LeftLion June 2024 Issue 172

DESIGN MAKE CREATE

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A three year degree isn’t the only option.

Complete a universitylevel course in as little as one year or work your way towards a full degree.

Our University-level study is validated by Nottingham Trent University, University of Derby and The Open University to provide an experience that combines industry-standard facilities, smaller class sizes and typically lower fees.

HNC/HND qualifications

(1-2 year programmes with option to top-up to full degree)

HNC Performing Arts (Musical Theatre)

HND Performing Arts (Musical Theatre)

Foundation degrees

(2-year degree programmes with option to top-up to full degree in third year)

FdA Digital Design

FdA Fashion

FdA Fine Art Practice

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BA (Hons) Art and Design (Fashion)

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BA (Hons) Art and Design (Graphic Design)

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Full degrees

(3 years full-time, part-time options available in some areas)

BA (Hons) Acting

BA (Hons) Dance and Education

BA (Hons) Digital Graphics and Games Production

BA (Hons) Film and Digital Broadcast Production

BA (Hons) Journalism: Digital Broadcasting

BA (Hons) Musical Theatre

BA (Hons) Photographic Practice

We accept applications throughout the year, so don’t worry if you have missed the UCAS deadline.

Credits

Poetic -Al Alan Gilby (alan.gilby@leftlion.co.uk)

Head Designer Natalie Owen (natalie.owen@leftlion.co.uk)

Music Co-Editor Phil Taylor (music@leftlion.co.uk)

Stage Co-Editor Ian C. Douglas (ian@leftlion.co.uk)

Community Editor Rose Mason (community@leftlion.co.uk)

Literature Editor Andrew Tucker (literature@leftlion.co.uk)

Cover art

Zarina Teli

Writers Cameron Black

Claire Jones

Kathryn Cooper

Rachel Imms

Faye Stacey

Louis Dargavel Corbett

Bassey

Gemma Cockrell

Tom Ainsley

Nadia Whittome

Jonathan Caskiani

Sofia Jones

Chris Breese

Editor-in-Chief Jared Wilson (jared.wilson@leftlion.co.uk)

Partnerships Manager Adam Pickering (adam.pickering@leftlion.co.uk)

Music Co-Editor Karl Blakesley (music@leftlion.co.uk)

Stage Co-Editor Dom Henry (dom.henry@leftlion.co.uk)

Food Editor Julia Head (food@leftlion.co.uk)

Photography Co-Editor Dani Bacon (photography@leftlion.co.uk)

Environment Editor Eleanor Flowerday (environment@leftlion.co.uk)

Photographers

Rolands Varsbergs

Mackenzie Hall

Louise Clutterbuck

Sam Williams

Maia Redgate

Benjamin Wigley

Tony Shelley

Arrenga Nadaraja

George Brumpton

Peter Taylor

Harvey Tomlinson

Emma Ford

David Mellen

Phil Adams

Editor Sophie Gargett (sophie.gargett@leftlion.co.uk)

Web Developer Tom Errington (tom.errington@leftlion.co.uk)

Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon (fashion@leftlion.co.uk)

Screen Editor Oliver Parker (oliver.parker@leftlion.co.uk)

Photography Co-Editor Fabrice Gagos (photography@leftlion.co.uk)

Art Editor George Dunbar (art@leftlion.co.uk)

Distribution Dom Martinovs

Illustrators

Lily Keogh

James Ennin

Tracey Meek

Featured Contributor

Phil Taylor started his own music blog as an antidote to lockdown cabin fever; this quickly grew into a much bigger-than-expected beast. One day he decided to approach the LeftLion music team and was thrilled to be taken on board as a writer. Some of Phil's favourite music journalism experiences ensued, including interviewing Orbital and Holly Humberstone (separately!) and witnessing blistering live performances from the likes of SPRINTS, Fabio & Grooverider, and CHVRCHES.

Phil recently became one of the new LeftLion music co-editors: a privilege which was both exciting and daunting. Having been to university in Nottingham many years ago, and haunting the doors of Rock City, The Bodega or Rough Trade many times since, he's thrilled to be able to give something back to the city and its amazing musicians and venues.

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Alison Gove-Humphries, Alison Hedley, Alison Knox, Anamenti, Ant Haywood, Audrey & Lizzy & Margot, BadGrammar MakesMeSic, Barbara Morgan, Ben Stewart, Cerys Gibson, Chris Jarvis, Chris Underwood, Claire Foss, Clare Foyle, Colin Tucker, Cyra Golijani-Moghaddam, Dan Hemmings, David Knight, Dick Watson, Dominic Morrow, Donna RoweMerriman, Eden PR, Emilija O, Erika Diaz Petersen, F C and E Ledger, Felipe Melo, Graye Wilde, Half Moon Holistics, Harry Sutcliffe, Harry Turner, Hayley Howard, Hazel Allister, Heather Oliver, Holly's Merry Moggies, Ian Carroll, Ian Phillips, Ian Storey, Ian Yanson, James Place, James Verran, Jane Dodge, Janine Lees, Jean Forsey, John Haslam, John Hess, John Holmes, John Kelsey, John & Jackie Scruton, Jonathan Day, Joshua Heathcote, Julian Bower, Justyn Roberts, Katherine Sanders, Kathleen Dunham, Kay Gilby, Kaye Brennan, Kayzi, Kiki Dee the Cat, Laura Wilson, Leigh Woosey, Lilian Greenwood, Livi & Jacob Nieri, Louise Duffield, Louise Obuchowski, Marc Weaver, Mark, Mark Barratt, Mark Bond, Mark Gasson, Mark Jacobs, Miri Debah, Monica White, Mr A, Nic, Nigel Cooke, Nigel King, NottingJam Orchestra, Paul Boast, Pearl Quick, Philip Renshaw, Rach, Rachel Ayrton, Rachel Morton, Raphael Achache, Redbrick Communications, Richard Goodwin, Rob Arthur, Roy Manterfield, Russell Brown, Ruth Hoyland, Sally Longford, Sam Hudson, Sam Stiling, Sarah Manton, Selectadisc, Simon Evans, Steve Benton, Steve Holland, Steve Lyon, Steve Wallace, Sue Barsby, Sue Reader, TeaBag, Tracey Newton, Will Horton, Julian McDougall

Fancy seeing your name (or the name of your band, small business, loved one, pet etc) in this mag every month? It only costs a fiver and the money supports this magazine. Plus you get all kinds of other treats too.

With local journalism becoming an endangered species, Nottingham is lucky to have Notts TV. On their tenth birthday we look at some of the mighty and modest ways they’ve made their mark

Michelin Star

We took a trip down to Derby Road for a chat with Alchemilla’s Alex Bond about his approach to cooking and found out what goes into making the best fried chicken in town

Where to watch the Euros

There’s nothing better than watching football in the pub - here’s some great Notts spots to watch the Euros, plus handle pull-out wall chart to keep your scores sorted

Bearing Fruit

With new low-energy housing being built in Sneinton Market, we take a look at the history of the area and how to build with the community in mind

Greetings LeftLion readers, and welcome to June!

I write this slightly dishevelled, having just returned home from a muddy but marvellous Bearded Theory festival. Organised by Notts own DHP and featuring some excellent local bands (including Ferocious Dog, Do Nothing and, of course, Sleaford Mods) it was a right treat to see such a wonderful line up just an hour away from home - as was enjoying a good pint from Basford brewery Black Iris, who concocted some excellent Bearded Theory IPA.

If you’re tempted to get silly dancing in a field this summer, check out our summer festival guide on pages 26-27, or if you’re more of a football fan, we’ve got you covered with a roundup of pubs showing the Euros (plus a nifty pull out wall chart!) on pages 23-25.

This month we’re also celebrating homegrown talent and successes, from Michelin star chef Alex Bond, Confetti and Notts TV, to winners of this year’s Young Creative Awards. This city has so much creativity bubbling under the surface (if you’re paying attention), and I’m perpetually impressed by the independent artists, musicians,

Dig It

What lies below Wollaton Hall? We get deep with York Archaeology to hear about their findings and search for the mysterious, lost ‘orangery’ building

Young Creative Awards Winners

Who might be the next Jamal Sterrett or Sheku Kanneh-Mason? From film to graphic design, we look at some of the rising stars of Nottingham’s creative scene

We All Came Here to Disappear

Part of Nottingham Poetry Festival’s jam-packed programme is a screening of three films featuring poetry by the late, great, Benjamin Zephaniah. We spoke to the film's director to hear more

No Place Like Home

Sneinton Community Festival is on the horizon, and this year’s theme celebrates the diaspora and diversity of the area. One of the organisers tells us more

businesses and makers that are busy shaping the future of Notts. It’s a tough business sometimes, but for me this is what gives our town its unique spirit.

I am once again in love with this month's cover art, a beautiful lush depiction of the Arboretum in all of its verdant spring glory - big thanks to Zarina Teli for creating such a gorgeous piece of art. Don’t forget you will receive a poster of each LeftLion cover by signing up to our Patreon!) Another shout out goes to Lily Keogh for her super fun festival illustration too.

Now, I must go and de-festival. There’s glitter in the most unmentionable places and I think I lost my voice in the field, although it might be at the bottom of my tent. Next one up for me will be the wonderful Waterfront Festival at Canalhouse, which along with a great line up has a brilliantly simple theme - hats! Let’s be hoping the sun shines down on us this month. Have an excellent June, people!

Confetti

Institute of Creative Technologies turn thirty this year, so we spoke to Chief Exec Craig Chettle about student successes, opening a London campus, and how Confetti came about

The Dubfather Dub pioneer, journalist and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson performs at this year’s Poetry Festival. We caught up to chat about poetry, Jamaican language and what he’s been reading lately

Notts TV

Man: Naughty, like naughty, or like naughty naughty?

Woman: Naughty naughty Man: Ohhh that's naughty

Man at Stonebridge City Farm: “I'm not tickling no pig’s bellies Pamela!”

“Is this a vest or a gilet?” “It doesn't know what it

wants to be. That's why it's on sale.”

I’m doing well tonight because normally I have to be taken home or I’m sick out the little bus windows. COME ON CALVERTON!!

In Arnold town centre: "...Smells like burgers. Or doughnuts."

Mum

kids playing catch: “Don’t

with

catch the ball with your face!”

Pick Six

For this month’s Pick Six we turn to Tom Ainsley of Neon Raptor Brewing Company in Sneinton Market…

@NeonRaptorTap

Ever since she got with him she's become like one of those Stratford Wives.

Onavegancake:“It’s practicallysaladbecauseit’s madefromplants”

'That's Wollaton Hall, where they filmed the Spider-Man movies.'

Film - Wake In Fright

I first saw this (hungover) during Broadway Cinema’s annual Mayhem film festival, knowing nothing of it. It’s full of sweaty claustrophobic closeups, peer pressure beers and gambling, a terrifying Donald Pleasance and a notorious kangaroo scene… I loved it. It’s a bona fide Australian classic that I recommend to all fans of intense but rewarding cinema. Do not watch when hungover!

Book - Like A Velvet Glove Cast In Iron by Daniel Clowes I’ve read and bought this graphic novel multiple times and still don’t fully understand it or really know what it’s about. On the surface it’s a pretty gripping and paranoid down-the-rabbit-hole adventure involving a cast of uncanny outsiders, beautiful weirdos and unhelpful passersby. It’s a sad, beautiful and mostly hopeless slice of Americana that fans of classic Film Noir and David Lynch would enjoy.

Notts Spot - The Bodega I’ve been going here so long that I still sometimes call it The Social. I’ve seen mates play here, I’ve seen Interpol, King Gizzard, and The Last Dinner Party here. I love that the gig crowd is still a mixed bag of ages, and that often downstairs the revellers have no idea of the genius that’s happening upstairs. The beer fridges are also ridiculously good for a gig venue. It’s friendly, welcoming and is always a good place to hang out. The Christmas Covers Parties at The Bodega have been my favourite ever Nottingham nights out.

Holiday Destination - Copenhagen

It’s been nearly ten years since I first set foot in Copenhagen, and I’ve visited many times since. I’m usually here for the impeccable beer scene but the Danish capital has a majesty and charm away from all that where I feel relaxed, welcome and at home. It’s a beautiful city to walk, or float, around, especially with all the amazing beer and food stops you can make on your way.

Notts Meal - La Rock, Sandiacre

For my birthday in March this year, my girlfriend treated me to a meal at this tucked away gem down an unassuming side road in Sandiacre. It was very reasonably priced with attentive staff, generous portions and a relaxing lack of pretension. I had halibut as it’s a buy on site item for me and it was probably the best halibut I’ve ever had. Everything, from the aperitif to the wine, from the bread to the dessert was perfect. The dessert and attention to detail was out of this world and I need to find an excuse to visit again.

Song - Cakes by Max Tundra

This bright kaleidoscope of instrumental chaos pop from genre defying musician Max Tundra (aka Ben Jacobs) came out at the tail end of Britpop and during Nu Metal’s unstoppable rise. I was in my late teens and it was just what I needed. Cakes skips through marching band drums, light jazz, and video game music, samples the sound of a cd skipping, and ends with an uplifting trumpet crescendo. The doors to anything psychedelic, noise, and full on pop music were opened to me by this short masterpiece.

