit in the city. Here’s a guide to Nottingham’s gaming landscape for you gaming nerds out there (or for those of you who want to avoid them)!
Within the University of Nottingham, there are plenty of societies to join. There is the Role-Playing and War games Society for Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering fans. Or perhaps Board Game Society is more your thing, with weekly board game nights in the Trent building (in case Crisis isn’t up your alley). Game Soc is for video gamers; the society hosts a weekly game night and has Esports teams for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends and Overwatch in the National Student Esports and The National Universi ty Esports League.
For the niche gamers out there, Warhammer World is your safe haven. It attracts gamers from around the UK - solidifying Nottingham as a prime location for gaming fans.
The city is also home to board game café Ludorati. For the board gamers out there, this place is a must! It is the perfect destination (if Starbucks doesn’t do it for you) to
meet with friends for a quick game and a coffee. It has a library consisting of 750 board games with a wide range of genres, providing something for everyone. Visiting the café is a great way to discover new board games and to try out some. Whilst you’re there, you may as well treat yourself to some cake or try their “Ludo-shakes’’ and “Ludo-Lattes”.
Finally, let’s not forget a classic destination for students on a night out: Penny Lane. Not only are the cocktails unique and creative (my friend once ordered a skittles cocktail that came with a pack of skittles attached to the glass), it also has a range of arcade games including air hockey, basketball and a foosball table. Penny Lane is a safe bet to take your non-gaming friends. And some how, they’ll probably beat you in the mini-games (my gaming skills sadly did not translate into my air hockey playing abilities).
If you are a fresher joining the University and are inter ested in gaming, every one of these societies and plac es mentioned is a must-visit over the next few years.
By Alice Bennett Illustration/Page Design by Zainab Shakeel
“solidifying Nottingham as a prime location for gaming fans”
Nottingham’s history within film is rather limited and subdued: it’s not a city familiar with the big screen, glorified by big sweeping shots like we see of London. However, that’s not to say its history is non-existent. In fact, many areas around the city were used within the production and shooting of films. What’s more, a common trend emerges when exploring Nottingham’s history in the film industry: crime. Sam Barnes takes a look at the most iconic depictions of crime in Nottingham.
The city and county has a unique history with criminals that differentiates it from all other towns and cities in the country. Crime holds an integral place in Nottingham’s history, yet, it’s not a straightforward relationship. In contrast to other cities, Nottingham doesn’t pride itself on its obscure nobles and businessmen from the past, but rather its criminals. No well-known aristocrats are placed on pedestals by this city. Instead, legendary figures - who are criminals no less - tend to uphold the ideas and the values of Nottingham.
Robin Hood, a well-known figure to those both local to Nottingham and not, is the city’s mascot and one of the most well-loved folk heroes of the UK. However,he doesn’t quite fit the ideal of a conventional hero. Numer
ous retellings have told the famous tale of an unlikely outlaw, who, with his Band of Merry Men, ‘robs from the rich and gives to the poor!’ These adaptations range from Disney’s 1973 Robin Hood animation to the 2010 action film starring Russell Crowe.
Nottingham’s history of rebellious figures doesn’t just end there. The same praise is said for Ned Ludd, the supposed leader of the Luddites. Similar to Robin Hood, the movement saw the creation of one singular fictional figure in Ned Ludd, to represent their struggle.
In modern media, many may know of them thanks to Horrible Histories - a TV show I think we can all appreciate for teaching us many great things. The catchy punk song inspired by bands like The Clash and the Sex Pistols told us how the Luddites rose up against their employers who had begun to exploit them with the invention of new technology.
“The luddites rose up against their employers”
Behind the camera, Nottingham’s link to crime-fighters and vigilantes persists. Jumping from the pages of com ic books, DC’s Batman has a well-connected history with Nottingham. For one, the small village south of the city provided the inspiration for the Caped Crusader’s own fictional setting of Gotham. More recently, when shooting Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy (2008-2012), Nottingham became his home, as our very own Wollaton Hall was transformed into Wayne Manor, bringing its stellar cast such as Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway to the grounds and the surrounding city.
The manor is prevalent during much of the final in stalment in the trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Wollaton Hall, which for a century prior had served as a museum, was brought back to life as a large state ly home. The vast and beautiful grounds of Wollaton as we know them were transformed by Nolan into the brooding, gloomy atmosphere that matches the rest of Batman’s city of Gotham. The outer grounds and many of the rooms were refurbished and cleared of tourist facilities to allow the hall to feel alive and lived in once again.
criminals was all positive. Recent television pro grammes have shown the darker side of crime within the city, and these depictions cannot be ignored such as the recent drama series, Landscapers (2021).
