Welcome To Nottingham 2020

Congratulations on getting into university, and for picking our city to study in. It certainly hasn’t been an easy journey for you, but we’re so glad that you’ve made it. Nottingham is a thriving, bustling place, but it always seems to be brought to life when you students are about. Starting university at any time can be overwhelming and daunting, and I’m not going to lie – I do not envy you having all that piled on top of living through a whole global pandemic. But I do envy you seeing the city with fresh eyes, exploring the hidden gems and finding out about all the wonderful culture that sets Nottingham apart from the rest.

Coronavirus is still around and you need to be aware of it.

Read your university guidelines on what your particular course requires, and remember it’s important to be conscious of people around you. Wear your mask properly (hot tip: not wearing it over your nose defeats the purpose). Respect people’s social distancing boundaries, keep your hands washed and keep sanitised when going about campus and the city centre. The only way to keep this virus at bay is if we all work together.

While I didn’t start university during a pandemic, for many reasons I was anxious and afraid, and felt very much out of my comfort zone. I had blubbery calls with my parents, and at one point they offered to help me leave. But looking out the window and seeing the Nottingham skyline in the distance, my gut told me to stick around. I did, and four years later I’ve graduated and now have the joyous job of writing about this city. I fell in love

with it because it welcomed me with open, unquestioning arms, and made me blossom in confidence, ability, and happiness. I just know that Nottingham is going to do the same for you.

Putting together this guide, we’ve tried really hard to make sure there’s everything you want to know and need to know to have fun, informed, healthy time in our city. I’d like to thank my former NTU Students’ Union magazine Platform teammates Faith Pring, Jamie Morris, Alex Mace and Emilie Mendham for helping out so much and giving it that student touch. Big up Emily Bicknelle for dobbing in on the University of Nottingham bits and pieces too. We cannot begin to imagine how odd it will be starting during this time, but we really hope to have made it a lot easier, and we hope you know you can rely on Nottingham to make you feel at home.

It has been a pleasure creating this, and I hope you enjoy reading through it. If you need any help or advice about your time in Nottingham, please feel free to ping me an email. I cannot promise you anything about the future, but what I can promise you is that right now, Nottingham can’t wait to get to know you.

Cheers ducks, Eve Smallman Editor of Welcome to Nottingham eve.smallman@leftlion.co.uk

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CONTENTS 6 CHRIS HAWKINS

A chat with the BBC 6music presenter about his UoN days

8 AROOJ AFTAB

The blogger, activist and Instagram influencer on her days at NTU

10 CLASS OF THE PAST Big names who have been where you are now

12 CITY OF LITERATURE If you like writers, you’ve come to the right place

13 NUSIC

Some advice for aspiring musicians in the city

15 STUDENT TOP TIPS Pearls of wisdom from some current students

17 MAKE A CHANGE How to ensure you’re acting consciously and inclusively

18 JUSTICE NOW

How to be part of our wonderfully diverse city

19 OVER THE RAINBOW

Information about our city’s LGBT+ community

20 BREAKING THE SILENCE

We’re doing all we can to make sure our streets are safe for the gals

21 GET POLITICAL

It’s important to get your voice heard

22 STUDENTS WHO STAYED

What some ex-students did next in Nottingham

24 HOME AND DRY

What you need to know when choosing your next digs

25 SAFETY FIRST

How to look after yourself and each other

WELCOME TO NOTTINGHAM

26 PLASTIC AIN’T FANTASTIC

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Help reduce your waste consumption

27 GIVE GREEN A CHANCE

Nottingham’s environmentally friendly credentials

28 EATING WELL WITH LUCY AND LENTILS

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Three tasty student recipes you can cook on a budget

31 SEEKING OUT SUPPORT

If you need to reach out, here’s some places you can go

32 KEEP ON MOVING

Getting fit and healthy is more fun than PE would have you believe

34 BUCKET LIST

If you want our respect, get all these ticked off

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36 ALL ABOARD

How to get around town with our wide array of public transport

38 SUBURB GUIDE

A handy guide to your new home, the urban jungle

40 NOTTINGHAM LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR

How to understand what our local are in about

41 YOUNG AND CREATIVE

Outside the university walls, there’s a world of opportunity for a creative spark like you

CREDITS EDITOR IN CHIEF Jared Wilson

EDITOR Eve Smallman

42 A CITY OF REBELS

DESIGNER

44 BEST OF NOTTS

PRODUCTION EDITOR

The history of Nottingham is full of interesting characters

The best of the city’s festivals, nightclubs, live music venues, art galleries, cinemas, restaurants, bars and more

Natalie Owen

Alan Gilby

MARKETING

CONTRIBUTORS Caroline Barry Ashley Carter Alex Mace Lucy Manning Emilie Mendham Jamie Morris Sam Nahirny Lucy Parker Faith Pring Bridie Squires Emily Thursfield Emma Walsh

COVER

Natalie Owen

ILLUSTRATOR Becky Riley

PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Morley Lucy Parker Curtis Powell

Adam Pickering

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CHRIS HAWKINS interview: Alex Mace

BBC Radio 6 DJ Chris Hawkins has certainly ticked a few things off his bucket list since his graduation from the University of Nottingham in the 90s. He’s moved from local to national radio and interviewed everyone from Jack White to Brian Blessed along the way. Like most disc jockeys, Chris has seen his role take greater meaning during lockdown, with his friendly voice and uplifting music becoming a saving grace for many. He spoke to us about local hangouts, early wake-up calls and David Bowie...

What made you want to study in Nottingham?

I wanted to go to Nottingham because BBC Radio Nottingham was a real flagship local radio station and I wanted to be in a city where there was a strong radio scene. I managed to get work at BBC Nottingham before I actually started university. In September, I'd already done a couple of weeks there before enrolling and that work continued for the three years that I was on the course. I took nothing away from the American Studies course I was on, but I felt that at the time, I was working, living and breathing media by being in radio in an actual BBC radio station. By my third year, I was doing drivetime radio at Radio Nottingham as well as the sports news – I actually left a couple of my finals early in order to go and do the drivetime show!

How did you manage your time?

I think the hardest part was managing hangovers because I was partying, a lot. What I loved about Nottingham is that it's a great social city. I was always a fan of clubs at the time like Ritzys (now PRYZM), MGM and the Black Orchid; they were three of the big student clubs that were weeknight favourites.

There were also the much cooler clubs in the Lace Market for weekend nights out, wicked places like The Bomb and The Garage which were cool hangouts.

Any special memories of Nottingham?

I was a regular at Rock City, as it is an easy place to see the best and biggest bands. I got to see David Bowie play there which remains one of the greatest live gigs I've ever seen.

How important is it for students to be involved in student media?

The opportunities in the real world are less than ever in terms of radio, the world of audio is bigger but in terms of actual radio, there are less and less opportunities, almost by the year. I think it's vital to gather as much experience as possible and to practice it on a day to day basis, in order to be armed for a career in the media.

How has the pandemic impacted radio?

Radio has been a huge comfort to a lot of people during a time when they couldn't go out. There’s something about the familiarity of radio that is warming and becomes part of your routine and I

think that during lockdown it felt like a very intimate relationship between radio and radio's listeners.

Radio as a medium was at its absolute best during that period.

You do the early slot on 6music – how early is the start?

The show is 5am until 7.30am Monday to Friday, so I get up at about 3.30am. It's not normal but it's doable; you learn that you're capable of that. It feels like the only other time you would be up during those hours would be to get to an airport, but the real world exists and people work different hours, so there are big audiences there to be had. It's a privilege to do one of the daily shows when there are seven shows a day on 6music, I feel very lucky every single day to do them. Waking up with someone is a pretty intimate experience and it’s a great feeling putting them on the right foot for the day ahead.

Who have been your favourite interviewees?

There’s Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode – his reputation for being one of the nicest guys in music was absolutely lived up to. Jack White from The White Stripes was a big one for me, as he was just incredibly giving, open and fascinating at the same time. The guy is super talented so it was incredible to get time with him and some insight into how his mind works. Matt Haig, the mental health campaigner and the author was also a very impressive, giving guy, and so strong in his beliefs – he had such a gentle side it was like chatting with someone that I already knew. Then there’s Brian Blessed, who is an eccentric, brilliant storyteller. You don't do much in a Brian Blessed interview. You say, ‘Hello Brian Blessed’ and then 20 minutes later, if you can get a word in edgeways, ‘Thank you very much.’ I’ve been very lucky with who I've had the chance to speak to.

What are your tips for the next generation of students?

Follow your dreams and be sure about what you love, what you want, what you want to be, and be prepared to work incredibly hard to achieve your ambition – after all, your qualification does not equal a career. @ChrisHawkinsUK

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AROOJ AFTAB interview: Faith Pring

Since graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 2018, Arooj Aftab’s life has been anything but average. After being nominated at the coveted Cosmopolitan UK Influencer awards, she has since made a documentary for the BBC and launched a new campaign combatting diversity in the fashion industry. She told us all about her time as a Fashion Communication and Promotion student and how social justice is a great move for students to make…

What was your favourite thing about studying in the city of Nottingham?

I just loved how friendly the city was. It was a very student-friendly city and I just felt welcomed everywhere. You could go out at 3am to McDonalds and people would still be just as friendly to you. I really liked all of it.

Do you have any stand-out memories?

For me, my first time in a lecture theatre was really impactful, as it felt very surreal. It was a really big room and I remember thinking that I couldn’t quite believe I was there.

What were your favourite places to go out?

I really loved Nottingham Contemporary and places like that – there are some really cool places in if you know where to look. The Hockley Arts Club and Coco Tang are great as well – the food at Coco Tang was always amazing, so I’d definitely recommend that.

What advice would you have given yourself?

I would have told myself to make the most of university because it goes by extremely quickly, and to just take my time with everything. If I could go back and do my first couple of years at uni again, I would.

What has been your highlight since leaving university and graduating?

I would say doing the BBC Newsbeat documentary My Tumour Made Me Trendy, because it was my first presenting job and it was also a real turning point in my career. I felt like it was something really important to talk about because more people have NF (Neurofibromatosis type 1) than have cystic fibrosis in the UK but less people know about it. We had 1.3 million views on the documentary the day it was released and my social media got a lot of hits, with people from America, Canada, Spain, India, Pakistan, all contacting me and saying thank you for making it.

Did you feel a lot of pressure before admitting you had NF1?

I did because I felt like although I was this fashion ‘influencer’ and posting photos wearing baggy clothes, nobody really knew why I wore baggy clothes. The year before I had been nominated for Cosmopolitan

UK Influencer’s Awards, but what was I really saying if I didn’t come clean about this? I had a platform, a following and I felt like I could use it for the better.