Poets Corner

Landfill Mona Lisa

words: Casey Francis

I threw myself away

Smoke stacks stand in spite of the sky

I'm devoted to desperation and denial

When the activists burn themselves with righteous fire I won't mind

I'll walk my junkyard dog

Of nuts, bolts and bones all around this metal globe

The first aching step toward barbarity

The vanity, gasoline lipstick

We love how we look down here in the mud

Crawling up gasping, grasping out for some good luck

All around this metal globe

Tears run free not you

Steel saints seal fates with impunity

Wake. Beg. Petty theft. Smile politely

My body is theatre for the coroner

And one of these days I'll fashion a new jesus from an old tin can I'll jump from the roof backwards to see where I stand

I'll make a landfill Mona Lisa held together with second hand rubber bands

The degree in which someone hates mosquitoes is typically based on how much mosquitoes love them

Euro 2024

Nottingham Poetry Festival takes place from 7-16 June 2024. nottinghampoetryfestival.com

UNDERCOVER ARTIST

Nottingham’s most opinionated grocers on...

We’re going to win it this time around, right? Or at least get to the quarter finals and go out on penalties. Terry Venables and Bobby Robson are the best England managers of our time. It’s a shame neither of them are still around. We like Gareth Southgate too though, in fact we went to see a National Theatre Live play where he was played by Joseph Fiennes at Bonington Theatre in Arnold. Excellent play and a lovely venue, but the seats were very uncomfortable. We saw one of our very first Saturday lads from the shop there too. He told us he’d just retired, it’s a pity we haven’t.

Nottingham Poetry Festival

It’s marvellous that Nottingham has this. As we’ve mentioned before we can barely read and write ourselves as we went to a dodgy comprehensive school and didn’t pay enough attention. However, our father went to a grammar school and he had memorised a lot of poems. The arts should always be promoted in schools and subsidised for people in society. Why don’t the big companies like Barclays and BT stop chucking money at football and put some of it into arts events like this instead?

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival

We went last year and had a lovely time. It was very well attended and we liked quite a few of the beers. In the past we’ve been quite particular about our beers, but it was nice to try a few different things. There was one stall from Manchester called Cloudwater and they had a very good cloudy pale ale. We also liked some of the Nottingham breweries and the street food. We had a very good salad with dasheen and you don’t see that about much.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’m Zarina - a part time artist, part time dentist! Nottingham is very much home, having lived in and out of the city for the last twenty years. The natural environment and its conservation has always been important to me, and is a key source of inspiration for my art, as are my faith and family.

What was the inspiration behind the cover?

The arboretum is such a special place, a vast treasure trove of green on the edge of the city centre. I love seeing changes through the seasons, and have created many memories there over the years with my friends, family and most specially my nephews and nieces. I wanted to create this cover as an homage to the arboretum in summer. All the flora and fauna pictured can be found throughout. From Spanish bluebells to rose-ringed parakeets, this park is home to a stunning array of plant and animal life. I always find myself gravitating towards lush botanicals, and being able to completely fill a space with colour and life brings me joy.

How does it compare with some other projects you’ve worked on?

I’ve done many projects over the years in many mediums, from drawing on Microsoft paint as a six year old to painting murals for schools as a young adult. I’m now enjoying using and developing the skills I’ve gained to more effectively create art and keep my artistic spark alive.

Being able to contribute to LeftLion over the past year has been really enjoyable and I’m grateful for the opportunity to create illustrations for a varied range of articles. It’s been fun working with a brief - however brief! - and the opportunity to create this cover was an exciting extension of this, as a chance to

incorporate elements I love to represent in my art.

What was the biggest challenge that you faced in creating the piece?

Time! I tend to get lost in the details, and agonise over the most specific of thingsshould the cockatiel have yellow sunglasses or blue?! I can sometimes start doubting an idea after pursuing one for several days, so working within a specific time frame has also been a lesson in trusting the process.

Tell us about some projects you’ve worked on in the past…

I was recently involved in Fifth World’s SEE ME project, where Muslim girls in Nottingham interviewed inspirational local women. Discussing my work with them was a humbling experience, and it was a slightly surreal but very proud moment to see it displayed in Nottingham Playhouse and Central Library. I have also painted murals, props for shows, pieces for the homes and weddings of friends, as well as holding creative classes for children and the elderly.

What have you got planned for the future?

My dream is to illustrate a children’s book one day! I also hope I’ll always be able to make time and have the capacity to develop my pottery and painting.

Nadia on...

the general election

I have to admit, the general election announcement took me by surprise. When I woke up on May 22, I wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary that day. When text messages started coming in, asking, ‘Is it actually happening this time?’ - I thought: surely not. Or is it?

For weeks, Sunak’s line was that an election would take place in the second half of the year. Although almost everyone assumed that to mean autumn, July 4 is - just about - in the second half of 2024. Fair play to Sunak on this one, I guess his famous love of maths came in useful.

The rest of his big announcement didn’t go as well for the Prime Minister. Watching him standing on Downing Street in the pouring rain, trying to deliver his speech over the sound of Things Can Only Get Better blasted from speakers by protesters, it was almost hard not to feel sorry for him.

Until, that is, you remembered his record. Despite his short time in power (although, to be fair, he did outlive several lettuces in my fridge), he’s bagged a handful of achievements to be remembered by. Such as plunging the economy into a recession, setting a climate plan so inadequate that it was ruled unlawful twice, or spending millions on a cruel and ludicrous plan to send refugees to Rwanda, which thankfully never materialised. He even managed to break a few records: overseeing record food bank use, the highest-ever number of children in temporary accommodation, longest-ever NHS waiting lists, and the highest levels of child poverty since records began.

But let’s not give Sunak too much credit: after all, he has stood on the shoulders of giants. Since 2010, we’ve had a succession of Conservative governments promising stability and prosperity, and delivering the exact opposite. During that time, we’ve seen the weakest productivity growth since the Industrial Revolution. NHS waiting lists have trebled, after steadily falling during the previous decade. Rough sleeping has more than doubled. Public services have crumbled. Real-terms wages are lower today than in 2008, when I was eleven - Facebook

was cutting edge and Britney Spears had just released Womanizer

Over the past fourteen years, we got used to things getting worse and worse - the only question was how fast. July 4 will be an opportunity to turn things around.

Now, I don’t want to use this platform to tell anyone how to vote - I’ll be doing plenty of that on the doorstep. But I do want to talk about the country I want to wake up in, if not on Friday 5 July (to be honest, I’ll probably be spending most of that day in bed) then a few years down the line.

I want to live under a government that prioritises lifting people out of poverty and ensuring decent living standards for the majority, over increasing the wealth of millionaires. This means raising public sector pay, strengthening workers’ rights, turning the benefit system into a real safety net, rather than a way to control and punish those who can’t work; giving renters real stability and taxing the rich and big business to fund world-class public services.

Over the past decade, Conservative governments have cut our City Council’s funding by £100 million a year. We deserve better

I want the UK to once again be a leader in climate action. The top five countries that are currently leading the green transition all have a publicly owned energy company - we should have one too, cheaply fuelling our homes with homegrown renewables. Investing in sustainable and affordable public transport and a mass programme of insulating homes would allow us to decarbonise while improving the quality of life of working class people.

I want left-behind communities like Nottingham to finally get the funding we need. Over the past decade, Conservative governments have cut our City Council’s funding by £100 million a year. We deserve better: a mass programme of building council housing, well-stocked libraries, beautiful green spaces, youth centres to cut crime and give young people a better start in life, and proper support for our outstanding arts institutions.

I want to live in a society where LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, migrants and communities of colour are safe, respected and given every opportunity to thrive, not used as a political football by those in power.

I also want to see Forest win the Premier League, but I’m afraid that might be outside of the government’s control.

If you agree with this vision, please make your voice heard on July 4. If you don’t feel like there’s a party that represents 100% of your views, choose one that could bring us a few steps closer to the world you want to see. There is a quote circulating on the internet - I don’t know who came up with it, but it rings very true. It says: “voting isn’t marriage, it’s public transport. You’re not waiting for “the one” who’s absolutely perfect: you’re getting the bus, and if there isn’t one to your destination, you don’t not travel, you take the one going closest.” For me, and I hope for many of you, that’s the Labour Party.

Finally, I’d like to make a particular appeal to those groups that have historically been less likely to go to the polls: young people, working class people and ethnic minority communities. I know what it’s like to feel failed by the system and ignored by successive governments. I get why it’s so easy to become disillusioned with politics. However, not voting only lets politicians off the hook for disregarding the people who are already disadvantaged in society. Whether it’s out of hope, anger or spite, use your vote on July 4 and demand better.

Please make sure you’re registered to vote by June 18and don’t forget your ID!

words: Nadia Whittome photo: Fabrice Gagos

Doing it for real

Nottingham’s Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies turns thirty this year. Over that time it has grown from a college course with ten students to an institution with 3000 students and 400 staff, currently spreading its wings into London. We put some questions to their CEO and founder Craig Chettle about his journey over the last three decades…

You’re Notts born and bred. Tell us about your early life in the city…

I was born on High Church Street in New Basford and went to St Augustines Infants, then Stanley Road in Forest Fields. After that we moved to Old Basford, where I went to Heathfield Primary. I had an amazing teacher called Carol Bickerstaff who changed my life. In 1975, I went to Bluecoat School in Aspley, where I made some friends who were into music and that was the start of my musical journey. My mum Marilyn was a hospital receptionist and my dad Frank was a council worker who started as a bin man. They weren't well off financially, but they were both very loving and encouraging. They were also responsible for my love of early Tom Jones, The Beatles, Elvis, 70s disco and much more.

What jobs did you do before Confetti?

I dropped out of my A-levels and got a job at C&A on Listergate as a full-time porter and occasional shop assistant. My first day there was 8 December 1980, the day John Lennon was shot in New York. It was a very depressing day for me, spent alone crushing boxes and reminiscing about The Beatles. Then I worked as a builder’s labourer for a year and loved it. After that I got a job as an operating theatre technician at the QMC and in my spare time was in several bands, teaching myself about sound and music production.

In 1990, I quit my job when Tim Andrews from the Square Centre asked me to tour manage and do front of house sound for Whycliffe. Within a few months, I'd gone from being a full-time employee at Glaxo to working with Whycliffe, who was supporting James Brown on sold out shows at Wembley and the NEC. It was mad!

This was the start of your career in the music industry. Who else did you work with back then?

I spent four years doing death metal for Earache Records and the incredible Martin Nesbitt, who managed Carcass. Then for a few years I worked with The Tindersticks on tour and covered occasional gigs with Maria McKee, Nick Cave and Robert Forster. My life on the road lasted around ten years, but during this time, when I was back in Nottingham, I’d help out in a small community studio in Hyson Green called Tennyson Hall with my friend David Longdon (who played in Big Big Train and Genesis). It was mainly hip-hop and rap music and this is where I first had the idea to set up Confetti. I loved this type of work, sharing my knowledge from the music industry with people like Joe Buhdha, Trevor and Courtney Rose, Simon Carty, Tower and Mr 45.

Who else was involved in those early days of Confetti?

I was supported by Susanna, my wife at the time and a friend Toby Neal (who would later become a city councillor). We rented a small space on Convent Street and worked with Peoples College to start providing education and training for people that wanted to learn more about music production and get into the industry.

This was 1994 and it was just me teaching ten students from an electronics course. At that time, there was nothing around that taught relevant industry skills. Soon after this, we were joined by a very talented musician called Mark Cousins, and together we wrote several music production courses. From that moment on, Confetti grew steadily throughout the 90s and 00s. As we saw how the creative technology industry was evolving, we added courses like film, TV and games design.

Aside from Confetti, what are your memories of that year it all began?

Globally 1994 was the year that Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa, John Major was UK Prime Minister and Bill Clinton was the US President. In music, Kurt Cobain died, and Oasis and Blur were battling for the Britpop crown. Oh and people had started talking about this thing called the internet. Closer to home, some of my Tindersticks’ friends, Neil Fraser and Stuart Staples, were working at Selectadisc so I have fond memories of that time and place. Another Brian Selby-owned enterprise was The Garage nightclub off St Mary’s Gate in the Lace Market. The

Hippo on Bridlesmith Gate was also a regular haunt and gig venue.

You've overseen a lot of students go onto big things over the last thirty years. Can you give us some examples of alumni who make you particularly proud?

Yes, we’ve seen a remarkable array of talent here at Confetti, with so many students going on to achieve incredible success. Take Kurt Martinez (Music Technology 2008), for example, who is now a Dolby Atmos mix engineer. He's worked on platinum-selling singles like Rain by Aitch and AJ Tracey and REACT by Switch Disco and Ella Henderson.

Another standout is Gaddiel (BA Music Performance 2021). Gaddiel, aka Gadzz, is already composing music and playing keys for various artists, TV companies, and films, including performing on stage with the Sugababes at Silverstone and composing music for the James Bond No Time To Die trailer on Sky. Then there’s Luke Gentry (Music Technology 2009), who is now a sound editor and designer and has worked on blockbuster films such as Aladdin and The Gentlemen

A very recent example is Alex Calladine. While studying an Esports Production BSc with us, Alex found a passion for directing and vision mixing, and during his three years with us, he worked on every commercial esports event to take place at Confetti, including the Amazon University Esports Masters, British Esports Federation Student Champs and the Commonwealth Games.

Alex was Confetti’s Student of the Year for 2023 and now works as a broadcast engineer at Gravity Media, on assignment with Riot Games at Project Stryker. These are just a few examples of what we’ve seen from Confetti alumni over the past thirty years. We are really proud to be shaping the next generation of creative talent.

The MBE was a very proud moment for me, my family, and all the friends and colleagues that have supported me over the years

In 2014 you were instrumental in the team that set up Notts TV. Tell us about that journey and some of your favourite moments from the channel.