The drama follows the murders of William and Patricia Wycherley in 1988 by their daughter, Susan and her husband, Christopher Edwards, detailing how the pair kept their crime hidden until 2013. In Landscapers, the history of criminal exploits previously told through fun action flicks and songs is replaced with a dark drama that presents the criminal reality in and around our city.
The mood is set for the series with an opening shot of the Market Square on a rainy night. We see the latenight trams, the stone lions, and yet everything just seems off. We are taken to the places we know and love, places where many of us frequent, and yet we are seeing a side to it that is thankfully hidden from us in our daily lives.
The city embodies the gloomy, eerie atmosphere of the unsettling events that occurred, a stark contrast to the celebratory nature often associated with criminals that we are all too used to thanks to the tales of Robin Hood and Ned Ludd.
Overall, the setting of Wollaton for the location of Bruce’s home provided people who are already familiar with the house a unique opportunity to witness what it could have looked like in all its glory, hosting functions, with lavish décor.
This is not to say that Nottingham’s history of famous
We cannot ignore Nottingham’s distinct approach to tackling its criminal past. It depicts criminals and vigi lantes in a positive light through folklore and fiction as they take justice into their own hands. Characters born of legend symbolise movements and ideas supported by our city.
By Sam Barnes Illustrations by Karina Pang Page Design by Catrin Dimond“the darker side of crime within our city”
Impact’s Music Editor Emily Campbell caught up with Nottingham alumnus Joe Keogh, the vocalist and guitarist from the indie rock band Amber Run. They spoke about what it was like starting a band in Nottingham ten years ago, their days at UoN, and the journey that has led to the band’s current position.
Amber Run formed in 2012 when the band members were studying at the University of Nottingham. Joe and Tom Sperring (bass guitar) already knew each other from school, and Tom met Henry Wyeth (keys) when they were neighbours in first year halls.
Amber, but a German artist with the same name threat ened to sue them, causing them to add ‘run’ to it. “I used to be a bit embarrassed of that story”, Joe laughs, “but I kind of like that the name means absolutely nothing”.
Joe reminisced about the band’s day-to-day lives back at UoN. He joined the cricket team and was less than impressed when he had to buy the kit. He was even more annoyed when he was given the number 69: “I remember being like ‘I spent like £300 and now I can’t wear this stuff out!’”
The band collectively set up ‘The Saturday Breakfast Society’ in which they would take turns to make the “grossest student breakfasts.” They had a small turnout with only one other member in attendance, who was quick to leave. Consequently, the society didn’t survive. Joe also has a link to Impact - his partner, Daisy, was a part of it which he “always thought was really cool.”
Joe was taught American Studies, Tom: Law and Henry: Ancient History, but they all knew their joint passion for music outweighed their individual dedication to their academic subjects. Joe commented that “once the pos sibility of just making music became evident, we all kind of decided that it would be more fun.”
In a world where indie bands are constantly trying to outdo one another with the weirdness of their names, I was curious to see if there was a story behind Amber Run’s Joe revealed how the band were originally called
He reflects on how his university experience was so shaped by his music that he had little time to explore other hobbies or interests: “I look back on my universi ty career now with a little bit of regret that I didn’t take advantage of more of the stuff that was there for me to use.” Perhaps there is some advice for freshers in thisto remember to soak up everything uni life has to offer.
The band members cut their university experience short at the end of their second year when they were signed
“I kind of like that the name means absolutely nothing”
by Sony. This decision was tough for the group, but “the opportunities that were turning up were too good to not take… It’s not very often Sony comes knocking down your door.”
Joe shared that “university was kind of a stop gap personally for me, but Nottingham the city itself certainly wasn’t.” The city played a significant part in the band’s formation and development. The bustling music scenes of the early 2010s provided the perfect environment for the band to find their unique sound and demo their mu sic to an audience: “We were flying on the back of Jake Bugg, London Grammar and Dog Is Dead, who were all coming out of the scene at the same time as us. So, the spotlight was on Nottingham in a big way at that time.”