Why do you think it’s important for people to get involved with activism and social issues?

These days it’s everywhere. You see people marching on the streets, and it’s not a parade, we’re not there for fun. It is a real issue and it’s happening now and if we don’t stand up and do something about it – nothing is going to change.

You recently launched a new campaign called ‘Done with Diversity.’ Can you tell us a bit about it?

It’s all about the companies – particularly in the fashion industry – who are using black and brown models simply to tick their boxes in order to be labelled as a diverse company. When I’ve worked with some people, they’ve told me that I was the first non-white or the first muslim person they’ve worked with, and that’s not diverse. When the Black Lives Matter movement was triggered earlier this year, all these companies were coming out and posting the black squares and photos with black and brown-skinned models in order to tick their diversity boxes, but as soon as that movement fizzled out they stopped doing it. Now that there’s been more shootings and more people protesting on the streets, the brands are doing it again. At the end of the day we’re people. Black and brown people aren’t temporary – we’re not going anywhere so why should people stop posting about it?

What can students do to get involved and support these movements?

I think if you’re a heterosexual and white, you’re not classed as diverse, so if you’re one of those people I think the best thing you can do is invite people who don’t fall into that classification onto your table. Listen to them and if you have a platform, give it to them to speak on. I think social media is an effective way of getting a message across, so even if you’re not in the position to post your own content, reposting what other creators or influencers are posting works just as well. @its.arooj @donewithdiversity

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CLASS OF THE PAST

words: Eve Smallman

Our universities have seen quite a few household names step foot through their doors over the years...

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY MATT BERRY

BOBBY FRICTION

PAUL KAYE

DAN HARDY

DAME LAURA KNIGHT

ED MACFARLANE

This funny bloke has appeared in classics such as The Mighty Boosh and The IT Crowd, as well as winning a BAFTA for the title role in Toast of London. He studied Contemporary Arts, and said it was his time at university that made him realise the arts was where he wanted to focus his time.

He’s an awardwinning BBC Radio Presenter and DJ who studied Creative Arts, during which he made art from cages and ghetto blasters.

“Nottingham taught me to actually be and live the art,” he said. “It meant that I could come up with original ideas even in the corporate entertainment world.”

After studying Theatre Design, Paul Kaye took on the role as iconic nineties celebrity interviewer Dennis Pennis.

Most recently he played Thoros in a little-known TV show called Game of Thrones. He said of his time at NTU: “Studying art there was amazing in every respect, creatively, sexually and alcoholically.”

Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy is a former mixed martial artist, who studied Fine Art at Trent. For one performance piece, he hung a punchbag from the ceiling of the university's art studio and punched it for six hours nonstop. He recently was an analyst for the Conor McGregor Vs. Floyd Mayweather fight on Sky Sports.

This lady was a bit of a badass back in the day. She was one of the most famous painters in Britain at the time and specialised in realist paintings, depicting events like the World Wars. Her success paved the way for other female artists to be successful and recognised in what was a maledominated industry.

“Ed Mac” studied Photography at Trent before becoming the lead singer of Friendly Fires. He told NTU’s alumni magazine Network: “We were always encouraged [on my course] to describe why we’ve created something.

It’s really inspired me to question my music and think about the sound or feeling I’m trying to create.”

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM RUTH WILSON After studying History, Ruth Wilson went on to become a three-time Olivier nominee and twotime winner. She has appeared in TV shows, playing roles such as Alice Morgan in Luther and Alison Lockhart in The Affair, for which she won a Golden Globe. Her trophy cabinet is jam packed.

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DON BROCO

LONDON GRAMMAR

THEO JAMES

TIM MARTIN

RICHARD SCUDAMORE

The lads formed the alt-rock/pop-rock/ post-hardcore band after studying at uni together. They’ve had three top-ten albums, played at festivals like Download, and have supported mega bands such as Bring Me the Horizon and 5 Seconds of Summer.

The three-piece band managed to snag themselves a record deal right after they graduated.

Their first big gig was at Hockley venue The Bodega, of which guitarist Dan Rothman said: “It was our first proper venue, in terms of it not being a pub or club thing - a very exciting experience.”

Theo James studied Philosophy, before studying at the Bristol Old Theatre School. He then went on to become a renowned hunk by playing Tobias “Four” Eaton in the Divergent franchise.

Failing that, you might know him as the smarmy holiday rep that dates Carly in The Inbetweeners Movie.

You may recognise his muppet-esque face from the news, after doing his workers over during COVID. Yes, the man that founded Wetherspoons studied in our fair city. If you do give into protesting his poor work practices and get a pitcher, make sure to be extra nice to the staff.

He started his career in newspapers, then went on to become the Executive Chairman of the Premier League aka the top dog in English football.

He’s dealt with football matters such as thirdparty ownership controversy, the bungs inquiry and the international expansion of the Premier League.

CITY OF LITERATURE words: Jamie Morris and James Kramer

If words are your thing, our city is the place to be. Back in 2015, Nottingham was given permanent status as a UNESCO City of Literature, on account of our literary heritage, as well as our commitment to encouraging emerging writers. Full to the brim with places to go and things to do, Nottingham is built for the bookish, laid out for the lyrical, and pruned for the poetic. Here, we’ve bashed out a guide to get you started on the road to the literary community in all its scribbled glory…

Since 2006, the Nottingham Writers’ Studio has been incubating a fruitful crop of literary figures.

It supports both existing authors and those newly developing. With impressive alumni who have Man Booker shortlists and Dublin IMPAC awards under their belts, there are few better places to grab yourself a membership for.

Nestled behind Primark and down a dark alley opposite a defunct bookie, you’ll find Five Leaves Bookshop, national winner of Independent Bookshop of 2018 at the Nibbies. It’s the kind of place that worries folks the first time you take them down, but therein lies half its charm.

Where else are you going to find shelved sections dedicated to feminism and anarco-politics? Five Leaves has been fuelling radical fires since 2013, providing ad-hoc grieving sessions post-election results, as well as supporting many local poets, authors and literary practitioners.

Few get involved in reaching out to young, emerging writers quite like Writing East Midlands. Involved in too many supportive projects to mention, they run writing seminars and courses, offer mentorship and critical aid, and even provide one-to-one guidance – they’re just that supportive. Dedicated to staging a platform for young, budding authors, they’ve even got themselves tucked in with the National Arts Awards. That's another useful way they’re helping young writers up the ladder.

Continuing the rich literary tradition of the African Caribbean community in the city is Nottingham Black Writers Collective. Ran by Nottingham Black Archive, and headed by Panya Banjoko, the collective is a growing haven for creative writers of African-Caribbean descent to write, share ideas, curate events and perform. In 2018, they released a poetry anthology called When We Speak.

Whilst Coronavirus has put its events on hold, for now, literary opportunities at Nottingham City Libraries are expected to return in the future. Prior to the pandemic there were reading groups with specific focuses such as crime fiction, mental health as well as Bengali Literature and Urdu poetry. There are also ties with local writing groups too, with the likes of the DIY Poets and the Nottingham Poetry Society getting stuck in.

Keeping abreast and well informed is vital in these trying information times. Discover what

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is arguably the most impressive range of weird and wonderful magazines in the city at Ideas on Paper. Not just stocking magazines like Monocle, Tapas and Positive News, the Cobden Chambers store has some of the most beautifully jacketed books and stationery available. There’s also wordbased discussions and lusting gorgeous literary illustration up for grabs.

Women’s libraries are in scarce supply across the country, and the Nottingham Women’s Centre library on Chaucer Street is the only one of its kind in the East Midlands. It still holds most of the original – and often rare – books and magazines which were donated in the seventies and eighties when the library was first set up, including every copy of trailblazing feminist mag Spare Rib (1972-93).

If you’re just starting out in the poetry world, DIY Poets will provide you with plenty of support with both writing and performing. For over ten years, they’ve been passionate about helping poets feel confident performing their work in public, and letting the public know that poetry can be exciting and relevant. You can catch their quarterly showcase online via Zoom.

City of Literature itself is well worth getting involved with, too. They have a lot on offer for students now, including opportunities to submit their writing and get it published, and a literary calendar with all upcoming local events on their website. There are always lots of exciting new projects happening, so be sure to check it out. In May every year dozens of venues across the city usually play host to Nottingham Poetry Festival.

Although we’ll have to see what happens with COVID-19 to know if that will happen in 2021.

Of course, there’s a collective for pretty much everything at NTU and UoN, so if you want to do a bit of networking with fellow writers at your uni, look no further than their students' unions’ writing societies. Each one has clubs for people interested in both poetry and creative writing, as well as opportunities to contribute towards student magazines like Platform and Impact.

Head on down to the students’ union and ask how you can join in. nottinghamcityofliterature.com

YOU’VE GOT THE NUSIC IN YOU words: Sam Nahirny

New students of Nottingham – you’ve made an incredibly intelligent decision coming to Notts. Not only have you got yourself into a brilliant university, but you’re also now based in one of the most vibrant music cities in the UK. There is no better place in the country to be an up-and-coming musician. We’re not just hyping this up – even BBC One did a documentary on our “thriving music scene”, and that’s before you get to the other ‘man, we love this place’ quotes from the likes of The Guardian, NME, Radio 1 and more.

Notts isn’t just great because mega-famous media are loving it though. It’s fantastic because it’s such a supportive city. We’re going to tell you both how we at Nusic can help, plus how others in Notts can help too.

At Nusic, we do everything we can to help promote Notts musicians. We do fortnightly podcasts featuring nothing but original Nottingham music, plus – when that pandemic thing lets us – we’ll be back to filming and recording live sessions of local artists (see more at youtube.com/feelthenusic). If you’re studying here, then you’re well on your way to qualifying to be featured on these.

We also do a thing called Nusic Academy, which aims to help Nottingham musicians acquire the knowledge, skills and contacts they need to get to wherever they want to go with their music. As part of that, we put on workshops across the year. These are basically panel Q+As with leading industry names like Radio 1, Spotify and NME. On top of that, we invite everyone in Nottingham who can help you as a musician, from BBC Introducing through to PRS Foundation, so you can meet them all in one go. In one night, you can secure radio play and free money, all for free. Radio 1’s Rock Show DJ Daniel P Carter called it “mind-blowing” and Phil Taggart called it “incredible”.

Not too shabby, ey?

Speaking of those other peeps who can help you, we share those insights online too. We have a ‘Media Resources’ page which has links and contacts to everyone in Notts, and further that can help you, whether that’s getting your face in print to make your nan proud or even getting your first radio appearance.