I spotted an opportunity to start a local TV channel when the DCMS and Ofcom were considering creating a local network across the UK. I thought it was a great opportunity for the city and for Confetti and its students. I knew we needed partners and allies to make it a success, so I approached NTU, The Nottingham Post, Rob Pittam, Mark Del from Nusic and you at LeftLion, as well as a few others, to see if they would partner or collaborate with us. Thankfully, everyone said yes and the concept of Notts TV was born. We then wrote a bid to Ofcom and DCMS, for the licence, and after a competitive process, our bid won.

Jamie Brindle, a hugely talented and charismatic BBC radio producer, became our Channel Director and quickly built up a team, which included our current channel manager, Chris Breese, and several new VJs and presenters. The wonderful Frances Finn also agreed to front the news show.

We launched at 4pm on 27 May 2014, and fittingly in my view, the first show was Mass Bolero, a tribute to Torvill and Dean. Later that evening, after our first news show with Frances, we aired The Boys of ’79 our tribute to the Nottingham Forest squad of 1979, That was made by Jonny Owen and Spool Films with crucial support from Charlie McParland and was the embryonic beginnings of the 2015 feature I Believe in Miracles

Vicky and Jonny, Shane Meadows, Billy Ivory and many others have been so generous with their support for the channel over the years, but a special thank you also has to go to our inspirational Chairman, David Lloyd for his gifted

and insightful guidance for me, our board and the team at Notts TV.

Tell us more about your post-production house Spool… Spool was formed in 2001 by Penny Linfield and I, with an aim to produce TV and film in Nottingham as a genuine alternative to London. Penny recruited a small team and alongside my long-time collaborator Greg Marshall in the technical hotseat, we began working on projects. One of our first major projects was Shane Meadows’ Dead Man’s Shoes, and from this point until now, we have had the pleasure and privilege to work with Shane on many of his films and TV series, including This is England, The Virtues and most recently The Gallows Pole

We met Vicky McClure through Shane back in the midnoughties on This is England, and since then we have developed an incredibly strong and supportive relationship with the Queen of Notts. Her support and friendship for Penny and I on a professional and personal level is truly humbling.

Spool has worked on hundreds of film, TV and promo projects over the last 23 years and I am eternally grateful to Penny (now my wife and soulmate), Mary Kearns, Susan Pennington, Russ Noon and all the staff and students who have worked with us.

Denizen Recordings is your music company. Tell us about some of the musical artists you have helped to nurture through that.

Set up with the wonderful Pete Fletcher (who is now at Black Bay Studios in Stornaway) with us in the 00s as our vehicle to support and develop new music from Nottingham. Expertly assisted by Kristi Genovese (now Metronome’s promoter) and Spencer Wells, Pete and the team worked with Kagoule, Kappa Gamma, Field Studies, Keto and many more. Denizen is still Confetti’s development platform for new music coming out of the institute.

In 2015 NTU became the parent company of the Confetti Media Group. Why did that feel like the right thing to do and how has it changed things since?

Between 1994 to 2015, we had grown the business significantly, but there was a lot more we wanted to do. So, when NTU appointed Edward Peck as their new ViceChancellor, we began to discuss how we could take it to another level. NTU became our parent company in August 2015, and right from the start, Edward and his senior team supported significant developments such as Confetti’s Digital Media Hub on Parliament Street, Metronome, Confetti X, and most recently Confetti London, our new campus in Whitechapel. Being part of a big, successful university like NTU brings enormous benefits. We’ve learned a lot from Edward and the teams at NTU over the last nine years and we each bring our own different and distinct approach to education and business.

In 2020 you were awarded an MBE for Services to Entrepreneurship and the Creative Industries Sector…

The MBE was a very proud moment for me, my family, and all the friends and colleagues that have supported me over the years. I also want to thank Nottingham City Council for their part in the award. I received my MBE from The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, at Windsor Castle. Incidentally it was the same ceremony as Gok Wan!

In 2023 Confetti opened a London campus. How is that going?

Confetti London is doing well. We’ve recruited a whole new team led by campus director Darius Khwaja and our undergrad and postgrad students love it. We’ve also done a big deal with Tileyard London, one of the largest music business ecologies in the world, to provide a totally unique education. However, while we are ambitious about what the Whitechapel district campus can achieve over the next decade, Nottingham is our home and will always be our main offer for our students.

interview: Jared Wilson photo: Phil Adams

10 Great Moments From Notts TV

With local journalism becoming an endangered species in recent years, Nottingham is very lucky to have Notts TV. Along with training our students to become broadcasters and journalists, the company has made their mark over the years in both modest and mighty ways. Here’s some of their best moments…

1. Breaking the mould by going on air in 2014

This might seem an odd choice, but television at all levels is expensive and technically complex. It took a huge amount of work and goodwill to go on air, and the partnership between Confetti, Nottingham Trent University and NTV was committed and strong from the outset. While now part of NTU, the channel maintains editorial and structural independence and has not merged or grouped together with other local TV channels as others in the sector have. It still has a city centre newsroom and studio, and all the staff live locally. The fact Nottingham was able to create new jobs in television and media, and hold on to them, is important. We've also become a real pipeline for young reporters, TV producers, presenters and broadcast technicians who need a break in the industry before going on to jobs elsewhere. Hundreds of former Notts TV staff members and former placement students have gone on to work across the media. There are people who started here now at the BBC, ITV, Sky and production companies making high-level film and TV.

2. Bringing Splendour festival to TV

Notts TV has been lucky enough to have a role in covering Splendour alongside Confetti since we first went on air, but it's fair to say our coverage has increased and improved massively over the years as the event has also expanded and grown. The Notts TV bus, where we interview artists, is a bit of a landmark and in 2023 Noel Gallagher's performance, and a short interview with Vicky McClure, was a real highlight. A lot of work goes in across Notts TV and Confetti in collaboration with organisers DHP to make the shows look and sound top-notch.

3. Roy Keane interview in 2018

In October 2018 we were secured an hour-long sit down with the former Forest and Manchester United legend. This was thanks to ex-Reds caretaker manager and former Notts County boss Charlie McParland, who is lead pundit on our Team Talk football chat show. At the time Roy had been out of the TV limelight for a while and hadn't done an interview in quite some time. So when he cropped up on Notts TV it caused a stir in the sports media and he was typically forthright. At the time some controversial players and Jose Mourinho were at United and millions of people connected with the club were interested in Roy's opinion. He was a gentleman with all the team behind the scenes and the interview attracted worldwide interest, helping to put Notts TV on the map.

4. Getting creatively ambitious with programmes like NTV Book Club and Rediscovering Notts

We try to be ambitious in every project - and not be afraid to try new things. In 2019 we began Notts TV Book Club - a culture show essentially about the love of reading in partnership with NTU. It's gone really well and we are now starting to take the show on the road - we recorded a show at the new Central Library. Elsewhere we've taken some big crews, including our professional team, Confetti and NTU students, on some ambitious shoots. One involved recreating a castle using special visual effects and drone footage. We essentially digitally raised a long-lost castle from the ground in a field in Laxton.

5. Helping people feel connected and informed during the pandemic

There was a big question mark over what local media should do during the early months of the pandemic - including to what extent we should stay on air. Thankfully we were able to still put out fresh news bulletins every single day right the way through, run breaking news online and on social media, and keep a full schedule going with a lot of careful planning and determination. Later on we were able to help by broadcasting church services for people

who couldn't meet, including the city's main Remembrance Day service. We also got involved with a U3A group to create a series based on the idea of the educational talks they regularly put on for older people - this became the interview series NG30 - and also the Notts Nostalgia programme run by Paul Robey, and people watched these shows in big numbers. It helped people feel together and distracted at a really hard time.

6. Becoming home to the Local Democracy Reporting Service for Nottinghamshire in 2021 In 2021 Notts TV won a bid for BBC funding to employ and host a team of journalists who provide comprehensive coverage of local politics across Nottinghamshire. This is still ongoing and they've now published thousands of stories about local issues which are used for free by other local media providers. It's a source of independent truly local journalism which is motivated entirely by the public interest in a community sense.

7. Shining spotlights on unsung heroes down the years

Because we're so local, it means we're more likely to give time to organisations or people who might otherwise struggle to be heard or get coverage. Some examples include how we've followed the story of Cockleman Dave Bartram, covered the rise to the top of weightlifting of Bulwell's Emily Campbell, and broadcast full Nottingham Forest Women F.C. games - including the historic win over Derby County played at the City Ground and their Women's National League Cup win in April 2023.

8. Forest get promoted 2022

We sent a team to Wembley and then covered the homecoming/celebration in Market Square and it was wild. Seeing the impact promotion had on the city in general was amazing. We've got great sport, including County, Stags and the cricket. Forest going up was the icing in the cake for Reds fans. The way being in the Premier League has helped lift the city and put it in the spotlight can't be underestimated.

9. Giving a voice to families affected by the Nottingham maternity crisis

Running the Local Democracy Reporting Service means we have reporters who can spend time building relationships with local people and look into some issues in a lot of depth over a period of time. Anna Whittaker built trust with families who had lost children at Nottingham's hospitals and spoke to some who had pieced together an overall picture of poor care, going back a number of years. There is now an ongoing independent review - the largest ever seen in maternity care. As much as we're about celebrating Nottinghamshire, we have to be ready to ask difficult questions as part of our local journalism and listen to people who otherwise are not being heard properly.

10. Seeing the city unite and support the families following the Nottingham attacks in June 2023

This was an awful time and you really felt for everyone involved, yet we still had to go out and report on what was going on. The world's media briefly descended, and you realise of course that this is all playing out in a city not used to such terrible high-profile events. What followed was amazing to see - the bravery of the families in deciding to speak at the University of Nottingham and Old Market Square, and the thousands of people who came out and supported them as a city. It became a triumph of light and hope over darkness and tragedy. You can't imagine what the families went through and will continue to go through, but Nottingham stood up and supported them in a really inspiring way. It was like a community rediscovering what really matters.

words: Chris Breese

Michelin Star

What do fried chicken and fine dining have in common? More than you might think if you know where to look. From the Michelin-star menus of Alchemilla to a Mollis takeover of the kitchens at Saltbox bar, Alex Bond is on a mission to elevate the Nottingham dining scene. We took a trip down to Derby Road for a chat with the star chef.

First impressions as you step down the stairs into Alchemilla are impressive. Beautiful exposed brick arches create a vaulted ceiling with natural light streaming down from multiple skylights. Moss-covered accent walls bring a natural softness to what could be a stark environment. It’s both rustic and refined and a fittingly unique backdrop for creative culinary experiences.

Even for a chef with a wealth of experience in prestigious kitchens, there’s a huge risk involved with opening a restaurant. It takes a special kind of creative vision to transform a Victorian coach house which had lain empty and unloved for 150 years into one of the country’s most acclaimed eateries. Taking on an ambitious restoration project was a big gamble, especially without a big budget to back it up, but Alex plays it down in a charmingly selfdeprecating, no-nonsense manner.

“I just winged my way through it. The one thing I know how to do is cook. I think that was always my thought process behind it, that if I can cook, we’ll work the rest out later. Touch wood, it’s done us alright and I love it. I don’t want to be anywhere else”.

Within their first full year of operating, they’d been awarded a Michelin star and they currently have four AA Rosettes. We’d say the approach has done them more than ‘alright’.

Foraged, fermented, pickled and preserved, veggies take centre stage on Alchemilla's innovative tasting menus which fuse traditional preservation methods with the best of British ingredients. Alex talks with an infectious enthusiasm about shoyu, koji and experimenting with ancient methods to make the absolute most of each season’s ingredients and eliminate as much food waste as feasibly possible. He’s passionate about dedicating the same care, creativity, time and attention to a humble chunk of celeriac as you would a hand-dived scallop or expensive cut of meat.

A seven course tasting menu will set you back £120, with optional wine pairing an additional £70, but they’ve recently adapted to add a new three course offering which is more affordable and accessible in a challenging financial climate. In May the menu, complete with their signature ‘snacks’ and homemade bread, for £65 per person on Wednesday

and Thursday evenings. It’s proved so popular they’ve now extended its availability into June and added it to Friday and Saturday lunch services.

Despite his many accolades, Alex is about as far removed from the stereotype of a pretentious chef as you can imagine. His food is elevated, but his restaurants are relaxed and Alex comes across as down to earth. Or as he puts it, “We take the food seriously but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, we just have fun with it.”

It’s the exact same care and the exact same love that runs through everything whether it’s brining chicken or our largest, most expensive tasting menu

Case in point: his second addition to Nottingham’s food scene, Mollis, which opened next door to Alchemilla in 2022. It’s a laid-back spot serving fried chicken, soft-serve ice cream and creative cocktails with a side of street art and a hip-hop soundtrack. Quizzed on his motivation for opening a venue so seemingly far removed from the world of fine dining and tasting menus, his answer is straightforward. “I love fried chicken, is the very simple answer. I just love it, it’s delicious”.

Nottingham has no shortage of chicken joints serving up boring burgers and basic wings. At Mollis, a much-loved classic is elevated into something rather more special. Perfectly fried chicken becomes a vehicle for creative flavour combinations from across the globe and the same careful consideration of ingredients and cooking processes goes into everything Alex does:

“We only have one standard that runs across everything that we do. We don’t change that for anything. It’s the exact same care and the exact same love that runs through everything whether it’s brining chicken or our largest, most expensive tasting menu. That’s what sets us apart and the moment we stop doing that, that’s when we shut the door and go home”.

Forget your basic buttermilk, at Mollis the high-welfare chicken is brined in homemade shio koji, a Japanese fermented rice concoction that imparts a miso-like savouriness as enzymes work their magic to break down proteins creating beautifully tender, juicy meat that packs an umami punch.