Amber Run’s first gigs took place at venues such as The Bodega and Rescue Rooms. Nottingham’s array of music venues, and their difference in size allows unestablished bands to work their way up: “We start ed doing all our stuff in the acoustic rooms at Rescue Rooms. Whenever we come back through when we’re playing for a day or two, I always try to go down and play the open mic just because it’s good fun. I think it’s way harder than playing to a room of people who know you and like you. I think that stuff is important to keep on trying to improve your craft.”
When asked if he had a standout gig in Nottingham, Joe found it hard to narrow it down to just one: “We played a couple of really great gigs at Rescue Rooms. Henry, myself and Daisy all worked there so it always feels like coming home. We played a couple of absolute worldies at Rock City as well.”
In a tough and competitive music industry, Joe offered his best advice to aspiring musicians who want to follow in the path of bands like Amber Run: “Spend some time writing songs and honing your craft. Try not to get too hung up on the numbers and perceptions because it doesn’t really matter. As long as you’re enjoying the music you’re making then you’re a success.” For UoN musicians, Joe even offered to give his own support: “If people ever want to ask us questions then they are more than welcome to reach out”.
Amber Run’s song writing process tends to come from one perspective, and in the case of their newly released single “Cradle”, it’s Joe’s: “I have a daughter, she’s one now. When people speak about their child, they’re like ‘you’ve never known a love like it’. I was like yeah, it’s just another thing that happens, but then obviously when it happened to me, I had to eat my words and that song is about that.”
Joe revealed that the band have upcoming plans to tour: “It will be really good fun, I’m sure we’ll be coming to Nottingham.”
By Emily Campbell Photography by Jordan Curtis Hughes“As long as you’re enjoying the music you’re making then you’re a success”
Conversations with Friends (2022) follows the story of Frances and Bobbie, two college students in Dublin, and their interesting relationship with married couple, Melissa and Nick.
Adapted from Sally Rooney’s novel, Conversations with Friends was a much-anticipated TV series. The novel and TV show follow Frances and Bobbi, both students at Trinity College. The main narrative explored in this TV/Novel is their problematic relationship with Melissa and Nick, a successful married couple. However, does the TV adaptation live up to expectations?
Sally Rooney’s earlier novel and 2020 TV adaptation, Normal People, was a huge hit with students. The heart-wrenching love story, and the character’s inability to communicate their feelings made the TV show ex tremely relatable to students. The outstanding feedback of this adaptation, in turn, created a high expectation for Conversations with Friends, which was ultimately not fulfilled.
Although the storyline is interesting and emotional, I don’t think the adaptation brings the novel to life in the same way as People. The main reason is the por trayal of the characters, especially Frances and Bobbi.
Frances in the adaptation - portrayed by Alison Oliver - acts differently to how she does in the book; behaving in a selfish way by putting her thoughts and actions before others, without thinking of the conse quences. Meanwhile, the character of Bobbi (played by Sasha Lane) is even more insufferable to watch. I can not explain exactly what I did not like about the character of Bobbi, I just found her very frustrating. The dislike many people felt towards the characters significantly impacted the storyline and success of the TV show.
Although I did not enjoy Conversations with Friends thoroughly, I do believe Frances’ ongoing struggle with endometriosis, and the documentation of this battle throughout the TV adaptation, is extremely important. Endometriosis is not well-documented on TV even though this condition affects around 176 million women worldwide, so this representation is very welcomed.
Overall, I do think that Conversations with Friends is worth a watch, but it just does not live up to the hype it was given.
By Arabella Mitchell Illustration by Zainab Shakeel
Looking for an endearing coming-of-age comedy which explores the highs and lows of starting UK university? Channel 4’s Big Boys is for you. Staring Derry Girls’ Dylan Llewellyn, the show centres around the unlikely friendship which blooms between shy, closeted Jack and outgoing, laddish Danny, during their first year at Brent University.
Big Boys perfectly balances light-hearted comedy with touching, poignant moments, exploring everything from what it’s like to move away from home to coming to terms with one’s sexuality; struggling with mental health; and grieving the loss of a family member. The focus on wholesome male friendship between two lovable charac ters is refreshing, and full of heart.
Big Boys will be relatable to any university student - par ticularly so to anyone who has experienced UK Freshers events. With only six episodes, it’s a short but brilliant series, which will make you laugh and cry.