Acknowledging Corona has messed up the usual ‘get on this, new musician in Notts’ list, but here are some things we recommend doing as a new musical creator in NG...

1) Adapt to 2020. While many parts of our industry are damaged, the fact is people are still listening to, and searching for, new music. In fact, some of the most important people, from radio DJs to A&Rs, and even Instagram influencers, have more time and desire to find new music. Take advantage of that.

2) Send your music to all the local outlets. Even in Corona, local media is still going strong. Start with us. That fortnightly podcast we mentioned is all original Notts music. Email your mp3s or wavs to nusic@leftlion.co.uk. Then, you need to take advantage of BBC Introducing, which you can directly get to through the BBC Uploader. Next, Kemet FM – their brekkie host Jackie P loves local music, and being the breakfast show, has a large listener base too. Finally, you should send music to LeftLion, the people who made this guide, as they also print a monthly culture magazine.

3) Get on Tik Tok. This isn’t exclusive to Notts. But it’s something we heavily encourage you to take advantage of while it’s still there. Whether you’re a breakdancing jazz pianist, or just a sad lad who can sing a beautiful cover of WAP, the platform has nearly one million users, and right now you can reach loads of them without paying a thing.

That is just the beginning. We’ve put together an entire Advice Video series full of tips like these, including How to Use Tik Tok as a Musician, through to the boring but important shizz like Your First Contracts. Music is a business, and yeah, it’s a scary and difficult one. But, getting to a point where you can do something you love everyday of your life – that’s worth it, isn’t it?

Welcome. It’s going to be sick.

nusic.org.uk

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ESSENTIAL FOR SECOND AND THIRD YEAR STUDENTS

Be ready to vote in next year’s elections Use your vote in Nottingham.

It’s time to get on the electoral register so you can vote in elections while you’re at Uni Students can register to vote at both their home and their university address You’re able to vote in both areas at local elections

Check which days you need to put your bins out - and get weekly emails to remind you - at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/binreminders

STUDENT TOP TIPS Students from both unis give you the benefit of their experience...

GET ORGANISED

My favourite thing about Nottingham is the wide variety of places you can go out for a drink. It's so easy to stick to going to the same places, but you don't have to wander far to find some hidden gems down some of the side streets.

I found that picking up a free NTU wall planner from either the freshers fair or Blackwell's in the library was a great way to plan my work/life balance. By writing all my deadlines on there I found it much easier to complete work on time while also having a good social life.

Tom Botsford, Business Management and Marketing, 3rd Year, NTU

JOIN A SOCIETY

As a fresher, I joined a few societies after being advised to but never really attended any socials or events, which is something I came to regret in the second year. When I did join societies that I was interested in and made an effort to attend as many events as possible, this broadened my friendship group.

This made me feel a lot more settled because I had a life that was beyond just university work and clubbing. It’s also an easier way of finding people at university that share the same interests as you because there is a society for everything!

Sarah Ward, BA Journalism, 3rd Year, NTU

DISCOVER WHAT’S AROUND

Some great places to visit can be found around Old Market Square, within walking distance of NTU. If you want to travel a bit further then take advantage of the great transport links within the city by using the tram.

A night out in Nottingham is always a great experience. Some of the best nightclubs are Rock City and Pryzm, but if you want a sober night out then a great place to go is Nottingham Bowl, as there are some great prices for students.

Nottingham has something for everyone, so go out and discover it for yourself!

Katie Green, BA Journalism, 2nd Year, NTU

DO WHAT YOU LOVE

Remember what you came to university for. When it came to university, the first thing that came to mind – and eventually helped me settle in – was societies. It would be a great way to meet new people and learn new skills, which it is.

The best advice I can give is do what you love, do something you have never done but would like to do, and perhaps something totally random. Have fun and make the most of it. Additionally it looks great on your CV and makes you stand out too!

Zach Omitowoju, BA Media Production, 2nd Year, NTU

LOVE THE INDEPENDENT VENUES

You also have to visit Hockley, which is the ‘indie’ district of Nottingham. Situated at the top of Pelham Street, Hockley is perfect for those vintage shops like COW and White Rose, but also for hundreds of brilliant independent restaurants and eateries. It is a must for those who like to venture off the beaten track.

My all-time favourite evening cocktails and munch location has to be one of the many Bunk venues scattered across Nottingham city centre. They offer a casual, laid-back environment for some easy American-style snacks mixed in with some of the best cocktails.

Sam Harris, Politics and International Relations, 3rd year, NTU

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STUDENT TOP TIPS Students from both unis give you the benefit of their experience...

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

Nottingham is a great city for just about anything – from a tranquil walk in the castle grounds to a lively night out on the town, there really is something for everyone. My personal favourite, however, has to be Hockley – with an array of vintage shops, as well as the beloved Broadway cinema, it’s the perfect day out.

Another hidden gem of Nottingham is Wollaton Park. Just a short bus ride from the city centre, this idyllic setting is perfect for when the sun is shining, or if you’re looking to have a photoshoot with some deer!

Jessica Croft, PGCE Primary, UoN

MANAGE YOUR WORKLOAD

My favourite place to visit in Nottingham has to be Waterstones. This four-story building houses thousands of books as well as its very own cafe, which I highly recommend as a study space when you need some space from campus.

You’ll be given reading and seminar tasks every single week and it is important to manage this workload. My suggestion is to work a week ahead, so do the reading for week one in freshers and the reading for week two in week one. This ensures that you stay ahead when it comes to big deadlines.

Alex Abbott, LLM Masters of Law, UoN

LOOK AFTER YOUR PENNIES

Lenton Recreation Ground is a great location to meet with friends, have a read or go for a run if you’re feeling extra healthy. It’s just a bit weather dependent!

Looking after your own money for the first time is a tricky task, so try not to splurge your loan for the whole term by the fourth day of freshers week.

Be cheeky and ask at all shops and restaurants you visit for student discount.

Go along to free events and fairs at uni – there’s usually loads of free food and tonnes of free pens!

Ellie Wall, BA English, Class of 2020, UoN

LEARN THE HISTORY

When it reopens, Nottingham Castle is a great place to put on your bucket list for your time in the city. Afterwards, take a short walk over to England’s oldest pubs, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. Get yourself sat in the caves beneath the castle with a pint and the job’s a good’un.

University is a rare place where you have so many opportunities to try something new, so make sure to join a society. Having a regular group you can go to away from coursework and exams is so valuable as it’s a scheduled time to switch off-.

Emily Blackburn, BA Politics and International Relations, Class of 2020, UoN

KEEP A LEVEL HEAD

On any sunny day, I strongly recommend a trip to Wollaton Park – a 10-minute walk from University of Nottingham campus, these beautiful grounds are the perfect place for a lovely picnic by the lake, or ice cream in the sun.

Those first few weeks at university are all about making friends and getting to know new people, so ‘say yes’ to trying everything (within reason) at least once!

However, uni can be a lonely place at times so make sure you reach out to someone whenever you feel like you need to talk.

Meghna Patel, BMedSci Medicine, 4th year, UoN

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MAKE A CHANGE words: Faith Pring

Here in Nottingham, we believe we should celebrate our differences and support each other regardless of any differences in gender, race, sexuality or otherwise – and now you’re here, we think you should too. In the average year, there are more than 8,000 international students living in the city, as well as our diverse local communities.

With cases of racial abuse hitting headlines across the world, it’s more important than ever to do your bit and support the people around you. Firstly, make sure you listen – and not just to the people from your background. Reach out to and learn from people from marginalised communities, to gain a deeper understanding of issues affecting them, and don’t be afraid to talk about them. Spread the word for them. If you’re lucky enough to have a voice or come from a place of privilege, use your voice to elevate the silenced voices in society. You might even have to deconstruct some pre-existing ideas inside your head in the process.

We can all strive to be more inclusive. This can mean everything from looking to expand your inner circle to include people from different backgrounds or just making a conscious effort to use more inclusive language. For example, as a society, we often automatically use the male version of nouns, which is a form of internalised misogyny. Try taking more notice of people’s pronouns rather than simply referring to policemen or firemen with the masculine default and use more open versions like firefighters or police officers.

It’s important to understand that being an ally isn’t just a frame of mind – it’s an action as well. Make sure you’re doing as much as you feel comfortable with to help other people by signing and sharing online campaigns and petitions, attending protests and speaking up (at Nottingham’s Speaker’s Corner!) to make your voice heard.

There are also a variety of charities and organisations in the city whose aims are to help address inequalities and to reduce the attainment gaps between the different communities.

These include Nottingham Citizens, which comprises of over thirty civil society institutions working together to make our city a better place to live. Currently, Nottingham Citizens are targeting racial injustice, mental health and fair work and

wages for all Nottingham workers. Despite the pandemic stunting their progress, they continued to spread the word of their campaign about local action against racism. To help them in their aim, you can sign the petitions and letters on their website and learn more about their campaigns.

Self Help UK is a Nottingham-based organisation who help promote and support self-help locally and nationwide. One notable project they’ve done is their 2018 BAME Health Outreach, which aimed to identify the inequalities in the BAME communities in Nottinghamshire and help them get access to the services they needed to manage long-term health conditions and general wellbeing information.

Closer to (your uni) home, Nottingham Trent Students’ Union recently launched their position paper on tackling the BME attainment gap with recommendations they are working on throughout the year. You can get involved by speaking with the Student Officers, suggesting your own ideas for change or by joining one of the many political or cultural societies who work on campaigns and activities at university. The University of Nottingham have a wide range of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, including a strategic delivery plan to help make sure their campus is as supportive a place as possible.

Their Students’ Union also has many networks that you can get involved with to help campaign for change, which host a variety of events and workshops throughout the year.

Ultimately, there are a number of different ways that you can become a better ally to the people in the city, so get out there and make a difference. Becoming more conscious and thoughtful in your actions could make someone else’s experience in our city much more positive. citizensuk.org/get_involved selfhelp.org.uk

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JUSTICE NOW Nottingham is a vastly multicultural city, with two popular universities that attract students from around the world. Like most of the country, over the last few months, our city has been shaken by the horrific scenes of racial injustice making headlines overseas and here at home.

While some still labour under the misconception that the UK is exempt from such issues of racial injustice, we believe it’s there when you look at the facts. According to the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, in the UK in 2018-19, Black people were more than nine times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, three times more likely to be arrested and more than five times more likely to have force used against them. It’s there when you look at racial bias in reporting and the noticeably different ways press report stories relating to black people.