This summer, Mollis are bringing their trademark banging chicken to the other side of town with a takeover of the kitchens at live music and sports bar Saltbox in Bolero Square. "We're really delighted to be bringing our 'Michelin starred Chicken shop' to the other side of town from our Derby Road home,” said Alex. “It's a chance to introduce our delicious food to thousands of people coming to see their favourite acts at the Arena and give them some of the best fried chicken they've ever had."

We paid a visit to check out what’s on offer and left impressed. Alongside a classic fried-chicken burger which is worlds better than anything you’d find at a fast-food place, the wings and tenders on offer are given the same star treatment you'd find at Mollis.

Choose between salt, pepper, and hot honey, or the more exotic gochujang buffalo, blue cheese, and pickled pineapple. For those of a plant-based persuasion, the small menu includes a mushroom and black bean burger topped with whipped lemon and goat cheese, or a vegan version served with red cabbage, lime, and coriander salad.

It's perfect for a pre-gig pit stop or a post-hockey chowdown for visitors to the Motorpoint Arena next door, but for fans of football and music Saltbox is a destination in itself this summer. Alongside a showcase of local talent each Friday at Saltbox Presents, they regularly host gigs and late-night music events. They're gearing up for a summer of football when the Euros kick off in June with plans to extend the outdoor terrace and install a huge screen to create the perfect city centre fanzone.

Treat yourself to a homegrown Michelin star experience at Alchemilla, or head to the Mollis takeover at Saltbox which is available every Friday and Saturday night in June and July.

words: Claire Jones photo: Louise Clutterbuck

The Dubfather

Pioneer of dub poetry, NME journalist, trailblazing activist, father and grandfather, the first black poet published by Penguin Modern Classics - Linton Kwesi Johnson has worn all these hats and more. Wondering which hat he’ll wear at the Nottingham Poetry Festival on June 14, we gave him a call…

My grandchildren don't have to fight the same battles that I had to fight, because we fought those battles, which were basically breaking down the barriers to us becoming part of British society - we've done that. But of course the struggle to eradicate racism is ongoing

interview: Andrew Tucker

photo: Fabrice Gagos

Once upon a time you wanted to become an accountant. Some might say you've tried to hold people to account instead. Did politics push you towards poetry?

I discovered literature when I was a young Black Panther, books that I could see myself in, about my culture and my history and so on. That made a huge difference, but I've always loved language. What brought me to poetry is one book in particular: The Souls of Black Folk, by W. E. B. DuBois, a very moving account of the lives of African Americans in the Reconstruction period after slavery. It is beautifully written - it just started something within me.

But from when I was a child, I always loved language, especially Jamaican speech, the way people talk. And just like in every other country, people use metaphors in their everyday language without perhaps realising that they’re using them: ‘he was like a raging bull in a china shop…’

That language in Jamaica - you’ve talked before about your grandma telling you Anansi stories and riddles… Yeah, my grandmother was very important in my formation, insofar as through her I got immersed in Jamaica's folk culture, stories, old sayings. Those folk songs, a lot of them were work songs. You could hear people singing them in a village while they were planting ginger.

You moved to England in 1963 - what was that time like for you? It was pretty challenging, because racism was rife back in those days. And we had to fight, to struggle to integrate ourselves into society. And the youth were at the forefront of that, because we young people, you know, are not going to put up with what our parents put up with! It was pretty challenging, but also exciting. We’d been getting the latest records from Jamaica, the latest Rocksteady, which kept us in touch with our roots, so to speak. And that is really important when you're in a hostile environment, where there's a colour bar, you can’t go to the pub and so on. We had to create our own thing.

You said that music - reggae, mento - felt like an umbilical cord back to Jamaica. Exactly.

Jamaica, of course, having been built on slavery - you wrote that the legacy of slavery was ‘like a naked light in a house full of dynamite’. Is it still true, can that ever be defused?

We've made tremendous progress since we've been here. And my grandchildren don't have to fight the same battles that I had to fight, because we fought those battles, which were basically breaking down the barriers to us becoming part of British society - we've done that. But of course the struggle to eradicate racism is ongoing. As they say in Angola, ‘a luta continua’ - the struggle continues.

Are your grandchildren fans of yours yet?

Nah, nah, nah. (Linton laughs) Kids nowadays, they’re not interested in what grandad did.

Maybe when they’re older! Like you say, so many changes have happened since you’ve come to Britain, are you looking at the world around you now and feeling more optimistic?

Yes, I am. Life is about change. We have to strive for change, to make the world a better place. And it's great to be young at this time, because

of the revolution in technology, the new digital world and the immense changes that have happened over the last two decades or so - all of that is tremendous, you know, and I believe in the capacity of the human spirit to triumph over evil. That is the basis of my hope.

You’re bringing that hopefulness to Metronome at the Nottingham Poetry Festival soon. Robin Hood’s our folk hero - do you think you’re most happy in rebellious company?

I'm happiest in good company. It doesn't have to be rebellious at all. No - I like people.

Cecil Day Lewis, a poet laureate, grew up here near Sherwood Forest - in 1977, you were awarded the Cecil Day Lewis fellowship. Back then, did you appreciate that institutional recognition or did you feel kind of uneasy about it?

I was very grateful for that fellowship, because I was an aspiring young writer, I didn't even know if I had any talent or not. And to be given that was a fantastic bit of encouragement. And I think it was more the local recognition I wanted, than anything else. Because I'm a Brixton boy.

There in Brixton you’ve now become the chairman of the 198 Contemporary Arts Gallery, how did that begin? Is it something you enjoy doing?

They’re just around the corner from where I live, and I've always supported them by buying stuff. Over the years, they'd been at me for a long time to become one of the board of directors and eventually I gave in! It's part of my commitment to my local community. It promotes excellence, especially among aspiring artists from ethnic minorities and other groups, you know, LGBT+, we try to be as inclusive as possible and to provide a platform for those people. It's something worthwhile.

Those community arts organisations are so important here too. I don’t know if you’ve heard that Nottingham Council’s gone bankrupt, and… Oh, really? Nottingham as well?

Yes - is that government funding for arts important too?

I mean, taxpayers pay their taxes, they should be able to get these services. Any society that doesn't have its creative side is impoverished. It's up to the state to help nurture for the good of society in general. But of course, local governments have been decimated by Tory cuts, for a decade or more. I think that's the main problem.

Are you hopeful that that's going to change with a change in government?

Well, let's see. I've never been a big one for party politics. I tend to vote in local elections, but not the national ones.

We’re always out for recommendations - who’ve you been reading lately?

I go back to the old classics! Go back to people like Derek Walcot, Mervyn Morris, Kwame Dawes, who just became the new Poet Laureate of Jamaica; Jackie Kay in Scotland. I really, really like her work, she's a distinctive mixed race Scottish voice.

And here’s a hard one - the people who know you best, how might they describe you?

Oh, bloody hell, you’ve got me there mate! My Mrs. would say I’m grumpy, I think most people find me easygoing. I’m at the age now where I could be easily described as a miserable old git. But I've never heard anybody actually say that about me.

A good deal of your career has been fighting for your community… is doing that a burden or an honour? We do what we think needs to be done. I don't see myself as making any huge sacrifice more than anybody else. I just did what I had to do.

Linton Kwesi Johnson will be appearing at Metronome at 7pm on the 14 of June, as part of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. Tickets are available online.

@nottmpoetryfestival

NOTTS SHOTS

Want to have your work featured in Notts Shots? Send your high-res photos from around the city (including your full name and best web link) to photography@leftlion.co.uk or tag #nottsshots on Instagram.

Midnight Sunbeams Peter Taylor

Coffee Stop Tony Shelley

Held Up George Brumpton

Wild Women, part of Sugar Stealer’s Wild Women exhibition Emma Ford

Through the Tram Stop Glass Harvey Tomlinson

Gate of the Hounds Arrenga Nadaraja

Glad for the pub Sophie Gargett

Where to watch euro 2024

Euro 2024 kicks off on 14 June with both England and Scotland representing the home nations in the tournament. Will Gareth Southgate’s men finally end the 58 years of hurt? Will Steve Clarke’s tartan army make it out of the group stage? Will Harry Kane finally get a trophy in his cabinet? Who knows? What we do know is that a lot of people in Notts will be avidly watching the tournament, including us. Here’s our guide to bars and venues around the city where you might want to watch the games…

The Bodega

Where? 23 Pelham Street, NG1 2ED

How much? £22-44 for a table (includes beers)

You can book tables for the England games at the Bodega in either their Cobden courtyard or the upstairs bit where they do gigs. For each £6 of the booking fee you get a stein (that’s around 2 pints) of half-time beer.

BOX Where? 3 Thurland Street, NG1 3DR How much? Free entry

With 35 HD screens and a big jumbo screen, Thurland Street will be rocking. They’re planning to screen the whole tournament and although entry is free, a table deposit may be required to secure your table.

The Bierkeller

Where? 13 Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6DA

How much? £20-30 per person (includes food and beer)

This Bavarian-themed bar offers three massive screens, three projectors and 35 TVs. If England go out on penalties to Germany in the latter stages, this could make for an interesting place to watch it. Cancel that oompah band!

The Big Shed

Where? 17 Meadow Lane, Nottingham NG2 3HS

How much? £5-30

What more can you ask for than a truly massive screen right next to the Notts County stadium, opposite a mural of Brian Clough and Jimmy Sirrel? £5 tickets include a beer and the £30 VIP ticket gets you food and front-row seats.

Binks Yard

Where? 1 The Great Northern Close, NG2 3JL How much? £5

Canalside seats and a massive screen at one of this swanky hang-out in the Island Quarter. From what we can gather from their website the £5 fee is just for entry and they’re just screening the England games.

Brewdog

Where? 20-22 Broad Street, Nottingham, NG1 3AL

How much? Free entry

Brewdog are installing a swanky new projector and screen, which they assure us can be viewed from all areas of the bar. Plus there’s a zillion types of beer on offer as well as their signature sourdough pizzas.

Bustler

Where? Freckingham Street, NG1 1DW

How much? £5 entry for England games.

Famous for their street food offering, Bustler’s Nottingham bar is a lovely airy big unit just off Sneinton Market. They’re charging entry for the England games,

but showing other games for free throughout the tournament.

Cricketers Rest

Where? 4 Chapel St, NG16 2NP

How much? Free entry

Despite its name, this lovely Castle Rock pub, nestled in a row of beautiful Kimberley cottages, is showing the whole tournament. They’re also offering discounts on pizza for Castle Rock App users.

The Embankment

Where? 282-284 Arkwright Street, NG2 2GR

How much? Free entry

Where better to watch the footy than this beautiful Grade II listed building designed by Albert Nelson Bromley. Formerly a Boots pharmacy and social club, they’re taking table bookings via their website.

The Fox & Grapes

Where? 21 Southwell Rd, NG1 1DL

How much? Free entry

The pub nearest to the LeftLion office and a regular after-work haunt for us. They’re screening all home nations games and potentially others by request. We’d also advise checking our the food offered up by the inhouse Chucky’s Kitchen.

The Kilpin Beer Cafe

Where? 10 Bridlesmith Walk, NG1 2HB

How much? Free entry

A quality pub named after Herbert Kilpin, the Nottsborn founder of AC Milan. They’re showing the whole tournament on three large smart tv’s. If England draw Italy in the latter stages you might expect some divided loyalties.

Lion at Basford

Where? 44 Mosley St, NG7 7FQ

How much? Free entry

Day-to-day this is Basford’s finest proper boozer, although it faces some friendly competition during the weekend hours that Black Iris Brewery open up their taproom next door. Also the winner of multiple ‘Dog Friendly Pub’ awards.

MOJO

Where? 10 Thurland Street, NG1 3DR

How much? £10 per table

Usually an after-hours venue that night owls flock to after other places close to dance on the tables, Mojo are opening up a little earlier for this tournament. All table booking fees are redeemable against drinks at the bars.

The Nest

Where? Iremonger Road, NG2 3HU

How much? TBC

This superb looking new 1000-capacity facility from Notts County FC is still a work in progress but they're confident it will be ready in time for England's first match. Once it opens we’ll be down there checking it out.

Partizan Tavern

Where? 15 Manvers Street, NG2 4PF

How much? Free

Lovely micropub serving a good range of proper beer, based just off Sneinton Avenues. The pub is named after Partizan Belgrade FC and run by two Notts County fans who cultivated a love for Serbia. Thus they are showing all the England and Serbia matches on a projector.

Poppy & Pint

Where? Pierrepont Road, NG2 5DX

How much? Free

Lady Bay-based Castle Rock pub, showing all England matches, key matches and everything from quarter finals onwards. Their beer and food offering also comes highly recommended.

Rock City

Where? 8 Talbot Street, NG1 5GG

How much? £6 (includes Jägerbomb)

Yes, Nottingham’s legendary gig venue has pencilled all the England games into their diary and worked their gigs around it accordingly. Thus you can watch the Three Lions play in that hallowed place like so many legends have before.

Rescue Rooms

Where? Goldsmith St, NG1 5LB

How much? £0-34

Following in big brother’s footsteps, the Rescue Rooms are also screening all the England matches. Standing entry is free, but if you want to book a table for 4-8 friends then tables are priced at £18-34 and include 4-8 free pints.

Saltbox

Where? Bolero Square, Nottingham NG1 1LY

How much? £5

This bar next to Nottingham Arena will be showing all England games live and promises a good view from any seat in the venue. Their kitchen takeover with Mollis, posh chicken by chef Alex Bond, will also be in full swing.