By Amy Child
Fresh Meat first appeared on screens on Channel 4 10 years ago, and is unmatchable in its portrayal of university life - where it presents a crushing, disgusting, funny, and heart-breaking reality. The show was already finished by the time I started my degree, and it was one I didn’t really relate to until the summer of my first year. Now it’s one I return to nearly every year.
Made by the creators of Peep Show, Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, Fresh Meat is based on their experienc es at University and captures the combination of chaos (house parties, mishaps, and somehow sleeping with a lecturer) and normality (arguments about stealing food). For first years, it is an essential watch, if only to prepare yourself for the mess that is to come, and make you feel better at points as you remind yourself that at least it’s not going that bad.
By Holly Lizzie Wilson
University is like a mythic place in your mind before you start. All you know is that people go there and have the best three years of their life. You know you can drink beer and go out with your best friends with no responsibilities.
Old School is a comedy where Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn, feeling stale and miserable in their thirties, de cide to try and relive their golden university days. Wilson buys a house next to campus and they end up creating a fraternity. Ferrell and Vaughn are hilarious, attempting to escape their mundane lives through drinking and streaking while having no awareness of their own mediocrity. Like all students, they soon realise that university life is not simple. While there are immeasurable highs, they have forgotten how incessantly confusing student life can be. Just like real life university, this film is filled with both disaster and laughter.
By Charlie MarisWhile in Boston this summer, I found The Idiot by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Elif Batumanand was intrigued by its insight into studying at Harvard University. The novel, which follows a Turkish American freshman studying linguistics named Selin Karadağ adjusting to life as a college student,was inspired by Batuman’s time at the institution.
The first part of the novel depicts the eponymous idiot meeting her difficult roommates, new friends and professors. It focuses mainly on the complex relationship between Selin and fellow student Ivan, which is fuelled by infatuation and intellect. The second part occurs mainly in the Hungarian countryside, as Selin teaches English and yearns to learn more about Ivan’s heritage.
Filled with references to literature and culture, Selin is a witty and relata ble narrator. : ”I woke up at 9:07, I stared at the clock, wondering wheth er to stay in bed, go to breakfast, or go late to… class,” - I’ve definitely had this debate with my internal monologue before!
By Nat Howarth by Vicki
Photography by Kavindu Ranasinghe
The University of Nottingham has tons of sports to choose from, with opportunities for students to do anything from MMA to Ten Pin Bowling. Throughout this year’s print issues, Impact Sport is attempting some that drift under the majority of students’ radar. For this edition, it's time to study the playbook and strap on the pads, as Impact’s Alex Ismail attempts American Football.
I had never strayed far from traditional sports, playing rugby, football, and cricket all my life. In another of the pandemic’s frustrating blows, Covid almost stopped me from playing any sport in my first year.
Starting my second year, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try something new. My inspiration came from the NFL All or Nothing documentaries on Ama zon Prime - one of my many lockdown binges, and the New York Giants shirt I bought on a school trip to America the previous year.
After speaking to the American Football representa tives at the university’s welcome fair and stalking their social media, I decided to go to their taster session and see if it was really for me.
The early sessions involved trying out every position. Being 5’7” and 60 kg ruled me out of several positions, and it soon became clear there was only one place for me: wide receiver - a role which required speed and good catching ability. While practising simple routes (paths run by receivers to get into position to catch the ball), I soon discovered that the quick feet and good hands I developed playing rugby were essential.
Training sessions were a step up from the tasters. Practice on Tuesday and Thursday started with an hour-long classroom session at 6pm and ended at 10pm. Sunday morning practice lasted three hours. For these eleven hours of training a week, I felt like a side character in some coming-of-age movie, and I unashamedly bought into it.
Over the following weeks, I learned what it meant to be a wide receiver and slowly developed my knowledge about the complexities of American Football. I loved running routes and catching the ball as it provided me with an opportunity to show off. However, we did not do nearly as much live practice as I would have liked.
A wide receiver’s second most important job is block ing. This responsibility involves moving defenders out of the way to clear space for the running back. As someone who spent years avoiding people twice my size, it certainly challenged my instincts! Despite often ending up on the floor, I actually enjoyed the role, see ing how vital it was for the team to succeed.
Although practice could be difficult, it was the class room sessions that really tested me. Studying the playbook involved learning the names, numbers, and variations of twenty different tactics. You could not do your job without it, and you would struggle to get selected if you ran the wrong route in practice. As a result, I would spend my walks onto campus practising the plays, and over the first few weeks of term, I spent more time studying the playbook than working on my degree.