However, we are now at the dawn of change. It’s down to everyone to play their part by seeking to become educated and actively stepping up to help be the generation that ends racial injustice for good. Here in Nottingham, there are a number of great causes, initiatives and groups you can get involved with to support the cause. Here are a few national and local suggestions to get you started.

Support Black Friends A creative platform that aims to raise awareness on all things race and identity through the power of blogs, podcasts, panel discussions and live music.

The New Art Exchange The largest gallery in the UK dedicated to culturally diverse contemporary visual arts.

All Black Connect (ABC) New Art Exchange’s young people’s collective. The team design projects that explore issues impacting young black people in the UK today.

Nottingham Women’s Centre An organisation which supports women in the city seeking asylum, facing extreme

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poverty or escaping abuse. They have a strong anti-racism and activism panel.

Himmah A grassroots community-based initiative providing services to tackle poverty, racism and social exclusion.

Community Recording Studios Set up in 1991, the Community Recording Studio, based in St Anns, teaches film and video skills as well as music, giving youngsters access to professional equipment and key industry contacts, including musicians like Estelle and Aloe Blacc.

SHEAfriq A Nottingham-based collective of creative females of black heritage.

Black Writers & Artists Network A network for creative writers of African and Caribbean descent.

Step Up Race on the Agenda (ROTA) Get involved with this leading UK policy think-tank that focuses on the issues affecting BAME communities.

Black Lives Matter UK – Nottingham Activists Join the group. Their Facebook page is full of useful resources and information as well as info for how you can get involved here in the UK. Hope Not Hate Become a member of this organisation established to “offer a more positive and engaged way of doing anti-fascism.”

Email your local MP Ask them what they’re doing within the community to publicly support racial equality and anti-racism.

Next Gen Movement This group were responsible for planning the Black Lives Matter protests in Nottingham, and use their platform for educating and supporting people in the city. Attend their workshops and help them lobby those in power for institutional changes.

FlyGirl A brand new local platform for women that particularly focuses on minorities.

Engage with their empowering workshops, talks and parties.

Join a group at your university students’ union NTU’s The New Black society focuses on helping students progress in the face of adversity, while UoN’s Black and Minority Ethnic Student Network runs events and campaigns throughout the year.

Donate UKBLM Go Fund Me Black Lives Matter UK (BLMUK) have been fighting for racial injustices in communities for many years. They’re committed to dismantling “imperialism, capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy and state structures that disproportionately harm black people in Britain and around the world.”

Stop Hate UK An organisation set up to help tackle hate crime and discrimination happening here in the UK, while encouraging reporting and providing support for the individuals and communities affected by it.

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) An organisation set up to support those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody.

words: Caroline Barry photo: Tom Morley

OVER THE RAINBOW One of the most exciting parts of starting university is the promise and potential that comes with a new city. It can be stressful figuring out where to go and where to know in general, let alone in terms of trying to find the LGBTQ+ scene. Luckily for you, Nottingham has many people and places out there to help. Ordinarily, we would have a plethora of clubs, pubs and much more to offer but this year it’s a bit of a minefield in terms of where to go, what to do and who to do. While we can’t help you with the latter, we can help you figure out where to go to meet others who are here, queer and used to this city…

Clubs and Collectives DirtyFilthySexy Drag collective, for their amazing drag performances from queens, DJs and musicians.

dirtyfilthysexy.co.uk Fan Club Female and non-binary collective that book and put on queer performances and ensure safe spaces. fanclubnotts.bigcartel.com Fortune and Glory Film Club Film club who put on LGBT classics across the city with killer goodie bags. facebook.com/fortuneandgloryfilmclub Nottingham Ladies 20/30s Facebook group for meetups and drinks. facebook.com/groups/ nottinghamLGBT20sand30s Nottinghamshire Queer Bulletin Email round-up of local gay news. qbnotts.btck.co.uk

Venues Notts Hyking Dykes Ladies who organise walks. nottinghamhd.org.uk Queer Noise Club Experimental queer club. facebook.com/queernoiseclub Reel Equality Screenings that focus on equality, fairness and telling the stories of the underrepresented in film. facebook.com/reelequalitynotts Scream Queenz Nottingham drag comedy group. facebook.com/ screamqueenzcomedychaos Shady Cow Collective Book events, put on queer performances and ensure safe spaces, usually hosted in Rough Trade. shadycowcollective.wordpress.com

Broadway Cinema General queer cinema (and wine).

Five Leaves Bookshop Great events and an incredibly diverse book selection.

JT Soar Space that regularly books queer performers.

Nonsuch Studios Performance space for events including gay comedy.

Nottingham Contemporary Drag nights and supporters of the scene.

Rough Trade Drag Bingo Hosted by Marilyn Sane and Nana Arthole.

The Lord Roberts Good for quieter beer garden drinks, drag and much more.

The New Foresters Iconic Notts LGBT+ venue, and do a wonderful £2.30 hangover-curing chip butty.

This is but a taste of what is out there. Get up, get out and start being visible. Be gay, be proud, and this city will embrace you. Just because you’re in the East Midlands, it doesn’t mean you can’t Go West. These are hard times indeed and it’s true what they say: your disco will need you. We will lose our queer venues if people don’t get safety up and out there. Spending those pink pounds in our gay venues will help us to keep queer here, especially in these troubling times.

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BREAKING THE SILENCE illustration: Natalie Owen

words: Bridie Squires and Lucy Manning

Nottinghamshire Police was the first police force in the country to rule misogyny as a hate crime. This includes physical or verbal harassment directed at women, because they are a woman, via any means. So, if you’re walking home after a lecture and a group of guys decide to shout inappropriate sexual comments at you, or someone grabs your arse on a night out, you’re well within your rights to report the behaviour to the authorities.

All you have to do is ring 101, or if the assault is physical ring 999. This doesn’t always mean that the perpetrator will be punished, but it does mean the police can collect information regarding these types of incidents – where, when and how often they happen – and work on making the streets of Notts safer for all. It also means that they can direct you to any support and guidance you may need following the event.

Nottingham Women’s Centre is a safe haven for women in the city, and played a massive part in bringing about classing misogyny as a hate crime. The centre has recently been presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, and launched online campaigns #NottACompliment and #TimesUpNotts with the objective of encouraging women to report instances of harassment to the authorities. If you’ve experienced sexual harassment or domestic abuse and you want to talk it out, give them a call on 0115 941 1475. They’re also the home of Nottingham Women’s Library, and host events and activities that champion women in the city.

The Topaz Centre is Nottinghamshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre with trained crisis workers. You can contact them directly on 0845 600 1588 and they’ll guide you through the process of reporting a sexual assault or rape. You can visit the centre without going to the police, and they can take a statement, offer a forensic medical examination, as well as lots of support.

Nottingham Sexual Violence Support Services is open to anyone over thirteen years old, and specialises in supporting survivors of sexual violence. The centre offers support and guidance through face-to-face counselling as well as group

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support, and helps service users to access creative therapies.

They also offer a counselling helpline, staffed by female support workers, that provides a safe space to talk for yourself or a friend. Their helpline number is 0115 941 0440.

Both Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham offer support services to students, where you can speak to someone in confidence if you need to. They have both also launched consent campaigns, where they work with their students’ unions to make the concept clear to everyone on campus. You can find all their contact details on page 31.

Equation is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes healthy relationships by working within the community of Nottingham to reduce the impact of domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender inequality. They have guidance for all genders, children, as well as how to help someone you know in an abusive relationship.

One for the rest of you Right then. We know you’re not a plank, but here’s a sad truth you might not be aware of: one in five women aged between 16 and 59 have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. That’s why it’s so important that we all stand up in the fight against misogyny. If you see an incident, be on the right side of it and offer help and support where you can. And if a friend is acting inappropriately or visibly making someone feel uncomfortable, be sure to call them out on it. If you are a victim of sexual violence, you can utilise the support services as well. You shouldn’t be afraid to speak out if you need to, no matter what your gender is.

GET POLITICAL photo: Eve Smallman

words: Faith Pring

Whether you’re a true blue Tory, as far left as you can get without falling over, or you simply haven’t the foggiest, now that you’ve begun your life in the fast lane, it’s important that you exercise your right to have your voice heard.

After registering to vote (make sure you’ve done that!), you might be wondering what the political happenings are in your new city. Nottingham has been the home of several political bigwigs over the years, most notably Sir Kenneth Clarke who was the Conservative MP for the Rushcliffe constituency for almost fourty years. The city has also been home to former Conservative Anna Soubry and Labour’s Ed Balls, who famously competed in BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Communities and Local Government in August 2019 by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Following the 2019 General Election, Nottingham’s elected Members of Parliament are members of the Conservative and Labour parties. The Nottingham South constituency (NTU’s Clifton campus and UoN’s Park and Jubilee campuses) is represented by Labour’s Lilian Greenwood, Nottingham East (NTU’s city campus) is represented by Nadia Whittome and Newark (NTU’s Brackenhurst campus) is represented by Conservative’s Robert Jenrick.

Both universities also give students the opportunity to vote in internal elections. At NTU, annual elections take place in the spring term where students can elect leaders of the Students’ Union and society committees. Similarly, UoN holds elections in the spring term for full-time and part-time officers to work at their Students’ Union and hold the occasional referendum on key issues.

Lilian Greenwood has been Nottingham South’s MP since 2010 despite resigning during the Labour leadership battle in 2016. She has lived here in Notts since 1999 and worked for the public sector trade union prior to being elected as MP. Nadia Whittome is currently the country’s youngest MP at 24-yearsold and holds the unofficial title of the ‘baby of the house’. When elected, she vowed to give the majority of her earnings as an MP to local charities and also helped out as a carer during the COVID-19 pandemic. She even has some wonderful words for you lot: “Welcome to the city of Nottingham! I’m very proud to be an MP in the city I have always called home and I hope that in time it feels like home to you too. We are a diverse, united and strong community and a city that has a lot to offer everyone from all walks of life. Nottingham has some wonderful independent shops and restaurants, plus many of the names and chains you’ll recognise, fantastic parks and open spaces and a great night life. I really hope you enjoy your time in the city that means so much to me, but if you have any issues or problems, please don’t hesitate to get in touch."

Robert Jenrick is the MP for Newark and has held the seat since 2014. He’s a qualified lawyer and comes from a background of business. He was made Secretary of State for Housing,

When you students first arrive at university, some of you may never have voted in a nationwide referendum, general election or local councillor elections. Therefore, your time at university gives you the opportunity to learn more about wider society and the people that politics can directly affect.

Both NTU and UoN also have societies dedicated to political activism, with both universities having societies for the Labour and Conservative party. The University of Nottingham also has a society dedicated to the Liberal Democrats, while both Students’ Unions also have societies that have political links such as Extinction Rebellion and anti-racism groups, so you’re almost certain to find at least one person you agree with.