Southbank City

Where? 18 Friar Ln, Nottingham NG1 6DQ

How much? £20 per person (includes food)

Home to a whopping 24 4K screens, including private screens in all their booths and a 155″ HD rear view projector. Ticket price includes food and table service.

words: Roger Mean

The LeftLion Summer

The sun is out, summer is here, which can only mean one thing – it’s officially festival season! And while not everyone is lucky enough to win the Worthy Farm lottery by getting tickets to Glastonbury, the good news is there are plenty of incredible events happening right on our doorstep. To give you the lowdown, here’s our ultimate guide to the best local festivals taking place in Nottingham and the surrounding areas over the next few months…

Radfest

When: 8 June

Where: The Rec, Radcliffe-On Trent

How much: £7 / £8 on the gate (£3 under 17s)

Market stalls, giant inflatables and only the best emerging talent from Nottingham – Radfest is really everything you could want from a family friendly, community festival. Catering for all ages including plenty of activities aimed at teenagers, it’s easy to see why it has become such a staple of the annual calendar over in Radcliffe. This year the line-up is stacked too, with local favourites Cali Green, Wizards Can’t Be Lawyers, Set In Motion and 2024 Future Sound of Nottingham winner, KAP, just some of the acts set to perform.

Forza Fest

When: 8 June

Where: The Big Shed - Trent Navigation

How much: £15

If you can’t make it out to Radcliffe, have no fear as Trent Navigation will also be hosting their own mini-festival in their Big Shed venue on the same day – Forza Fest. With street food, outdoor bar service and another stellar local line-up that includes up-and-comers The Chase, The Publics, Bored Marsh and more, it promises to be a fun day out for local indie fans.

Could Be Real Tribute Festival / Woodland Disco Festival

When: 5 - 6 July

Where: Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire

How much: From £40

In a world where you can’t see Amy Winehouse, Spice Girls, Queen and Oasis all on a bill together, Could Be Real offers the next best thing by bringing together some of the best tribute acts from across the country. Taking place in the historic surroundings of Newstead Abbey, it’s a great excuse to sit in the sun all evening and belt out some much-loved classics.

However, if you’re more partial to a little bit of D.I.S.C.O, then you may want to head over to Newstead Abbey a day later, where they will then be hosting legends like Sister Sledge and Jocelyn Brown for a day of dance, funk and R&B. Of course, you could always make a weekend of it and do both fests!

Gate To Southwell

When: 4 - 7 July

Where: Kirklington, Nottinghamshire

How much: From £143

This festival may well be Nottinghamshire’s best kept secret. Hidden away on the outskirts of Kirklington, Gate To Southwell is a family friendly festival that has a little bit of everything for everyone – dancing, spoken word, comedy, workshops, kids activities and, of course, live music. With a diverse line-up of talented artists playing a range of folk, roots and acoustic music, this one is perfect for those looking for a chilled and scenic weekend away with the family.

Forest Live When: 21 - 23 June

Where: Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire

How much: From £61

If a picnic in the heart of Sherwood Pines Country Park whilst watching some genuine musical legends is more your cup of tea, then Forest Live have you covered. This year, the largest public woodland in the East Midlands plays host to disco pioneers Nile Rodgers & Chic, chart-topping pop sensation Anne-Marie and finally the one and only Sting. With VIP options available too to really treat yourself, this promises to be a magical weekend amidst some quite stunning surroundings.

Download Festival

When: 14 - 16 June

Where: Donington Park, Leicestershire

How much: £124 day ticket | £300 weekend

It is the Mecca of rock and metal music, now incredibly in its 21st year – and it’s all happening less than thirty minutes away from Nottingham city centre. As hundreds and thousands of rock fans from across the globe once again descend on Donington, they’ll be treated to a mega line-up that this year includes Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, Enter Shikari, Sum 41’s final ever UK festival performance and everyone’s favourite pop-punk guilty pleasure – Busted! However, the highlight of the weekend will no doubt be Nottingham’s own ALT BLK ERA, who bring their rising star to the Dogtooth Stage on the Saturday. A set not to be missed!

Festival Guide

words: Karl Blakesley illustration: Lily Keogh

Boho Festival

When: 26 - 28 July

Where: Millview Glamping & Events, Nottinghamshire

How much: From £35

Sunsets, nostalgia and a little sprinkling of bohemian magic, Boho Festival is an intimate family-friendly festival taking place within the scenic woodland of the Millview camping and events site. With Martin Kemp throwing an 80s party to kick start the weekend and a disco yurt to dance the night away in throughout the three days, Boho festival is the ultimate forest party. With tribute acts, wellness classes, bouncy castles and much more, there’s not a dull moment to be had.

Waterfront Festival

When: 6 July

Where: The Canalhouse, Nottingham

How much: £8

When the sun comes out in Nottingham, there’s only one place to go – The Canalhouse. Set in the heart of the city centre and sat along the picturesque waterways, there are few pubs that can match its charm. Now add in raising money for a good cause, some fun, fancy dress hats and a full day of music that includes local favourites Luna & the Lime Slices, Baby Tap, Dusty 4 Track, Stuart Pearce and Sancho Panza, and you have the perfect July day out with Waterfront Festival. Now in its 12th year, all the proceeds for 2024 will go to their chosen charities of Emmanuel House and the Music Venue Trust. With tickets only £8 too, what’s stopping you?

Foolhardy Folk Festival

When: 25 August

Where: The Arboretum, Nottingham

How much: From £34

Folk musician Jay McAllister, AKA Beans on Toast, may originally be from Essex, but in recent years we have adopted him as a Nottingham faithful. It seems the feeling is mutual, as every year he now hosts and curates the Foolhardy Folk Festival in the Nottingham Arboretum over the August Bank holiday weekend. With a line-up of Beans’ favourite songwriters as well as plenty of street food and different craft ales to enjoy, it’s always a latesummer highlight.

Gloworm Festival

When: 16 -18 August

Where: Holme Pierrepont Country Park, Nottinghamshire

How much: Day tickets from £49

Let me ask you this - have you ever wanted to attend a Playmobil Rave? Well, good news! Gloworm is billed as ‘the ultimate family-friendly festival’, aimed at those with children aged 0-13. Meaning there’s no room for excuses like ‘Sorry, I need to stay home and watch the kids’ as you can bring them along with you! Aside from the dedicated Playmobil area for the little ones, there’s also a whole host of tribute acts to enjoy across the weekend, as well as circus acts and appearances from children’s TV favourites like Elmer, Paw Patrol and Bluey too. For the older kids (adults), there’s even Mr. Blobby and Pat Sharp on the bill!

Lost Village Festival

When: 22 - 25 August

Where: Norton Disney, Lincolnshire

How much: £325

Did you know that one of the best festivals in the world takes place less than an hour from Nottingham, just outside of Newark? There is simply no festival experience quite like Lost Village, a boutique adventure full of theatre, vibrant outfits and an always incredible line-up of music, comedy and fine dining. Taking place in the middle of a private woodland, it’s an assault on the senses that brings people back year-after-year to experience it all over again. With stages to explore that include an abandoned Airbase, an Old Zoo and even a rundown theme park, as well as insightful seminars across the weekend, wellness classes in their Energy Garden and Hot Tubs on the Lake, there’s a good chance you won’t want to leave.

Live At The Hall (Razorlight / Haçienda)

When: – 30 - 31 August

Where: Wollaton Hall, Nottingham

How much: From £55

Of course, there is sadly a big festival shaped hole in the calendar this year, with Splendour unfortunately not taking place in 2024. However, our friends at DHP and Wollaton Hall have managed to save the day, gifting us this pair of shows at the end of August. On Friday night, indie heroes Razorlight will perform with support from The Pigeon Detectives, Feeder and The Sherlocks. Then on Saturday night, Wollaton Hall will be transformed into a Madchester haven with Soul II Soul, 808 State and many more performing as part of their Haçienda event. Whether you’re going to one or both these shows, it’s sure to round off the Nottingham festival season with a bang!

Bearing Fruit

A once crumbling Sneinton Market has become a thriving new neighbourhood of independent businesses. Providing low-energy homes with considerate, community-first architecture, Fruit Market is the next chapter in a story of local organic regeneration.

Until the early 90s Sneinton Market was a thriving open marketplace, packed with fruit and veg sellers, butchers, fishmongers and other traders. The avenues were a wholesale market that came alive in the early hours, servicing grocery shops around the region. These markets were hubs of the community where you could buy everything from seasonal strawberries to new laces for your shoes. It’s a grocery culture that still exists across Europe and markets are often a powerful draw for both locals and tourists alike.

However, the rise of supermarkets in the 80s led to a decline in traditional markets across the UK. Shoppers preferred to drive to a supermarket rather than visit an open market several times a week. This change in culture and lack of investment led to market sites falling into disuse and becoming a regeneration problem for many councils. Leicester managed to maintain their market, and London’s Borough Market was reinvented as a specialist hub for artisan food producers, but many were removed completely.

Sneinton Market was profoundly affected by this change. The site fell into decline in the 90s when the wholesale market was relocated to an alternative area on the edge of the city. Much of the site was purchased by a large London-based developer whose regeneration plans failed to materialise. The unique 1930s buildings fell into disrepair and the location became a hot spot for antisocial behaviour. For over two decades, it was a mystery for many residents that the site was vacant for so long.

Change began In the early 2000s when the grassroots art scene began setting up studios such as Thoresby Street and Backlit. This was a natural extension of Hockley which had already established itself as a hub for the arts and independent businesses since the late 80s. Finally, when the London developer who had failed to invest went out of business, the Council took control of the site and kickstarted the regeneration. In 2010, the council undertook a £6.8m regeneration of the Sneinton Market Square and a £9m rebuild of Victoria Leisure Centre. These new facilities scooped up a series of design awards and the new square hosted new markets and festivals and a community of skateboarders. Sneinton Market was alive again.

The 1930s Art Deco avenues were the next piece of the puzzle. The City Council was awarded £2.44m from the ERDF fund and contributed a further £1.4m. The European grant initially

prohibited retailing from the site which resulted in slow initial uptake. While the regeneration may not have happened without European grant funding, it was the release from these restrictive conditions that has led to its success. For the current crop of food and drink producers - Stewart's Coffee Roasters, Luisa’s Vegan Chocolate, Neon Raptor Brewery and Breadmill Bakery, the mix of retail and production space is essential. Sneinton Market is a new kind of hybrid marketplace, a trend that is reflected in locations across the UK.

For the current crop of food and drink producers - Stewart's Coffee Roasters, Luisa’s Vegan Chocolate, Neon Raptor Brewery and Breadmill Bakery, the mix of retail and production space is essential. Sneinton Market is a new kind of hybrid marketplace

The next chapter in Sneinton Market’s regeneration story is the introduction of forty low-energy townhouses known as ‘Fruit Market’ by local developer Blueprint. Investment in residential property over the last thirty years in Nottingham city centre has largely reflected a national trend of medium to high-rise apartments. It’s rare to find new houses being built in any city centre so Fruit Market presents a genuine alternative to the trends of the last thirty years. The area has always had a strong mix of housing that reflects a dynamic community, from private modern loft conversions in the old mill buildings, social housing and the iconic Victorian Promenade.

Fruit Market is designed by a local architecture practice Letts Wheeler who are sensitive to the heritage characteristics of the area and emphasises a low-energy approach. The external design of the new homes is modern without being at odds with the historic architecture.

While the houses are designed around a low energy system that includes high specification windows, and air source heat pumps as an eco alternative to fossil fuel heating such as gas, perhaps the most innovative feature of the development is how they are set around a large central courtyard. Rather

than gardens boxed in with 6ft fences and cars parked on the drive like a traditional development, Letts Wheeler and Blueprint have reimagined these uses of space to be more relevant to modern life.

Each house has a small private garden for day-to-day use and a very large shared courtyard space that is planted with shrubs to create a green space in the centre. This can be used for large family gatherings or a safe space for children. Residents will have the benefit of an easy-to-manage private garden but the feeling of a much larger outdoor space. This communal space helps to facilitate neighbourliness and fosters a sense of community. Something as simple as reclaiming parking space to create a communal green space creates opportunities for increased biodiversity in the local area.

“The last few years of the pandemic highlighted the importance of community, particularly in big cities where people can become disconnected,” explains Blueprint’s Alec Hamlin. “Families are often living in different cities, but we will always need people around us for help and wellbeing. We feel the design of our Fruit Market development facilitates community, while still providing the privacy of a modern home.’

While this is an innovation for Nottingham this is a wellexplored architectural approach. The 1960s modernist Span Housing in London and Surrey integrated houses with shared green space have become highly sought after.

Building new low-energy homes in an area like Sneinton Market introduces high-quality housing into an area that has been dominated by lower value properties. New homes that are well-designed will attract long-term homeowners who are invested in the local area. Sneinton Market, through an organic approach to development, mixes the heritage with the modern, and green with the urban. Maybe it’s time we took a closer look at Sneinton Market to inspire the next series of regeneration projects across the city.

Join the developer Alec Hamlin and the architect Matthew Letts to hear more about the development and ask questions on Tuesday 27 June, 4-7pm, at The Bath Inn

words: Jonathan Casciani photo: Blueprint

Every year since 2019, a motley crew of students and local history enthusiasts has descended upon Wollaton Hall for a series of archaeological training excavations. They can be easily spotted about the grounds: a happy-looking crowd clad in mud stained high-vis, gleefully digging away or enthusiastically explaining themselves to curious park-patrons. These digs are run by Laura Parker and Tristan Cousins, community archaeologists from York Archaeology, who I met to talk about the project…

Now famous as Batman’s Wayne Manor, Wollaton Hall has existed as one of Nottingham’s most stunning locations for 450 years. As we arrived one cold morning in May we were greeted by the striking image of the Elizabethan hall proudly perched atop its hill overlooking the surrounding park. The deer were already up, and we passed a menagerie of joggers, dog walkers and staff, as well as one elderly gentleman performing what I can only assume was some sort of well-practised yoga pose. Despite this modern-day serenity however, my guides assured me the site has a long history hidden beneath its leafy-surface.