The initial training was done without pads and with minimal contact, but this soon changed. With this step up came my first real issue. Although most players received their pads straight away, there was a delay of almost two weeks before I got an opportunity to train in pads. It was only after I tried them on that I realised two things. One, American Football with pads was almost a completely different sport, and, two, I had two weeks of catching up to do.
I decided to go home, work harder and make the most of the opportunities that came my way. After buying an American football and some wide receiver gloves, I found that catching in my bedroom was an excellent new way to procrastinate doing my university work while also helping me improve.
Then, disaster struck. A simple catch struck my hand at the wrong angle, causing my thumb to swell up to twice its usual size. Despite the Tangfastics the physios gave me, I was unable to continue the session and was forced to sit out the following three practices to rest the injury.
I watched from the sideline, continued to learn the playbook and tried to participate in any drills I could, but the injury persisted. I knew if I continued to sacrifice my time without playing it was going to be detrimental to my degree and my mental health. So, after two months of American Football, I had to admit defeat and hang up my ‘cleats’. It may not have worked out for me, but I definite ly recommend giving it a go, especially if you are in first year and have more time.
My brief flirt with American Football was nothing if not fas cinating. I was challenged both mentally and technically in a unique way. Having to learn and work off a playbook rather than on instinct tested me like never before. I loved the sport, the people, and the experience, but unfortu nately, you won’t be seeing me in the NFL any time soon.
My first chance to show my new skills was as a kick-returner against the university’s premier side, the Gold team. The ball sailed through the air towards me, I caught it cleanly and spotted a gap in the chasers and thought that this was my moment! Yet, as I crashed into my teammate and was crushed by people twice my size, this thought quickly evaporated. A humbling experience to say the least but I still felt like I was making progress.
Even though I stopped playing, my fascination with the sport persists. I continued to follow the New York Giants despite their dismal 2021 season, and I am extremely excited for their 2022 campaign – especially since I will be watching them play against the Green Bay Packers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in October!
By Alex Ismail Illustrations by Cora-Laine Moynihan
“Despite the Tangfastics the physios gave me, I was unable to continue”
Outside the University campuses, Nottingham homes and hosts countless sports clubs and events to excite your inner athlete. To save you from hunting them all down, Impact’s Rhys Thom as brings you THE definitive list.
Alongside supporting the Green and Gold in sport ing events this year, there is plenty of action to catch further afield in Nottingham. The city’s rich sporting culture boasts some of the best venues in the country, which play host to high-level professional sports. From two of the oldest football clubs in the world, to storied venues like Trent Bridge, there is plenty to see.
Nottingham Forest’s 23-year absence from the top flight finally ended with their victory in the Champi onship play-off final in May 2022. Your university city finally has a Premier League team again! Forest’s stadium, the City Ground, is a wonderful cauldron of noise on matchdays and is without doubt a top local sporting attraction.
That said, the promotion of Steve Cooper’s side makes it more difficult to attain tickets. Home game memberships for the 22/23 season have sold out, so the best bet is to regularly check the Forest website ahead of games to grab any tickets on general sale. Alternatively, target cup matches for a better chance at
seeing the Premier League outfit in action at a reason able price.
Consider taking a trip to Meadow Lane to see National League side Notts County in action. The Magpies are the oldest football club in the world. This year they will continue their effort to regain their place in the football league after play-off heartache for two years running. Tickets for 18–21-year-olds are priced at £14.
Both clubs are located in West Bridgford, which is easily accessible via a tram to Nottingham Station and a short(ish) walk toward the river Trent.
Perhaps Nottingham’s most renowned sporting facility is Trent Bridge cricket ground. It is home to Notting hamshire County Cricket Club’s sides and men’s and women’s Hundred sides, Trent Rockets. Perhaps most excitingly, each summer Trent Bridge takes centre stage as a dramatic venue for international cricket featuring some of the world’s best players.
I was lucky enough to witness days four and five of the recent test match against New Zealand in Nottingham, which was some of the best sporting action in recent memory. Despite this, unbelievably, Trent Bridge is not hosting an England test match in 2023. Although that option won’t be available next summer, there are still some short-format international games as well as reg ular T20 Blast matches which always provide a highly entertaining evening.