Speaker’s Corner is also a key place to go if you’re got a little summat on your mind and you want to say it out loud. Located at the intersection of King and Queen Street in the city centre, right next to the statue of Brian Clough, this was the first official Speaker’s Corner outside of London. Right here you’ll get people talking and shouting about everything from politics, veganism and civil rights. It’s the place to be if you want to be heard.

Finally, if something isn’t quite right and you want to tell someone about it, pop onto the County or City council website – depending on where you live – and select the ‘Contact Us’ option. If you’ve got a bee in your bonnet, your local MP outlined above will be all ears. Let them know and they should be able to help! nottinghamshire.gov.uk/contact-and-complaints trentstudents.org su.nottingham.ac.uk

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STUDENTS WHO STAYED Rowena Sharps Performing Arts Teacher and Musician Music (Class of 2014) University of Nottingham During my time at university, I performed incredible music in impressive venues with the orchestras. A lot of the course was extremely academic in a way I hadn’t realised music could be, but I took a module called ‘Can classical music change lives?’ which started off my career in music through a work placement.

A three-month placement turned into eighteen months helping with wholeclass string lessons in a Sneinton school.

This lead to more teaching posts and an invitation to play cello in the genredefying Invisible Orchestra. A few years ago, I never would have imagined myself

teaching children drama or dance and I would have laughed if you’d suggested teaching recorder of all instruments!

Volunteering is the best way to make connections in a new city – it makes me feel that in small ways I am giving back to the city that has made me feel so at home. I can’t imagine living anywhere other than Nottingham. It’s big enough to be exciting and small enough to be friendly, plus I love the diversity and creativity. theinvisibleorchestra.co.uk

Nick Strang Founder of City Beats Radio and Plates Records Film and Television Studies (Class of 2012) University of Nottingham I have really fond memories of being at university, and still think about it today!

I loved Nottingham University and one of the things that stays with me was the campus itself, which is beautiful.

Straight out of university I was inspired by film and went to work in almost every kind of job within the industry, so my time studying definitely drove my career path. I went from film into music but have constantly used my understanding of the creative industries to help drive my decisions, particularly in terms of the business side.

I knew nothing about Nottingham before coming other than that it didn’t have a reputation for greatness like Manchester or London, but it has less bravado and seemed a bit more appealing in terms as a cool city that’s not been ‘spoilt’.

However, I grew to love the city during university and never wanted to leave.

Make sure you explore and try to support some of the cities lesser-known and independent businesses, nightlife and initiatives, as there’s loads to choose from! citybeatradio.co.uk platesrecords.co.uk

Hannah Pickard Singer/Songwriter Music (Class of 2019) University of Nottingham I had a great three years at university, and enjoyed making music within different societies. The first society I joined was Blowsoc (I swear it's not dodgy), which is a music society dedicated to playing wind and percussion instruments. I learned how to play lots of instruments through it, and made so many friends.

As a student, I was bombarded with new people on a daily basis (in a good way!), meaning I came into contact with people doing different degrees and having different experiences. Doing the subsidiary modules in Psychology, I realised that I wanted a job helping

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people with mental health difficulties. I'm currently trying to find work as a support worker, to help people with learning difficulties lead more fulfilling lives.

Nottingham is a really great city with lots of history and culture! I have been to brilliant concerts in different genres, including jazz, popular, folk, and classical.

There really is something for everyone in terms of music. Aside from music, Nottingham is just a really creative and welcoming city, with so many interesting people from different walks of life. @hannahpickstagram

Scarlet Chappell Producer and Social Media Manager for BBC Radio Nottingham Broadcast Journalism (Class of 2019) Nottingham Trent University I couldn't wait to run my own life, meet new people and get a degree in something I loved. I made some amazing friends quickly, made it onto the dance team and joined the student radio station Fly FM, with my own Sunday morning breakfast show. Over the years I created a new home I never wanted to leave.

The best thing about my job is meeting and working with local people, as well as finding stories about Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, going to events, speaking to local people about a home

they are so proud of. Over lockdown, it was amazing to share stories of communities coming together.

Nottingham is the perfect size city, and there is so much to do. Find all the amazing places to eat, watch a film at Broadway, go to a gig at the Bodega or Rough Trade, pop into Brewhouse or Boilermaker for a drink and get great second-hand clothes at White Rose. Just explore and indulge in the city. @bbcnottingham

Ashley Carter Editor at LeftLion Magazine Documentary Journalism (Class of 2018) Nottingham Trent University At 30, I expected to be the oldest person on the course by quite a long way, but was pleasantly surprised to find quite a mixture of different ages. Once the relatively awkward getting-to-know-you parts were out the way, I was just really excited to get on with the degree. The Masters course I did was intense, and the projects came really thick and fast which I loved.

I’m lucky to have a great deal of autonomy in my job, so getting to choose what I write about on a daily basis is really

exciting. Nottingham is constantly changing and evolving, and is home to so many fascinating stories, organisations and individuals, so meeting, researching and investigating them is always fun It’s rare to find a city this big that has such a defined assurance of itself. Whether its shops, artists, filmmakers or people like us at LeftLion, Nottingham has a really distinct sense of independence. leftlion.co.uk

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words: Emma Walsh

We know, we know, it’s only the beginning of your first term – so why are we already talking about second year? But trust us, forget “impending deadlines” – “student housing” are the two most daunting words of first year. So we’ve compiled a list of tips to give you all the know-how so you don’t get yourself in a pickle.

Don’t panic We know it can get a bit overwhelming when talk of second-year housing starts to muscle its way into the conversation. We’ll be honest, it usually starts about mid-October, but don’t feel like you have to worry about it straight away. Set yourself a goal to have everything sorted by a certain date.

Get your contract checked Let’s be honest, the contract is a daunting document – lots of pages, lots of words, some of which you won’t even know the meaning of. Luckily for you, both universities offer services through which your contract can be checked and explained to you, to ensure you don’t get tripped up by any pesky small print.

By the end of the first term is a safe bet, but some people even wait until February. The important thing to remember is that there's no rush. There’s no such thing as an amazing student house (trust us, nobody’s bragging about theirs), so there’s absolutely no danger of the “good ones” being snatched up first. So, relaxing and taking your time will ensure you have the best experience with it.

University of Nottingham: You can talk to the Students Union Advice Centre, based on floor C of the Portland Building for this. You can chat to an adviser in person by emailing suadvice@nottingham.ac.uk to make an appointment.

Choose your housemates wisely Let’s get one harsh truth out of the way first; there’s a difference between liking people and being able to live with them. It’s your job to be able to make that distinction when choosing your housemates. It’s better to pick people you don’t mind discussing the nitty-gritty stuff with. Rent and bills can be awkward topics in some student houses, so take the time to discuss finances with your housemates before moving in, so everybody’s happy and all the bill payers get their money back.

Know your student areas While you can stick to a hall-like situation or even stay close to your campus, most students get digs in areas a bit further out. University of Nottingham students tend to go to either Lenton or Beeston, while Trent students tend to go to The Arboretum, Forest Fields and other areas nearer the city. You can read more about these areas and other suburbs on page 38.

Read the reviews More often than not, you’ll be dealing with a housing agency when it comes to planning for next year, and like with everything, there are good ones and bad ones. But it’s ridiculously easy to get a hold of some reviews of letting agencies – just Google them! It’s good to know what kind of a company you’re dealing with, what past students have found they’ve been helpful with, and vice versa.

Not only that, but this little bit of extra research (that will take ten minutes, tops) is bound to give you a bit more peace of mind.

It’s also worth checking if the accommodation or landlord is accredited under the council-approved Unipol Code. This is a scheme that providers sign up for that makes sure they meet certain standards. These include deposit protection, timely repairs and maintenance, and a robust complaints procedure.

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Nottingham Trent University: The Student Accommodation Services Team, based in the Student Services Centre at City Campus will be able to help you, where you can chat to an adviser in person, or get in touch by emailing accommodation@ntu.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can visit the Information and Advice service at NTSU, where they too can check your contract and give you advice. The SU also runs Housing Fairs throughout the year.

Get snappy When you move into your new pad make sure to take photos of everything and fill out an inventory if there is one so that when you move out they can’t charge you for damages that were already there. Back them up onto a hard drive or onto your cloud as well, as you don’t want to lose them if your landlord tries to wangle anything.

Know the law Don’t forget that student housing has to abide by the law too – a key one to remember is that the landlord or any contractor have to give you at least 24 hours before they can enter your property, which includes property viewings. It’s also important not to be afraid of standing up for yourself and making sure the property is in working order. If you’re feeling unsure check out Save the Student, a site with many resources about the legal side of letting.

Any problems?

If you end up shacking up somewhere that you feel isn’t meeting the correct standards, don’t be afraid to seek help and put in a complaint if necessary. If your provider is under the Unipol Code, you can follow the code’s complaints procedure. Alternatively, you can call the council’s Safer Housing Team for advice and support on 0115 876 1331.

SAFETY FIRST illustration: Natalie Owen words: Emily Thursfield

Now that you don’t have the ‘rents watching over your shoulder, you need to take responsibility for yourself. That includes staying safe around the city, and being a responsible member of your local community. Student living is fun, but remember, your neighbours have jobs, families, and won’t like listening to your drum and bass at 4am on a Tuesday. Take heed of this advice...

Keep coronavirus at bay The virus is still about, and with students from all over the country flocking to the city to study, it’s important that everyone stays vigilant. Make sure to wear a mask when in enclosed spaces. Wash your hands regularly, making sure to give ‘em a proper scrub, and carry round hand sanitiser at all times. Please try and be particularly responsible in terms of social gatherings and staying over at other people’s houses.

Look after your mates when they’ve had a few too many While it may be fun watching your pal dancing like a loon after one too many Jägerbombs, it ain’t gonna be fun if they get themselves into trouble or end up passed out on the dance floor. Nobody wants their night to end at the hospital or the police station. If your mate’s starting to look a little bit sloppy, take one for the team and get them home to bed.

Don’t leave anyone alone after dark We love the people of Notts, but like every city, there’s the odd few out there who make our streets less safe. If you’re putting in a late night shift at the library, find a friend to keep you company and make sure you stick together on your walk home. Be wary of your surroundings and don’t go down any dodgy looking lanes when it’s pitch black. This also applies when leaving a club after a heavy drinking sesh; strength in numbers and all that.