So, what’s the history of the Park and Hall?

Laura: In mediaeval times, this area was farmland for three villages, since lost to modern development. It became a deer park in 1492, and the Hall was built by Francis Willoughby and architect Robert Smithson in 1588. The hall at this time was surrounded by simple but grand formal gardens and a series of outbuildings. In the mid-17th century, Francis’ great-grandchildren inherited the estate and they made large alterations. Great-granddaughter Cassandra was the driving force behind this, spending 25 years restoring the site after a period of neglect, writing family histories and travelling Europe, being her own boss and doing her own thing - not very common for women in the 17th Century! They even commissioned a series of paintings by Jan Siberechts in the 1690s, to show the new grand gardens.

The 18th century saw vast changes in garden design and fashions across the country, Wollaton was no different. The lake was created, a number of outbuildings were constructed and the surrounding landscape was ‘naturalised’ through the planting of thousands of trees, forming copses and woody knolls. None of what you see today is natural, it is all a cleverly planned and controlled landscape, designed 250 years ago.

Further changes took place in the 19th century, but by the 1920s the estate was sold to the Nottingham Corporation, basically the council, and parts of it were sold off for a housing estate and golf course. From 1940 to the 1950s, parts of the park were used for military purposes, first to accommodate US troops, then German Prisoners of War. So the site is a mixed bag of archaeology!

Why are you digging in the formal garden?

Tristan: We are looking for evidence of these early garden designs, but also for a building called an Orangery. We see the building on 17th Century paintings, so we thought it would be a nice easy target, however it’s taken us four years to find it!

What would the orangery have looked like?

Tristan: Basically a large conservatory-type structure for growing citrus fruits, with at least one side consisting entirely of windows. Orangeries would normally have had a heating system, and would face south or south-west to make the most of the sunlight. Ours seemed to have had some kind of ornate decoration along the top, however the paintings show the gardens from the east, so we are missing a lot of the detail.

What do you actually do ‘on-site’?

Laura: We teach our trainees how to excavate and record everything they find, alongside more specialist skills, such as artefact identification, using drones and GPS to survey what we find. We have also been investigating the wider park to find any other interesting features and changes to the landscape using maps and historical documents and physically walking through the park. We want to show our trainees that archaeology is not just about digging!

What have you found so far?

Laura: Hopefully the Orangery!

Tristan: For the past few seasons we were finding small sections of structural remains and ditches from which masonry had been removed or 'robbed'. But last year we uncovered the corner foundations of a sizable structure, comprised of stone blocks, clearly supporting something. So, this year we are revisiting this area to uncover more of these foundations.

Laura: We’ve also found other garden features, possible plant beds for topiary, pathways, and the possible evidence for a grotto. We randomly started finding lumps of quartz, pieces of coral and shell stuck into beds of mortar, which possibly could have decorated the walls of a grotto (an artificial cave or folly), possibly dating to the 17th century. So that was quite interesting! Alongside a lot of pottery fragments from over the past 400 years.

Why dig this stuff? What’s the point of it all?

Laura: To train the next generation of archaeologists! It’s the perfect site to show trainees a mix of techniques that we as the professionals use in our day-to-day jobs, and to give them that sense of pride when they find something that hasn’t been seen in such a long time. This is a real dig with real archaeology, we don’t plant things for people to find, their discoveries are just that, theirs!

Tristan: But it’s also about revealing more of the park’s history to the public, and not just telling them, but showing them. Allowing them to handle the artefacts and be involved in the process of uncovering the past - its people, its design, the wealth of those who paid for such structures but also understanding the people that physically built them. Hopefully we can give local people and visitors a sense of ownership over their heritage and give them a new perspective on Wollaton Park. It’s also amazing to see it revealed for the first time in centuries.

Laura: As someone born and bred in Nottingham, finding out more about the places I visited often as a kid is so important and I feel that I’m seeing Wollaton Park with fresh eyes and a new understanding every time we dig!

How can people get involved?

Laura: People can book onto this summer’s training dig by visiting community.yorkarchaeology.co.uk. We can also host small groups for tours of the site, so just get in contact for more information!

If the idea of digging into a bit of local history piques your interest, why not check out the variety of training digs York Archaeology offer for the general public at community. yorkarchaeology.co.uk

interview: Cameron Black photo: Cameron Black

Young Creative Awards winners

For its size Nottingham certainly punches its weight in creativity. Established artists such as dancer Jamal Sterrett, musician Sheku Kanneh-Mason or visual artist Wolfgang Buttress are well-known names throughout the country, but who is hot on their heels? Each year The Young Creative Awards picks out some of the rising stars of Nottingham. The winners were announced at the end of May, and here are some of our favourites…

Dance

Hannah Alvey, winner of the Dance 19-24 age group

Accompanying her dance performance titled Daydreaming, this painting aims to communicate improvisation, free movement and emotional expression

Graphic Design

James Ennin, winner of the Graphic Design 19-24 age group

This colourful image took inspiration from cartoons, comics, and Japanese woodblocks

Film

Kristian Smith, winner of the 16-18 Film age group

This video installation portrays the stress and difficulty felt by some autistic people when having to fit in or ‘mask’ in public

Creative Writing

Maia Redgate, winner of the 16-18 Creative Writing age group

Extract from Maia’s short story titled Why Don’t You See Me?

Mina was certain the bell tower was going to crumble apart. The bell had been chiming non-stop for five minutes, the loud, echoing dongs drawing the small population of the town towards the village hall. She had been out in the far fields when the emergency meeting signal had sounded, and at first she had assumed it was just midday and that she hadn’t realised due to the dense fog and overcast sky, but when the thirteenth clash of metal on metal reached her ears, she set about going back. Now she was making her way towards the open doors of the village hall, her cat Nella trailing behind and bemoaning the situation.

“You didn’t even bring the basket back with us,” she meowed. “I was promised strawberries for waking up so early on such a miserable day.”

“It’s not called an emergency signal for no reason Nella,” Mina scoffed, picking up her pace. Nella’s paws scattered against the damp cobblestones of the square as she struggled to keep up, making as many obnoxious, complaintive noises as she could. Mina was unimpressed.

“Oh, come here. I’ve never heard of a familiar more reluctant than you,” she relented, scooping the little cream cat up and placing her on top of her marmalade-coloured satchel, the one thing she had taken with her from the field.

Nella settled into the dip of cloth hanging from Mina’s side, no doubt getting little white hairs all over the green overcoat she was wafting her long tail against. Rain started to pitter down from above them and the heels of Mina’s red shoes threatened to lose their grip against the stones as she hurried to get inside, ducking through into the warm glow of the village hall. All the gas lamps had been turned on to ward away the gloom of early spring, leaving the room yellowtinted like tiles before a hearth.

“Mina I’m worried. What if something bad’s happened?” Nella muttered, looking around at the people gathered in the room, slowly taking their seats, and chatting in hushed tones as they awaited the mayor.

“It’ll be fine. What’s the worst thing that can happen in a town like this?”

Music

Oscar Farrage, winner of the Music age 19-24 age group

Formed on Confetti's BA Music Performance course in 2022, Luna and the Lime Slices won with their melodic punk track Red Room

Photography

Sam Williams, winner of the 16-18 Photography age group

This shot titled London was taken by playing with camera effects to show the increasing excitement, bustle and business of the city.

we all came here to disappear

Next year, Nottingham Poetry Festival will be celebrating its tenth anniversary. The longevity and success of the festival, which began as a project by Confetti and is now its own company, is an ode to Nottingham’s burgeoning poetry scene. This year, part of a jam-packed programme, is a screening of three films featuring poetry by the late, great, Benjamin Zephaniah. We spoke to the film's director and friend of Zephaniah, Benjamin Wigley, along with the festival’s creative director, Alma Solarte-Tobón.

Showing in this trio of films is the 2012 feature-length documentary Paa Joe & the Lion produced by Anna Griffin. It follows legendary Ghanian fantasy coffin maker Paa Joe and his son-come-apprentice Jacob, as they battle to keep their trade alive.

The film documents the duo's trip to Nottingham as they undertake their international artist residency at Clumber Park. The residency was sponsored by City Arts and facilitated by Wigley’s collaboration with Solarte-Tobón. The footage shows Paa Joe and Jacob hand carving a lion-shaped coffin as onlookers visit the park.

The documentary illustrates not only that their art is captivating, but that it creates a dialogue too. Wigley and Solarte-Tobón reminisce that the project “opened up the conversation about burials and how people wanted to go”. The documentary includes interviews with passers-by who vary in their responses to Paa Joe and Jacob's craft. As one comments that choosing a casket is “morbid” another ponders their own coffin choice, and it is clear that discussion around death varies widely.

Zephaniah’s lyricism adds a distinct magic to Paa Joe & the Lion. It showcases his powerful ability to give energy and life to words where they may otherwise have been left to lie sleeping on the page

Yet another hair in the project's mane, Wigley explains: “we worked with City Arts to build a kind of workshop infrastructure that enabled us to reach communities. It was a fantastic project because it was a very poor, predominantly white, exmining community who were introduced to all this African art.”

What really weaves the documentary together is captivating narration by Benjamin Zephaniah. Wigley explains that this narration is bespoke: these poems were “written to guide the shape of the film under my direction”.

Wigley reached out to Zephaniah in search of “a different way of telling stories rather than traditional relationships.” It is certainly fitting that a trade as unique as fantasy coffin making - a trade that carefully chisels caskets to suit the buyershould have narration that is equally bespoke. As such, the documentary features poems whose rhythm and rhyme have been consciously crafted.

This crafting by Zephaniah reflects the same themes the documentary inspects: art, love and death. Naturally, this is combined with his never-ceasing sense of justice. Zephaniah reads a few lines towards to documentary's end:

“We all came here to go down there, We all came here to disappear, We are all going to the truth of the self, Regardless of earthly possessions and wealth”.

Zephaniah’s lyricism adds a distinct magic to Paa Joe & the Lion. It showcases his powerful ability to give energy and life to words where they may otherwise have been left to lie sleeping on the page.

This same magic is similarly conjured in the two accompanying film's in the festival's programme: the 2010 short film P.S. Your Mystery Sender, and 2021’s In this World. Both works highlight Zephaniah’s writing because they exhibit his use of the oral tradition in poetry. It is this spoken performance - sometimes playful, sometimes political, often both - that encouraged many people who were felt excluded from traditional poetry to enjoy it.

Solarte-Tobón explains that the festival was already set to include Wigley and Zephaniah’s films when they planned it last year. When Zephaniah passed away last December due to a brain tumour, the pair decided to donate all funds to the Braintrust charity. Solarte-Tobón stressed the importance of raising awareness of brain tumours: “They can be very isolating, it’s such a shame that we lost Benjamin for that reason, but we can raise awareness and show that there is support for people.”

Solarte-Tobón enthused that there will be poets on the day of screening who will read both Zephaniah’s poems and their own. In this way, they can pay tribute through reflecting on his words, and continue his legacy by reading their own. “It’s going to be a really beautiful day for poetry,” she says, “We’ve got a panel discussion at Rough Trade, and a poetry slam between Nottingham and Derby.”

When asked about inclusivity in regards to the festival, Solarte-Tobón said, “We open the festival up to different communities who put on different poetry events so it’s almost like a fringe. Everyone gets to submit what they’d like to do”.

The screening of A Tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah takes place on the final day of the festival on Sunday 16 June at 3pm. Another event in the festival's week-long calendar is also a tribute to Zephaniah: Eat Your Words is being led by Chris Oliver and Olga Andrade at New Art Exchange on Friday 14 June.

words: Sofia Jones photos: Benjamin Wigley

Exhibition Review: NTU Fine Art Degree Show

That time of year has finally come around again when students are busy with final exams. At the end of May, over at Nottingham Trent University’s Bonington Gallery, the BA Fine Art students exhibited their work in the Grad Fest Fine Art Degree Show. We went down to see what this year’s budding artists have been creating.

During Graduate Festival 24, Nottingham Trent University showcased the work of over 1,200 graduating creatives in a series of events and exhibitions in Nottingham and London as a showcase of the upcoming creative talents from the university. The Fine Art degree show was a free exhibition displaying a culmination of the work the students have made in their time on the Fine Art course.

The open plan studios in the Bonington buildings are lit by daylight, which makes a nice, bright and communal space for seeing all the artworks. The first thing that caught my eye when walking into the show was a series of long vines hanging down from the ceiling. Made from various fabrics and strings - some parts even made from human hair - they cascaded down to the floor, which had pieces of fabric and material scattered on it giving the impression that the leaves had fallen down from the vines, or perhaps the vines had been made from them.

The environmental impact of materials used is clearly a key consideration for many of the students, with several artworks in the show using found objects in this way, and focusing on the deeper meaning of materials. I really love this careful appreciation of environmental issues that runs throughout. One standout artist was Lucy Bronwen Davies, who used moss, bark and handmade paper in this way.