The city is also home to Nottingham Rugby Football Club, who compete in the second tier of English Rug by Union. This is another team based in the sporting heartbeat of West Bridgford and their evening Cham pionship games are definitely a good alternative option for a night out. The side had a troubled season last campaign but did enough to remain in the second divi sion. Unfortunately, they don’t offer a student discount on tickets so if you do want to see a game, it will set you back at least £15.
Both University of Nottingham’s Men’s Hockey 1s and Beeston Hockey Club will compete in the England Hockey Premier Division in 2022/23. You can catch all of the action from the Notts sides at Highfields, just south of the University Park campus. Look out espe cially for the mouth-watering local derby clash between Beeston and UoN on Sunday 13th November!
Beeston Ladies’ hockey side are also in top-level action in the Women’s Premier Division, where there is also university representation through UoN’s Ladies’ hockey first eleven.
As a sporty city, Nottingham is also home to several major teams representing less renowned sports. One huge name is the Nottingham Panthers, an Elite League ice hockey side as well as the first and only British outfit to win a European title in the sport.
Their matches are played at the Motorpoint Arena, easily accessible from the Lace Market tram stop. Having attended the ice hockey arena to watch the Varsity match last year, it is certainly worth spectating a game and trying to learn about the sport. All matches are played in the evenings from October to April with student tickets available from £15.
Nottingham has plenty more sports action to serve up, including The Nottingham Open, which will likely take place in June at the Nottingham Tennis Centre at Highfields. The 2022 event saw huge names such as Emma Raducanu participate and many students headed to the courts to take in a day’s play.
Nottingham Arena will host International Netball in October, when England play Uganda. A promising Commonwealth Games campaign against some of the world’s best sides proved the England team are a force to be reckoned with. Finally, Nottingham’s two major racecourses have dates into October for a fancy day out that is always popular with students.
For a full list of sporting events in and around the city, visit the what’s on tab of nottinghamsport.com and check out the latest articles from the Impact Sport team!
By Rhys Thomas Illustrations by Catrin DimondThe gold standard for university sports where athletes represent UoN in 40+ sports. Look out for trials in September.
Nottingham’s internal sports leagues are equally competitive. You will be competing against other societies and halls.
Discover a love for different sports in a fun and relaxed environment regardless of ability. Turn up as you please!
Check out each of these groups’ websites and social media to keep up to date with events and informa tion on how to get involved!
With over 70 sports societies at Nottingham, we thought it was important to let freshers know what they’ll be getting into when they sign up for any of them. (Please don’t take offence, we all write for the student magazine, we obviously cannot hold our own in a fight.)
You first tried it at PGL and had never felt a rush quite like it….
So obsessed with American high school movies that you became a cliche.
You’re desperate to have your Corbin Bleu ‘I don’t dance’ moment.
You have dreams of being the next Maddie Ziegler, but will probably end up in a copywriting job with your English degree.
You never grew out of your horse girl phase.
You’re either over 6ft, or so bad at football that basketball was your backup.
If you’re so tough, how come you study Business Management and still take home your laundry for your mum to wash?
You live in your Trespass coat, enjoy munching on Nature Valley bars and half of your student loan is spent in Go Outdoors.
Ronaldo was your role-model growing up so much that even now you still think kicking a ball around a field is cool.
We couldn’t think up a stereotype for this as no one was sure what it was….
Your parents took you to the country club every weekend so you couldn’t go to any normal sports clubs.
There’s no end to how flexible is too flexible and now you walk like you’re possessed by a demon.
Getting your Club Penguin black belt was the highlight of your childhood. You’re still trying for the real thing though…
You’re definitely from Surrey - sorry I mean South London - almost certainly went to private school, and enjoy trips to Pret in your cargos and Ralph Lauren quarter zips. Rah.
Playing Call of Duty for 8 hours a day just wasn’t enough for you, was it?
You never actually do anything except pres sure people into the winter snow sports trip.
According to one student: “There’s no one as sexy as a rower or a swimmer”.
You started playing netball as it was the thing to do in year 7, however once everyone else moved on, you didn’t. You definitely caused a 12 year old to cry for missing the ball in a P.E lesson.
You spend all day hogging the weight-lifting equipment at the gym and having hour-long naps between sets.
Every club in Nottingham goes on high alert when they hear the Rugby lads are out. No one is safe from their egos and cringy pick-up lines.
Really? In Nottingham? One of the most inland places in the UK?
Normal tennis was just too hard :(