Be on your guard There are some types who like nothing better than to end the night with a punch up, or something more sinister. While we don’t reckon a sensible type like you would ever get involved in a scrap, it might be worth checking out your university’s selfdefence classes. There’s also a number of programmes offered

around the city which can help you build your confidence, such as Gracie Barra, who combine self-defence and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Don’t flash your new stuff about We understand that getting new tech is exciting, but can you imagine having your laptop robbed just as a 3,000-word essay is due? Have your fifteen minutes of smugness when you whack out your new Apple Mac in a lecture, and then get over it. We’d hope nobody would nick a year's worth of work from you, but you can never be too careful. Basically, if you don’t need it, leave it at home.

Make it hard for burglars This seems like a given, but Barry the Burglar makes his way around Hoodtown too. He especially likes students, because he thinks they’ll be stupid enough to give him easy access to their houses. So prove Barry wrong and lock all those windows and doors. If your door is locked, your flatmates won’t be able to cover your whole room in tinfoil either. Make sure you’ve got home insurance, too, just in case.

Bring the bleddy bins in Nottingham City Council aren’t best pleased if you leave your rubbish out on the streets for too long, and you can get into trouble if you don’t comply. It’s also a way of making sure your neighbours don’t hate you. So learn when your bin days are, put ‘em out the night before, and bring them in as soon as you roll out of bed in the morning. Have a look online to find out when your bin day is. nottinghamcity.gov.uk/reportit nottinghamcity.gov.uk/bin-and-rubbish-collections

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PLASTIC AIN’T FANTASTIC illustration: Natalie Owen

words: Jamie Morris

While it’s important to prioritise staying safe with the pandemic still very much lingering over us, this doesn’t mean we should forget about the environment – and cutting down on your waste consumption is a good way to start making a difference.

There are lots of simple ways you can live a more eco-friendly lifestyle as a student without breaking the bank.

An easy start is buying as many items as you can that don’t have plastic packaging. Zero waste shops stock several student kitchen staples like pasta and rice, ready to take home in your own containers. If you bring a recipe along, you can save money by weighing out the specific amounts of each ingredient, which also means you’re not left with half-empty bags of something you might never use again taking up space in the cupboard.

You can even top up on your bathroom essentials by bringing a few empty bottles or trying out one of their solid shampoo bars. Sarah Maloy, owner of Shop Zero on St James’s Street, often urges shoppers to make the swap from disposable products to sustainable alternatives, such as by using reusable makeup pads made from cloth.

Other shops around the city are increasingly making the switch to biodegradable plastic, but Sarah notes that this only makes a difference for people who are able to compost it: “A lot of students don’t have compost bins or can’t even recycle things in their halls of residence, and they’re often the ones that want to try and do something.”

Whilst many of the smaller food and drink venues in the city have had to resort to being take-out only due to a lack of space for accommodating social distancing measures, you can still do your bit by carrying a reusable bottle or cup – and if you’ve left it at home, consider opting for sustainable cafes like Bird & Blend on Victoria Street, which uses fully biodegradable materials and also supports tree-planting initiatives. Reusable metal straws can come in handy too, saving you from wasting plastic ones (and the unpleasant sogginess of paper ones!).

Reusable face masks are another one to consider in current times. Official government guidance says you shouldn’t dispose of single-use masks in a recycling bin, so to reduce waste it’s worth buying or making your own cloth mask that you can wash after wearing. These have become somewhat of a must-have accessory this year, with a number of fun custom designs available online, so have a browse and treat yourself.

Both universities in Nottingham are keen advocates of the environment. Last year, Nottingham Trent University pledged to remove certain unnecessary single-use plastic items from their businesses, such as drink stirrers and water bottles. All

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students at Trent can participate in the Sustainability in Practice certificate, a free online course which explores sustainability issues from a personal and course perspective.

The University of Nottingham also launched its WasteNott campaign in 2018, which aims to raise awareness of and then reduce the amount of plastic consumed on campus. They also have numerous ways to get eco-friendly, such as participating in the Student Switch Off when moving into halls and volunteering opportunities, such as getting involved in waste composition analysis.

Additionally, Nottingham City Council has promised to eliminate its reliance on single-use plastics across all departments by 2023, and become carbon neutral by 2028.

They have also collaborated on the Refill Nottingham scheme alongside Severn Trent and the Nottingham Green Party, so you can now top up your water bottle at over sixty cafes and restaurants in the city centre.

A report by the Environmental Audit Committee last year revealed that the UK buys more clothes per person than anywhere else in Europe, with only 1% of those materials being recycled. One big change you can make is to spend more time browsing and buying from local charity shops. Nottingham is home to White Rose, a chain of six second-hand clothing boutiques founded by UoN graduates, where you can save money and the environment as well as supporting peacebuilding charity the Aegis Trust. In the city centre, Hockley is great for other charity shops, while further afield Sherwood is chockablock full of them.

Reducing plastic consumption and waste as a student is all about taking the time every now and then to see how you could be making little changes. Whether it’s by carrying a water bottle or visiting a sustainable retailer, your small steps have a genuine impact on the future of the planet.

“People need to be able to see that this is a way of life that isn’t so much of a burden,” Sarah says.

“Make changes gradually, do what you can tackle at the time, and then introduce something new.”

GIVE GREEN A CHANCE words: Emily Thursfield

illustration: Natalie Owen

Thanks to its love of solar panels and electric transport, Nottingham has become the UK’s most energy-self-sufficient city. That’s a title we are dead proud of, and we are always trying to improve and expand on what we’re doing – so much so, that Nottingham City Council have recently launched a campaign to make the city carbon neutral by 2028. So, how has Notts painted itself this lovely shade of green?

Trams By now, you’ve probably noticed the big green machines zipping around towns. Our electric-powered tram network spans 18km throughout Notts, and is a great way of getting around the city without emitting any harmful gases.

There are stops right outside both universities, meaning you can easily hop on – with your validated ticket, of course – and get yourself to the city centre or the train station when it’s time to visit home. Please be aware that the trams are operating on a reduced capacity right now, so leave your house in plenty of time in case it’s too busy to get on.

Parks Would you believe that 20% of Nottingham is parkland, and 68 of those parks are Green Flag award winners? As well as being the perfect place for you to take a walk or a stressrelieving jog after a particularly difficult seminar, there are lots of free events held in the parks throughout the year.

Both universities have also received Green Flag awards for their efforts in keeping their campuses environmentally friendly. By maintaining a healthy habitat for any wildlife that has settled on campus and producing as little waste as possible, the unis have cemented their green status.

5 small changes for a greener lifestyle 1.

Try leaving a bit earlier and walking to places This is is particularly important right now because of coronavirus, but it’s also a nice healthy thing to do anyway

2.

Get on yer bike Both universities offer a rent-a-bike service for less than the cost of a textbook, and you get to tone your thighs as you save the world

3.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room There’s a reason your mam’s always harping on about Blackpool Illuminations

Eco Cars and Buses Nottingham was the first city in the country to build a brandnew green lane just for buses, taxis and bikes on an existing road, and we’re also home to a fleet of double deckers which are powered using renewable bio gas.

These buses are expected to emit 3,500 tonnes less CO2 into the air, and will help Notts have the lowest spread of emissions in the country. To become a Go Ultra Low City, the city has also introduced charging points along its streets for electric vehicles and buses.

Awareness While the city has already made leaps towards a more sustainable future, we’re far from done. At the heart of the Nottingham 2028 plan is a desire to not only play a part in reducing the threat of climate change, but also that residents can be protected from the impact and made more resilient. Changes that will be implemented – such as trees, wild plants and green spaces added to the city centre, the use of deep mine water to heat homes and the installation of water fountains to reduce single-use plastics – will also help reduce bills and, hopefully, improve the mental wellbeing of our citizens.

4.

Whack on a jumper instead of turning up the thermostat The coin you save on heating now can be spent at the pub later

5.

Don’t overfill the kettle with more than you need It’s surprising how much energy – and money – this saves

If you spot a problem where you live, like rubbish, graffiti or dog poo, let Nottingham City Council know so they can sort it. nottinghamcity.gov.uk/reportit

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EATING WELL WITH LUCY AND LENTILS My name is Lucy and I create easy-to-make recipes that I share over on my blog and Instagram...

It all started whilst I was at university, living on hot cross buns and chocolate raisins - good times. After a year of being a total flop in the kitchen (flashback to nearly burning the flat down trying to poach an egg), I realised I needed to get to grips with the basics.

Years later, I've since packed in my graduate job as an interior designer (sorry mum), and taken the leap to become a fulltime recipe creator and food photographer. It felt only right to come back to where it all started and share three simple recipes that can all be adapted time and time again. Hopefully, they will keep you nourished whilst balancing making new friends, uni work, social life, catching up with sleep, a part-time job, all the while trying to avoid freshers flu.

Tips and tricks • Local markets are often cheaper than supermarkets, so you'll be supporting local and saving the planet with less plastic packaging - winning!

• Don't be scared of the reduced aisle - it can feel like a battle getting to the front but it's worth it • Your freezer is your new best friend - don't let anything go off, try and batch cook any veg and freeze them • Instagram accounts such as MOB Kitchen and BudgetBytes are great for inspiration! @lucy_and_lentils lucyandlentils.co.uk

EASY PEASY SAUSAGE ROLLS Serves: 4 Ingredients 6 sausages, either meat or veggie 4-5 tbsp cranberry sauce or chutney 1 sheet ready-made puff pastry 2 tbsp soy sauce or 1 egg for the wash

Method Cook the sausages until just done (usually around 15 minutes at 180ºC) Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a flat surface then spoon on the cranberry sauce down the shortest length of the sheet Crumble the sausages then sprinkle over the top of the cranberry sauce Fold over the puff pastry then seal by using a fork to pinch the edges Brush with soy sauce or regular egg wash will work too Then bake at 200°C for 20 minutes or until beautifully golden and crisp

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CRISPY CAULIFLOWER TACOS Serves: 2 Ingredients 1 head of cauliflower cut into florets 1 cup plain flour (can use GF) 1/2 cup milk or oat milk 1 heaped tsp of paprika or fajita seasoning 1/4 cup cooking oil 1/2 tsp sea salt For the yoghurt dressing 1/4 cup yoghurt 1 tsp paprika or fajita seasoning Squeeze of lime

Method Preheat the oven to 180ยบC Add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl then stir in the oat milk, give it a little whisk and set aside Cut the cauliflower into florets and add to the mixing bowl and make sure all of it is coated Pop the cauliflower onto a greased baking tray (make sure they're not touching) and bake for 35 - 40 minutes until crispy Prepare the wraps by adding a tsp of vegan mayonnaise, the crispy cauliflower, a few leafy greens and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