But the art on show was very varied, with strong ideas and themes presented in new and thoughtful ways. Several artworks focused on mythology and beliefs: one that stood out to me was the performance art and paintings by Toby Biggin, who walked around the exhibition dressed in dark robes like a monk from the dark ages. His art showed great skill in painting, using cracked textures and highly detailed imagery to make very vivid images of creatures and monsters. Jade Derwin’s piece was another

175 years ago, John Boot opened a herbalist store on Nottingham’s Goose Gate. This free exhibition explores changing experiences on the high street, with a mix of historic objects, images and architecture depicting how Boots stores have reflected our shifting social needs, cultural aspirations, and patterns of everyday life. A trip down memory lane for all Boots shoppers.

that focused on mythology, folklore and the occult, with lighting used to incredible effect, her strange crooked sculptures cast huge shadows up on the walls like ghosts.

The environmental impact of materials used is clearly a key consideration for many of the students, with several artworks in the show using found objects

Similarly, many of the pieces managed to create a strong atmosphere in the room by using different techniques to make the space more of an experience than your average gallery exhibition. Samira Ebrahimzadeh’s Layering Reality did this very well, using a mix of video, lighting and objects to make the viewer feel like they were walking on the beach. With found rocks and other natural objects in unusual positioning, such as hanging from chains, it ultimately led to a very ethereal and intriguing space.

Overall the exhibition showed a merging of artistic talent with a breadth of skills acquired over the past three years of study. The thought and care that went into considering what materials to use and how to use them was a key theme, which I think is a really important consideration in the 21st century, showing that art can highlight beauty in the natural form of materials while also lowering the impact of creative materials.

Spoon Moot

Friday 6-8pm By Our Hands, Sneinton Market

Fancy something creative and different on a Friday evening? Try your hand whittling a spoon with the lovely folks of By Our Hands. Bring materials if you have them, and please be aware this is not a taught workshop. A minimum donation of £8 is suggested, with tea, coffee, something sweet and maybe even some music to help the evening along.

Imagining Otherwise

Aiming to change the relationship between institution and artist, this exhibition will transform over time as artists Ashley Holmes, Jasleen Kaur, and Jala Wahid return to withdraw, change or replace their work over the course of the exhibition, through a series of readings, performance, screenings and discussions.

words: George Dunbar photo: Kevin Dunbar

Culture

Gallery

Lakeside Arts

no plaCe like Home

interview: Kathryn Cooper

photos: David Mellen

Sneinton Community Festival is a free family festival, this year taking place from the 6 to 14 July, for the people of Sneinton and beyond. This year’s theme ‘There’s no place like home’ celebrates the diversity, different cultures and ways of being in the area. Organiser Kathryn Cooper takes a look at the history of the festival and what is coming up this year.

I didn’t mean to be organising Sneinton Community Festival 2024, but then I never really intended to live in Sneinton for so long and yet somehow the place, and the festival, have claimed me… and my little dog too!

This year is a special one as the festival is officially forty years old, but it is probably a lot older - there are references to events in 1775 that happened ‘at the time of Sneinton Feast Day’ held on 4 August on Sneinton Common. "The village itself is rural, at present in some measure romantic; has a number of pleasant villas and cottages, and has long been famous for a race of dairy people, who make a very pleasant kind of soft summer cheese’ John Britton wrote several years later in The Beauties of England and Wales (1808).

Nowadays Sneinton is a little bit different, no less interesting - not as many dairy people perhaps. In the 1980s Sneinton still had its common (until it was built on in 1988), and that is where the annual festival was held - a May Day Festival with a traditional May queen picked from the local school children, it included a sports day, a pet dog show and I’m told that David Lloyd, the Trent FM DJ, was the compèrewho is also the voice that tells you which is the next stop on NCT buses!

It turns out it is not that easy organising a community festival with a parade. From 1994 to 2008, D.A. Orli was involved in running the festival - initially as an arts festival. Every year the festival had a theme. ‘Planet Sneinton’ in 1998 gained funding from the East Midlands Star Trek Society. ‘Once upon a time in Sneinton’ in 2001 was supported by the Robin Hood Society. D.A.Orli sent me a fascinating account of these years. It strikes me how inventive they were.

Sneinton has become home to so many different kinds of people - many refugees, asylum seekers and diaspora - so this year’s theme ‘There’s no place like home’ is a celebratory reference to the multicultural population now living in the area.

Sneinton was home to a prisoner of war camp in World War II, after the war many of the Italian prisoners stayed in Sneinton and were joined by other Italians. Roma peoples suffer persecution in many parts of Europe and the UK, but have found Sneinton a tolerant home. I’m also told that Sneinton was ‘the gay village’ in the 1980s. Years on, these things are all worth celebrating, also to acknowledge the many homes and cultures that we have left behind.

Moon Cavanagh from the SEND Project helped to run the festival through the 2010s. He recalls one of his favourite festival moments: “We had nearly 100 Sneintonites of all ages, shapes and sizes doing Kundalini yoga together. If you’ve never seen it, it’s more like a dance workout than yoga. Amazing.” David Jones, another organiser, gets a misty look in his eye when he talks about his first festival meeting. “Someone suggested that we turf the road and everyone agreed, and I thought, this is the community for me.” He also notes the importance of the community street parade: “For one day you are more important than the cars!”

The festival has in recent years fallen on hard times due to difficulties with bureaucracy, funding, the pandemic, and flying monkeys. Last year, David helped Green’s Windmill get funding from the lottery for paid employees to organise the festival and parade respectively, rebranding the festival as ‘Mill on the Hill Festival’which was very successful. But this year Green’s Mill have had to focus on renovating their 19th century windmill to make sure it continues to be a beautiful community hub in the area.

It is a clarion call for people to lend things, to exchange, to sing, perform, make art, dance, be a viking - for the joy of it - and for the sake of each other - to be seen and to see each other

This year the festival is back to its community roots, scraping funding together from wherever we can. A community festival puts everyone into a different mindset - it is a common goal and, while it is problematic that so often artists are expected to work for free, the Sneinton community festival makes your talents worth more than just money. It is a clarion call for people to lend things, to exchange, to sing, perform, make art, dance, be a viking - for the joy of it - and for the sake of each other - to be seen and to see each other.

The main carnival day will be Saturday, starting with a parade at 11am from Edale Road to Hermitage Square. At Hermitage Square there will be an international music and dance stage, and a health and wellbeing area. There will be a family fun day at St Stephen’s church yard, an exhibition and art competition at the Salvation Army, a viking camp at Lindum Grove Community Garden, pop-up coaching and football from Nottingham Forest Community Foundation, and retro gaming from It’s Much More.

Throughout the rest of the week; Mencap Makaton Choir will be performing at Stonebridge City Farm, there will be the Iona School Fayre, a garden party at Carlton Fold, events at the William Booth Museum, The Great Sneinton Bake Off, The International Food Evening at St Christopher’s Church Hall, a wildlife festival and a family picnic at Greens Mill. Something for everyone - and so much to get excited about.

We have been working on the festival since February and we are all tired! But I’m proud of our little team - and I don’t mind having been claimed by this festival and the curious dairy people in the jolly old land of Sneinton.

If you would like to get involved with organising, performing, stewarding, litter picking, or dressing up, please contact coopersmarket@gmail.com. Help the festival carry on through the years by contributing to crowdfunder.com/sneintonfestival

sneintonfestival.org.uk

Theorist and Friends

Theorist Presents: Some Friends Of Mine (Album)

With a more lyrical quality than previous, more instrumental, work, this latest LP by Nottingham hiphop legend and animator Theorist is crammed with poetic gems. The album moves from the mediaeval lute intro in the track Bait & Hook with Juga-Naut, whereas Cappo’s lyrics in Weltanshauang (the German term for a particular philosophy or life view) showcases a mellow thoughtfulness that runs through the entire album. Featuring a plethora of artists from Nottingham and beyond, Theorist has yet again showcased his unique production style with some of the best lyricists the UK has to offer. Rachel Imms

Shadows of a Silhouette Abuse Me (Single)

Abuse Me is just what you need to hear right now. It’s rocky, it’s edgy, it’s got great guitars and thought provoking lyrics, which is a darker direction than previous songs, adding depth but still retaining the sound and familiarity fans love. Taking inspiration from their working class backgrounds, it’s hard to believe they are all in their early twenties as they have a sound and experience beyond their years. Faye Stacey

Nottingham Hip Hop artist Lex is back with a banger Big Man on Campus, bringing us some upbeat melodic music for the season of spring. The new track is one of many that will be appearing on Lex’s upcoming album. Lex, previously known as Lexus, has been making some noise in the Nottingham rap scene for some time now, and we can see why - with his newly acquired upbeat style he has really shown variety in his music. If you are a fan of Hip Hop and a Kano-esque sound, then definitely check out the new bop brought to by Nottingham’s finest. Louis Dargavel Corbett

George Gadd + The Aftermath Last Orders/CVG (Single)

Mimosa Taxi Fare/Madman (Single)

With the obvious influences of Oasis and Arctic Monkeys, this is a great introduction to Mimosa. Taxi Fare was one of Mimosa’s earlier tunes, written sometime in 2020. It pays homage to what a standard night out is like locally in their rural town of Chesterfield and how messy things can get in a ‘everyone knows everyone’ kind of town. Meanwhile, Madman was written in the midst of lockdown when strange rules were applied to the public but didn’t seem to matter to the people in charge. Bassey

Bouncing with high energy and aggressive sounds, George Gadd and The Aftermath bring us a double A side single that screams for your attention. The decision to use Phil Booth (JT Soar) and Rich Collins (Snug Recording) to engineer and mix the songs has seriously helped to increase the intensity. If you're into the hybrid sounds of folk, emo, punk and - dare I say it - pop, then you are not gonna want to miss out on this release. I'm going to remember this one for a long time! Bassey

Jude Forsey It’s All a Waste (Single)

An artist who was included in the January BBC Introducing showcase at Metronome, Jude Forsey has achieved an immense amount for someone who is still only sixteen years of age. His latest single, It's All a Waste, is shorter than two minutes in length, but he gets straight to the point and doesn't require much time to convince the listener of his potential as an artist. The track's upbeat pop-infused drum pattern, acoustic guitars, and layered vocals would fit right in on mainstream radio, with hints of Hip-Hop and hyperpop influence lingering in the background - it's a winning formula. Gemma Cockrell

If you’re from Nottingham and want to get added to our list of music writers, or get your tunes reviewed, hit us up at music@ leftlion.co.uk

Lex Big Man on Campus (Single)

kapping it oFF

interview: Phil Taylor photo: Amy Williams

We caught up with Katie Anderson-Price, better known as KAP, winner of this year’s Future Sound of Nottingham competition and the opening act at Rock City for the 2024 Dot To Dot festival.

How did you get into making music?

I grew up in a very musical family. My older brother used to play in bands and is an amazing guitarist. I’m always so angry at him because he just doesn’t play in more. I’m always saying, ‘Bro, join the band!’

I actually started off singing in a wedding band. I went across the UK and Spain and was doing gigs like that. I started to think that I wanted to record and write my own things. It was after my first heart-break – that’s what got me into songwriting. I went to a vocal coach, doing vocal training and working on writing songs. And then I ended up starting my recording career in Bristol.

How did that come about?

I was kind of known as a dancer back in the day! I did dance at college and I did a couple of music videos. There was one time when the artist’s music video didn’t come out, but their manager saw a video of me singing and invited me down to Bristol to get me in a room with some producers. So I thought, ‘Why not, it’s a long way but let’s take the plunge.’ I took the first song I ever wrote and made it into a full song with production… I was working with other musicians, singers and songwriters, and kind of getting to know what the industry was all about.

But you did return to Nottingham of course…

Yes, after Covid I came back to Nottingham and started recording at Deeper Than Roots studios in Hockley with a guy called Kevin Thomson, aka Origin One. He’s an amazing producer. I started recording there and also working with Gaz Frost, who also goes by Congi. I’d definitely say it was he who brought me out of my shell and gave me confidence to make my sound my own.

You’ve had quite a journey since then! Tell us a bit more about that…

I started writing more of my own songs and that’s then when I released my first single and got my first BBC Introducing play. It was being at the studios that really honed me as a creative. It was nice working with other people, and they also did everything to build me up and give me trust and faith in the process that I was doing.

I started doing gigs around Nottingham, trying to get myself out and about, and sing as much as I could. And, I started to learn how to actually write a song properly.

I was writing songs, but felt like I wasn’t putting enough effort and time into thinking: “OK, every line, I want

it to mean something, and I want it to have a message that gets across to people.”

You released your debut EP, The Pieces, in March. What were you trying to say to people through that record?

A lot of people say that I’ve done a lot for my age and been through a lot of things. As a woman in the industry, there’s a lot of things that happen, especially when you’re younger and naïve to things and people around you. I just wanted to share the story that I’ve been through in hopes that it might help other people, or inspire other people to believe in themselves – even if it’s not in a musical sense.

A lot of people say that I’ve done a lot for my age and been through a lot of things. I just wanted to share the story that I’ve been through in hopes that it might help other people, or inspire other people to believe in themselves – even if it’s not in a musical sense

How would you define your sound and message now?

It’s R&B with a bit of a UK-garage fusion, I’d say. There’s a song from my EP called Taste which is a bit of a mixture of both. The drums take influence from garage, but the melodies are influenced by R&B. I grew up listening to all sorts of music, from The Who and Foo Fighters, to Beyoncé, so I like to fuse things and try to make my own sound.

I like a heartbreak song, and a love song. There are a lot of things I write about that might sound like a romantic interest, but a lot of the music I write is about my upbringing and my family, and the experiences I’ve been through there. I like to write so that people can relate to it in different ways, whether it’s a romantic relationship or a sibling relationship… One thing I’ve learnt from life is relationships can be hard at times but you can always pull through in the end. I like to tell that story.

What part has Nottingham played in shaping you as an artist?