For the yoghurt dressing Simply mix all of the ingredients into a bowl and serve with the wraps. Alternatively, you can use mayonnaise for a more tangy taste

POP TARTS Serves: 6 Ingredients For the shortcrust pastry 300g plain flour 1/2 tbsp caster sugar 1 tsp salt 120g butter (normal or plant-based) cubed at room temperature For the cinnamon icing 5 tbsp icing sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tbsp milk (normal or plant-based) or water 1 1/2 tsp butter (normal or plantbased) 1 jar of jam Method For the pop tarts In a large bowl mix the flour, salt and caster sugar together then add the cubed butter then bring together using your hands or a silicone spatula Mix and fold together until a smooth ball of pastry has formed then place back in the bowl, cover and leave to rest in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes Take the pastry out of the fridge and place on a floured work surface, then using a floured rolling pin roll out till around 1cm thick

Using a cookie cutter or just a knife slice out 12 equal rectangles to form the pop tarts Preheat the oven to 180ยบC Lay 6 of the rectangles onto a lined baking tray then spoon on the blackberry jam, around 2 tbsp per pop tart repeat until all are covered (if you have leftover jam either add more to the pop tart filling or set aside) Match up the other 6 pastry rectangles over the top then using a fork pinch the very edges of the rectangles to seal them, then give the top of each pop tart a brush with either milk or sugar water to help get a golden crust Pop in the oven to bake for around 25-30 minutes until the pastry is golden on top For the cinnamon icing Simply mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth. You may need to add a little more liquid or a little more icing sugar to get the right texture, but it need to be thick instead or runny to sit on top of the pop tarts Cover each pop tart then add a tiny bit of jam to create a pretty pink stain

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Sport and fitness membership Access our state-of-the-art David Ross Sports Village, Jubilee and Sutton Bonington sports centres.

Your membership includes access to: • Fully-equipped fitness suites with training workshops • 25m swimming pool and climbing wall • A wide variety of group exercise classes every week • Squash courts and indoor sports hall

Early bird offer

Simply scan the QR code to visit our website or visit any sports centre reception to purchase

£209 until October 2020

*

*Price shown for UoN Students only, costs may vary for other groups. Membership valid until 31 July 2021

SEEKING OUT SUPPORT

words: Faith Pring

We all know that university can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, filled with new experiences and opportunities. However, settling into university life can be tough. Both universities offer services of support to their students that can help with a wide variety of issues. They’ve also both introduced a range of measures specifically for Coronavirus related support, and are working with Public Health England to ensure your safety and minimise the impact of coronavirus on your studies. From dealing with anxiety and eating disorders, to grief and sexual health, here are the ways you can get help during your time studying...

Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Trent has created a host of extra services to help support you during Coronavirus, such as testing kits on campus, centralised track and trace, as well as specialised support for self-isolation. They’ve also put additional resources into their hardship funds, mental health and wellbeing teams, and will be updating their student support social media pages with useful tips throughout the year.

NTU’s online support comes in the form of their system called SilverCloud. This is an online program that allows students to take part in online modules and offers information about anxiety, depression, eating disorders and stress. The program requires a one-time setup, and can be accessed from any tech device, and is simply able to inform students who may be struggling.

A counselling service of up to four face-to-face sessions is also available through Nottingham Trent University, or online counselling for those who feel more comfortable away from campus or communicating through a screen. Through this, you can also inform NTU of anyone else you might be concerned about, and provide them with the support they need. If you are worried about a friend, NTU also provide a ‘look after your mate’ service, which will give you access to a free online training service that informs you of the key warning signs to mental health, as well as communication techniques and boundaries.

Within NTU, there are also student support advisors who can act as a liaison between you and your tutors, to offer any academic help you might need, as well as any other practical advice you might require. These advisors, as well as NTU chaplains (who can help with grievance), are available for drop-in sessions at the Wellbeing Room on Clifton campus every weekday during lunchtime to offer support.

Every March, NTU also hosts a Student Wellbeing Week to raise awareness of mental health issues within students and to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. This includes the provision of therapy dogs, coffee sessions, and support classes to also provide students with information and self-care tips.

If you’re looking for help outside of NTU’s working day, there are still a variety of options available to you. NTU’s website has a selection of wellbeing podcasts on battling stress, mindfulness and sleeping techniques that you can access at any point during the day. Additionally, for 24-hour help, the Samaritans’ helpline on 116 123 (UK) can offer any advice or support on dealing with stress and feelings of despair. There is also an extensive list on the Nottingham Trent website of additional

resources and helplines for academic issues, alcohol and drugs, anxiety, abuse, sexual health and more.

University of Nottingham UoN’s HealthyU initiative, which provides tips, handbooks for longlasting support during your studies, will be giving additional Coronavirus advice, such as looking after your mental health and wellbeing, your physical health and how to keep active, looking after your friendships and relationships, and your faith and religion. UoN is closely monitoring the ongoing coronavirus situation, and their Coronavirus webpage is updated regularly. As well as thus, the new Student Guide to Digital Learning, containing tools and resources, will help you adjust to aspects of academic life which are now online. They also have dedicated testing centres on campus for students and staff, and are working on the development of a University of Nottingham Asymptomatic Testing Service.

The University of Nottingham also provides various services available to its students, including mental health workshops and consultation service.

UoN’s university counselling service is available to all UoN students on their University Park campus after a free thirty-minute consultation that will identify any issues you may have whilst studying. It also offers group sessions and workshops for a more communal counselling experience.

The University of Nottingham’s Students’ Union also provides students with Nightline, a non-judgemental non-advisory confidential listening and information service. This anonymous phone line, provided for students by students, is available to call from 7pm ­– 8am during term time and 24-hours during Welcome Week and exam periods. Their email service is available 365 days a year.

UoN is also able to offer their students a variety of health and wellbeing workshops, including, but not limited to ‘improving self-esteem’, ‘stress and anxiety’ and ‘living with dyslexia’. These workshops are available during term time, whereas outside of term time, the UoN website also provides a collection of Support and Wellbeing videos and blogs to combat feelings of homesickness and how to lead a healthy lifestyle whilst at University.

In addition to this, UoN also recommends that any more urgent issues regarding their students’ health or wellbeing refer to their University Health Centre by appointment, or by phone on 0115 846 8888 (UK phone line). nottingham.ac.uk/healthyu @NTU_SSC

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KEEP ON MOVING

words: Alex Mace illustration: Natalie Owen

Exercise and the student lifestyle aren’t exactly concepts that go hand-in-hand (usually because those hands are filled with cheap vodka and pizza), yet deep down we all know that exercise is probably not such a bad thing. Yes, we agree, PE sucked – with the exception of that mental climbing apparatus every school seemed to have – but when the reality check of university lifestyle comes calling, there’s never a better time to pick up the dumbbells or strap on the running shoes and make a change.

As you’ve probably heard from your mum or dad a thousand times; exercise is important. Besides the obvious aid in muscle strength and endurance, leading an active lifestyle is a sure way to quell anxieties by releasing those helpful endorphins. Having said that, the world of fitness, and perhaps even the word itself, can be a daunting one to approach so it’s important to remember that exercise is not ‘for’ any ‘one’ particular body shape and size. So, with the pandemic doing well to close down any distractions, we’ve worked out (pun intended) a guide to keeping fit during life on campus…

Student living quarters may not be your stereotypical idea of an exercise haven but if popping to the gym ain’t your thing then it’s no hard task to start breaking a sweat at home; albeit with a little adaptation. Having had to face that adaptation himself when gyms closed, personal trainer Stephan Maudeave, from Nottingham Castle Marina PureGym, has his own tips for keeping the muscles going at home. Stephan explains: “It's about getting smart with what you have available to you in the home as opposed to stopping completely. It's probably not going to be towards a specific goal but keeping moving and doing what you can, active and keeping what muscle you have rather than letting it fade away is important.”

During your campus tours and website scrolls of Nottingham’s universities, you’ve likely heard a lot of shouting around the numerous sports and fitness facilities that you can sign up to with your shiny new student ID. With a variety of timetables and numerous different ways to get started, we’ve ran down what’s going on where: University of Nottingham Over in the western regions of the city, the University of Nottingham not only offers a timetable of virtual heart-rate raisers but is also slowly opening up their sports centres after a hefty absence of sweat and tears. Welcoming you back to a world of yoga, Zumba, HIIT, indoor cycling (and a metric tonne more), there’s plenty of options no matter what your interests. They also have more sport clubs than any other university, so if you fancy getting involved with them, they’ve got everything from gaelic football to ten pin bowling.

But if you’d much rather break a sweat from the comfort of your student living haven, then UoN still has you covered...in sweat. With the only things needed being a bit of space, a gym mat and a dose of motivation, the UoN Sport fitness team has a weekly schedule of calorie buster and ab crushers for any fitness level. The weekly schedule can be found on the university website.

Nottingham Trent University Over in the heart of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University has been working equally as hard as their green-clad counterparts to get their sports facilities up and running for the beginning of term one.

After getting your hands on an NTU Sport membership, you’ll have full access to the City Sports Centre to take advantage of the 10m climbing wall, the 100 stations in the two-tiered gym or the fully equipped dance studio that also plays host to various fitness classes and club sessions.

Over at Clifton campus, the opportunities are equally as fruitful.

Their Lee Westwood Sports Centre offers spaces for badminton, volleyball, football, hockey, cheerleading and martial arts across their many fitness halls and suites; if you name a sport, there’s a good chance they have a room for it. NTU also realise that the home can be a gym as much as any other space and have devised their own weekly schedule where you can take your body to the breaking point from the comfort and convenience of your own room.

However, all of this is easier said than done, and Stephen understands that sometimes the struggle to keep fit is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. He says: “In that situation, you have to dig deep with this sort of activity and force yourself to get moving, once you get moving it’s fine, it’s just that very first step that’s the hardest.”

The rewards of taking that step, Stephan explains, is a worthy one: “It definitely plays a part mentally after the exercise, it feels so much better, your body is releasing good chemicals and hormones and your thought process becomes more clear.” Having your time studying being healthier and happier is definitely no bad thing, so sling on your lycra, get moving, and thank us later. firstratefitness.co.uk nottingham.ac.uk/sport ntu.ac.uk/sport

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Nottingham Bucket List

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You’ll be spending at least three years in our city, so you’ve got plenty of time to try out our local pastimes. If, by the time you graduate, you manage to tick every box on this list then you can count yourself as “Proper Nottingham”...