There are so many incredible artists, singers, bands – everyone’s got their own journey and story to tell, but everyone supports each other. Everyone wants each other to win. I’ve met so many different types of people… they helped me navigate life, in a way, and navigate the music industry within Nottingham.

Your gig at Rock City for Dot To Dot came about through winning the Future Sound Of Nottingham competition. How did that feel?

It was my song One in a Million that I entered into the competition. I started writing that song a couple of years ago, about my partner that I’m with now. I kept it to myself and then one day I decided to show it to Gaz at Deeper Than Roots. He’s heard the best and worst takes in the studio, and he said, ‘This is a really good song. You can feel that’s your sound.’

Then when it got played on BBC Radio 1xtra, I thought, ‘OK, maybe this time it could work for Future Sound Of Nottingham!’ I was at work, it was a bad day, really stressful, and then I got this notification that said I’d won. I love music, and no matter if I get played on Radio 1 or not, it’s a big aspect of my life – kind of like therapy for me. But as soon as I saw I got the win it reaffirmed for me: ‘Just keep going, keep doing what you’re doing and doing what you love, and it will pay off.’

What was your approach to the Rock City gig? A lot of it was about mental prep too: I kept envisioning myself stepping on the stage, and how I was going to calm my nerves so I could do the best performance. It was the biggest show I’d done, and a lifelong dream. I’ve been to Rock City since I was a kid, and to know that I would actually be playing there… you really can do anything if you put your mind to it and work hard. I say stay consistent – you don’t have to do something every day and burn yourself out – but the consistency of having time to perfect your craft but also having downtime. Don’t be hard on yourself, but take the time you need.

Listen to KAP via your usual streaming channels and catch her playing live at RadFest on Saturday 8 June.

After four years of using 31k as our 'pre-dinner bar' in Hockley, we finally made a meal booking. There's no strong reason why we've never sat down for food with our drinks before — other than that we're obviously just a bit silly.

We've always loved 31k for the atmosphere, drinks, and music. Sitting upstairs overlooking the ground floor was a huge bonus because you still get the buzzy, lively bar vibe, but also have the intimacy upstairs to enjoy your meal, with a smug superiority.

The menu is designed so that you can mix and match your main protein with different options of carbs, vegetables, and sauces. They used to do meatball bowls, but things have changed, and the menu is more elevated now. It's two courses for £23, and the fluffy focaccia starter with different flavoured butters (fancy) is £6.

We paired the tender poached chicken breast roulade with the creamy watercress risotto, leek gratin, and citrussy picatta sauce. This was a comforting plate of food, with the risotto cooked to perfection.

We also paired the flaky pan-fried hake with crunchy polenta chips, dill butter, and green beans. It’s fish and chips, but sexy. This was everything you want from a top-tier dining experience: familiar flavours with elevated elements that take things to the next level.

For dessert, a crème brûlée dessert cocktail was on the cards. This delightful concoction is reminiscent of an espresso martini, but topped with a sugary, creamy crown. Martell VS brandy serves as the base spirit, but the true star of the show is the Tekali coffee liqueur. A touch of salted caramel syrup and a shot of fresh espresso keeps it sweet and silky-rich.

If you're looking for world-class snap, noteworthy cocktails, and pints fit for kings, take yourself down Goose Gate.

You can find 31K at 31 Goose Gate, Nottingham. Head down during Nottingham Restaurant Week which takes place 3-9 June to get three courses for £20, Tuesday-Sunday, 4-6:30pm.

@31K.Notts

words: Julia Head

photo: Julia Head

20 24

a

As LeftLion enters its 21st year of publishing independent journalism in Nottingham, it’s fair to say that it’s harder financially to keep this all going right now than ever. Recently we put out a call to let people know that unless things improved ‘We Might Not Be Here This Time Next Year’. Thankfully we’ve seen a really positive response from our readers since. If you want to know who they are then have a look at that list of names on page 4 and please consider joining them.

We run a free press, but you might notice there’s not a lot of free magazines of the quality of this around. There’s a reason for that. The cost of creating, publishing and delivering LeftLion has increased by more than 50% since 2019 alone. Unfortunately print advertising revenue is also on a downward curve across the industry, but we’re trying to buck that trend. We also know that we’re loved by our readers, and that rubs off on the businesses that are still going strong with our support - some of them have been advertising continually for eighteen years.

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If you love LeftLion #SupportLeftLion

words: Sophie Gargett

Watts: The Story

illustration: Christine Dilks

In a collective movement, the fascinating, individual stories that demonstrate a day-to-day, personal dedication often become lost along the way. If it had not been for a most curious discovery a century after her birth, this too would have been the case for one Helen Kirkpatrick Watts, an ardent suffragette from Nottingham who sacrificed a comfortable life to challenge social norms and shape our democracy.

When daily life sweeps us up in its whirlwind of normality, we can often forget to step back and take stock of the circumstances in which we exist. While such terror and turmoil rages outside of our borders, it is vital to appreciate the liberties we enjoy and consider where such freedoms came from. In our age of self-proclaimed sophisticated ‘civility’, we can also forget just how recent many of these advancements of society are. The twentieth century brought us the automobile, Tupperware, cat’s eyes, and central heating. But aside from these lovely material comforts, it also saw vital battles being fought for civil rights and democracy.

Little more than a hundred years ago, at the dawn of the Edwardian era, these rights were determined by a select and privileged group of male property owners who were solely allowed to contribute to the political arena. Society at large: the working class, ethnic minorities and, of course, women, were denied the right to vote or stand for parliament, and some of them were getting a little ticked off with such a discriminatory narrative.

It was in 1980 that an enterprising pupil from Bristol posted an ad in a local paper requesting any new information on the subject of local suffragettes. A dock worker replied explaining that he was aware of an unclaimed trunk which he believed might contain items of interest. It transpired that this mysterious loot was the correspondence and speeches of Helen Watts, documenting her involvement with the suffragette movement in Nottingham. Permission was obtained to copy the documents, ensuring they were passed on to the Nottinghamshire Archives where they became a valuable source of information about the life of a suffragette campaigner, and the dramatic tale of a Lenton vicar’s daughter turned radical activist came to light.

Helen Watts was born in 1881 into a middle class family in Durham, and moved with her family to Nottingham in 1893 when her father became the Vicar of Holy Trinity in Lenton. Inspired to join the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) after hearing Christabel Pankhurst speak at a meeting in December 1907, Helen dedicated herself to the suffragette cause and became a key figure in establishing the Nottingham branch.

In post-Victorian England it was highly unacceptable for a woman to be involved in any public demonstration, and Helen initially disagreed with the use of confrontational tactics that were popular in some divisions of the suffragette movement. She soon became more active however, realising her independent lifestyle incurred little in the way of sacrifice compared to many of her comrades with family responsibilities.

Votes for women will not be won by drawing-room chatter... it has got to be fought for in the market-places, and if we don't fight for it, no one else will

In 1909, she was imprisoned in Holloway following her involvement with a demonstration outside the House of Commons. All first time offending suffragettes were offered the opportunity to pay a fine to avoid imprisonment, an opportunity which Helen, along with the vast majority of suffragettes declined. Sacrificing their freedom brought valuable publicity to their cause.

The news of her imprisonment made quite a splash back at home, and many of the archived letters were sent during this time. They reveal much about the strong network of friendship on which the activist group was formed, and the involvement and support of Helen’s own family. Indeed, many of the letters from fellow suffragettes and sympathisers were written not to Helen, but to her parents, praising the actions of their brave daughter.

Upon her release one month later, she was met with a heroine’s welcome back in Nottingham. Her modicum of fame left her in great demand as a speaker at meetings and events. Using her lively and practical mind to present a balanced and thoughtful view of the suffragette cause, she reminded audiences that most suffragettes were ordinary women with everyday concerns, and raised debates on many other issues including low wages, insurance and pension rights, and wider gender politics.

Far from scaring her straight, Helen’s time in prison only spurred her convictions, and it was not long before she met again with authorities. In September of the same year, she was

arrested in Leicester for demonstrating outside a meeting at which MP Winston Churchill was due to speak. Police arrested the protesters on grounds of ‘disorderly conduct’, a claim which Helen ardently denied, arguing she had merely committed the offence of standing peacefully still when being told to move. Challenging the sentence of five days’ imprisonment, Helen refused to wear prison clothes and went on a hunger strike – a form of protest widely used by militant suffragettes to protest their categorisation as criminals rather than political prisoners. Despite being threatened with force-feeding, the barbaric retaliation commonly in use by authorities at the time, she seemed to avoid this indignity and was released.

In a speech she gave not long after, she spoke with impassioned eloquence about the importance of organisation and joining together in public solidarity to appeal to those she saw as the real sovereign power of this country – the people. In her own words, "Votes for women will not be won by drawing-room chatter... it has got to be fought for in the marketplaces, and if we don't fight for it, no one else will."

When the WSPU turned to increasingly militant tactics, including arson and vandalism, Helen left the group in favour of the non-violent Women’s Freedom League which had recently formed in response to the changing nature of the WSPU. Beyond her activism, little more is known of Helen’s life, but it is documented that she served as a nurse in Bath during the first world war and emigrated to Canada in 1965.

Although at a glance, British society has come a long way, the struggle to shape democracy fairly and provide equal human rights is, of course, still raging. To be represented fairly by those in power, whose decisions inevitably shape our communities, is crucial, but so is the need for ordinary people like Helen Watts, who stand as one in larger movements of countless individuals to ensure the voice of the people is heard.

The beauty of studying these historical characters is in the retrospective evidence that gradual change can be made. Today, thanks to the courage and determination of individuals such as Helen Watts, we are able to display our dissent without risking our families, homes and everyday security. Despite being accustomed to our fundamental freedoms, we should never abandon striving for the ideals of true democracy and equality, which although may never be fully realised, are still imperative to fight for.

Castle Rock's Yard Party

When: Friday 7 - Sat 8 June

Where: Vat & Fiddle

How much: From £13.75

Enjoy a two-dayer of Notts best live music, sensational street food and, of course, great local ale. Hosted in Nottingham’s esteemed Castle Rock Brewery, there will also be several new beer releases to try, with over 20 keg lines and 15 casks on at one time, plus lots of options for lovers of gin, cocktails and the like. Head down on Friday to see Dusty 4 Track, The Score and more, while on Saturday you can catch Seas of Mirth, Fat Digester and DJ Hypnotoad.

Trans Pride

When: Sat 15 June

Where: The New Foresters How much: From £5

Aiming to be a welcoming celebration whether you are transgender, non-binary, questioning, or an ally, this is Nottingham’s biggest event to date for the trans community. Following a march through the city starting at 11am, head to the New Foresters to find music from Yay Maria, Cheap Dirty Horse and Gender Envy plus more, then dance til the early hours with a Gladrags after party at Rough Trade, featuring DJs, live music and a drag show.

Nottingham Poetry Festival

When: Friday 7 - Sunday 16 June

Where: Various venues

How much: Various prices

With spectacular performances, open mics, workshops, panels, community events, Nottingham Poetry Festival is for poetry connoisseurs, curious could-be wordsmiths, or those who just enjoy some lyrical levity. There’s loads to do and see throughout the ten day festival, we recommend heading to the Fox & Grapes on Thursday 6 June for the launch party and picking up a programme around town to plan your poetry pursuits.

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival

When: Friday 14 - Sat 15 June

Where: Sneinton Market

How much: From £13.20

Don’t miss your chance to while away some hours in the lovely Sneinton Market Avenues, eat delicious grub, test some ales and browse the creative shops in the area. Ale fans can choose from thirty different breweries, with local favourites Black Iris, Liquid Light, Neon Raptor, Magpie Brewery and Castle Rock, plus more from further afield. There’s also street food, cider, spirits and music from Ali Bonsai, Jess Breame, and Abi Moore, plus a variety of DJs to get your feet moving.

EM CON

When: Sat 8 - Sunday 9 June

Where: Motorpoint Arena

How much: From £16.95

Get your cosplay crafting on because the biggest pop culture event in the Midlands is landing, bringing panel talks, pop-up stalls, photoshoots and the chance to meet some stars. This year’s lineup of guests include fantasy-genre legend Warwick Davis, Ghosts’ Kiell SmithBynoe, Dr Who’s Paul McGann and Bonnie Langford, Red Dwarf’s Chris Barrie and Danny John-Jules and Black Adder’s Sir Tony Robinson.

Notts Queer Glitter Ball

When: Friday 28 June

Where: Broadway Cinema How much: £10

You shall go to the ball! Dress to the nines, rally your friends and head along to Broadway for an inclusive and welcoming night to remember. Along with all the best queer tunes, you can enjoy sensory calm spaces, Queer cinema and live illustrations being made throughout the night. All proceeds from ticket sales will be going to four excellent LGBTQIA+ charities/ programmes: Albert Kennedy Trust, Rainbow Migration, Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum & Kairos.

Oh My God! It’s The Church

When: Thursday 13 June

Where: Rescue Rooms How much: £18

Unlike any church you’ve encountered before, this sought after live act has been likened to Tenacious D, Electric Six and Flight of the Conchords. Headed up by ‘insane’ frontman The Right Reverend Michael Alabama Jackson, who joins Morgan the Organ, the Hail Marys and several other righteous music makers, this gig is the sweet salvation your soul has been craving.

Unfortunate

When: Tuesday 25 June –Saturday 29 June

Where: Theatre Royal How much: £15.50 to £39.50

Reasonable people know every story has two sides - we’ve heard from Maleficent and Cruella, now hear the untold story of everyone’s favourite Disney diva, Ursula. Through a mix of ‘filthy humour’ and an original pop soundtrack, the sea witch brings ‘sex, sorcery and suckers’ in her version of what really happened all those years ago.