Pay a visit to legendary Rock City

Have a stroll down the rainbow road on Broad Street

Take your parents to the Robin Hood statue

Meet a friend at the left lion statue in Old Market Square

See what’s occurin’ at Speaker’s Corner and say ‘ayup’ to the Brian Clough statue

Walk amongst the deer at Wollaton Hall park

Wrap your smackers around a tasty treat from Doughnotts

Go for a dip in the lake at Colwick Park

Read a copy of LeftLion Magazine

Buy yourself a vintage jacket in Hockley

Finish an entire Annie’s Burger Shack burger

Attempt a 360° toe flip on your skateboard at Sneinton Market

Jump on a tram, roll a dice, and see where you end up

Visit Nottingham Contemporary

Thrash your mates at the Lost City Adventure Golf course in the Corner House

Chill out at the Arboretum

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ALL ABOARD words: Faith Pring and Emily Bicknelle

Nottingham is a city of close to 300,000 people, so there’s a mighty lot of us trying to get around. In the brave ‘new normal’ of coronavirus much of our transport is operating on a reduced capacity, so bear this in mind when you plan your journey. Also, don’t forget to pack your face mask and hand sanitiser.

When you arrive in the city centre, you’ll be struck by the number of buses we have. Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is the award-winning and main bus provider in the city, along with Trent Barton buses, that can take you from one end of the city to the other. If you’re looking to use buses across the year, it’s worth checking out NCT’s student travel bus pass that will give you unlimited travel for the academic or calendar year. You can either get your bus travel put onto your UoN or NTU student card, or you can use a Robin Hood network card that covers both buses and trams in the city on Pay as You Go rates.

NCT buses also have a very handy app that allows you to track all their buses as they make their way to the stops.

Another way of getting around is our fancy tram network.

Trams in the city are run by Nottingham Express Transit (NET) and travel costs as little as £1.70 for a student. You can use your Robin Hood travel card to get around on the trams, or pay for a one off travel ticket that can cover a single journey or a day’s return.

Nottingham Trent University If you’re a student at NTU, there are a few places in the city that you might need to get to. There are some 8,000 students on Clifton campus studying everything from computer science and languages, to education and sport science. On campus you can hop onto the NCT navy line 4 that has a convenient bus stop right near the Students’ Union, or get the navy line 1 from the bus shelter just outside the north entrance of campus. Both follow the same route into the city and arrive regularly (from every 7 minutes!), with the journey only taking a mere half an hour.

Similarly, you might want to travel towards Brackenhurst campus in Southwell, where 1,700 students across 500 acres of the countryside reside. Students here study the likes of equine science and horticulture and are only 45 minutes away from the city. Hop onto NCT’s lilac line 26 from the city and you’ll be heading straight to the Brackenhurst campus.

You might also want to take a trip to the popular residential areas for NTU students. For those studying on Clifton campus, many second and third year students will either live in Clifton or in West Bridgford or Lady Bay. Both West Bridgford and Lady Bay are well connected to the city with NCT’s green line buses running regularly (green line 5, 6 and 7 for West Bridgford, and green line 11 for Lady Bay) back and forth between the towns and city centre.

University of Nottingham For many Uni of Notts students, the main problem with venturing into the city centre is how to get there.

Conveniently, there are several tram stops spanning the length of the campus. If you’re in self-catered halls Broadgate, or close to the West entrance like Flo Bo or Willoughby, your best bet is to walk hop on at the University Boulevard stop. If you’re closer to the centre of campus, like Cripps or Hugh Stew, the University of Nottingham stop next to Highfields Park is a short walk.

Jubilee campus residents will find it best to get on the tram at the QMC or Gregory Street stop. Town is only a twenty-minute ride from University Boulevard and it’s a super simple system – just make sure you board on the right side of the platform or else you might find yourself heading to Toton Lane!

If buses are your preference, Nottingham City Transport has you covered. Chances are that you’ll either be living in Lenton, Wollaton or Beeston in your second and third year. If you’re venturing into central Nottingham from the Wollaton area, you can hop on NCT’s 30 bus on the Wollaton Road Jubilee Campus stop. You can board the 34 bus on campus at either Portland Hill or East Drive (outside the Djanogly centre), but there are stops dotted all across Derby Road if you’re living in the Lenton area. If you’re commuting into town from the Beeston area, stops for the 36 bus are positioned on Humber Road, next to Broadgate House, and also at the University West entrance.

If you’re needing to get to any of the other UoN campuses, most are just a short journey. Jubilee is a tenminute walk from the East entrance, but if you have any exams at King’s Meadow campus and the hopper bus is full (which it often is), you can catch the tram to Gregory Street and walk the fifteen-minutes. Should you wish to visit Sutton Bonington campus, the home of Veterinary students, catch the Skylink bus to Loughborough along University Boulevard – it’s handy to know that this bus travels via East Midlands Airport.

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Basford

Beeston

Located on the main tram route, Basford is split into two parts; Old Basford, which is situated a bit further from town, and the mainly Victorian New Basford. It’s an affordable working-class area with a decent mix of pubs and shops, and was once home to the brewing empire, Shipstones.

Located near the main University of Nottingham campus, it’s a popular area for students – particularly postgraduates who want a more laid-back lifestyle in their old age. The origin of its name is “bees”, for its abundance of honey, and “tune”, which used to mean a farmstead settlement.

Population: 17k Postcode: NG6 Famous resident: Actor Arsher Ali, who starred in Four Lions and Line of Duty, grew up here.

Go see: Vernon Park is a lovely place to chill in the summer.

Bus from city: 70, yellow line

Population: 37k Postcode: NG9 Famous resident: Motown legend, Edwin Starr, lived here for many years.

Go see: George the Beekeeper sculpture on Beeston High Road.

Bus from city: 36, orange line

Clifton

A former village and historic manor, recorded as far back as the Domesday book in 1086. The whole area was owned by the Clifton family for over 700 years.

Population: 27k Postcode: NG11 Famous resident: The birthplace of 26-year-old singer songwriter Jake Bugg and the inspiration for his song ‘Trouble Town’.

Go see: Clifton All Whites FC, the breeding ground for Jermaine Jenas and Viv Anderson.

Bus from city: 48, navy line

There’s more to Nottingham than the city centre. Its urban area consists of twenty voting wards, and each suburb has its own distinct local identity.

Get the lowdown on the parts that you’re more than likely to stumble across in your time here.

Forest Fields

The name might suggest that you’ll be entering a leafy woodland, but this area is actually one of the most densely populated inner-city areas. A community spirit to rival the best, it also has Berridge Road, one of the best streets in the city for Asian food shopping.

Population: 21k Postcode: NG7 Famous resident: Writer Alan Sillitoe lived round these parts, and much of his work references nearby streets.

Go see: Forest Recreation Ground, which is where Nottingham Forest was founded.

Bus from city: 68, yellow line

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Lenton

As well as being popular with students, Lenton is also home to the city’s only surviving pre-war cinema, the Savoy, and the headquarters of miniature behemoths Games Workshop. There’s also the place you hope you don’t end up – unless you’re studying there – the Queen’s Medical Centre.

Population: 11k Postcode: NG7 Famous resident: WWI fighter pilot Albert Ball VC. Go see: Tabletop gaming giants Games Workshop’s HQ. Bus from city: 35, orange line

Netherfield

Lying about three miles to the east of the city centre, just outside the city boundary and in the borough of Gedling. It’s a pretty sleepy suburb, even though it was once targeted by a German Zeppelin bomber in 1916. Despite its diminutive size, it still has its own train station. Big up, Netherfield.

Population: 8k Postcode: NG4 Famous resident: Former super middleweight boxing champion Carl Froch.

Go see: TeamSport Indoor Go Karting, and see how fast you can do a lap.

Bus from city: 44, red line

The Meadows

Located next to the River Trent, this is a traditionally working-class area that was originally constructed to house railway workers. The area is split into two distinct areas; the Old Meadows – an area of mainly pre-1919 privately-owned terraced housing, and the New Meadows – largely consisting of social housing.

Population: 8k Postcode: NG2 Famous resident: Leicester City FC captain, Wes Morgan, grew up here.

Go see: Nottingham War Memorial on The Embankment.

Bus from city: 48, navy line

Sneinton

A stone’s throw from the city centre, it’s got its fair share of art galleries and centres, boasts a market, and a couple of decent pubs. Add to that a windmill, and one of the best views over Nottingham if you take a walk up Colwick Woods, and it’s a pretty decent spot.

Population: 13k Postcode: NG2 Famous resident: Film director, Shane Meadows, lived and shot dozens of short films in the area.

Go see: Green’s Windmill, a restored and working nineteenth century windmill.

Bus from city: 43, red line

St Ann’s

Named after the patron saint of lacemakers, this area has a largely working-class population and a diverse ethnic mix, with prominent cultural hubs in both the Pakistani Community Centre and the Afro Caribbean National Artistic Centre (ACNA).

Population: 19k Postcode: NG3 Famous resident: Sociologist and author Lisa McKenzie lived here for many years.

Go see: St Ann's Allotments, the oldest and largest allotment site in Europe.

Bus from city: 41, blue line

West Bridgford

One of the posher parts of Nottingham, it’s sometimes called Bread and Lard Island because people thought its inhabitants spent so much money on big houses and fur coats that they had to skimp on meals. This ‘burb has no “streets” – the Victorian planners thought the term too urban, and went for roads and groves instead. Oo-er.

Population: 45k Postcode: NG2 Famous resident: England cricketer Stuart Broad and former Tory MP Kenneth Clarke.

Go see: Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.

Bus from city: 6 and 7, green line

Sherwood

No men in tights or wooded areas to be seen here. A charity shop mecca, this northern suburb is an affordable, artistic haven with plenty of independent cafes and shops. Look out for Sherwood Art Week in June each year.

Population: 16k Postcode: NG5 Famous resident: Both founders of LeftLion magazine live in this neck of the woods.

Go see: Sherwood high street has a great range of charity shops.

Bus from city: 89, navy line

Wollaton

A leafy, suburban area in the western parish that balances the 2km surroundings of Wollaton Hall and Deer Park – not a bad green space to have on your doorstep – with thriving pubs, shops and one of the best chippies in the Midlands, nay, the world. Also kind of posh.

Population: 25k Postcode: NG8 Famous resident: Olympic ice-skating sensations, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, have roads named after them.

Go see: Wollaton Hall doubled as Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Bus from city: 30, pink line

illustration: Becky Riley

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NOTTINGHAM LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR: AN INTRODUCTION words: Bridie Squires

illustration: Raphael Achache and Natalie Owen

Welcome to your beginner’s guide to the Nottingham language. Keep this handy translation kit with you on your travels around the city, and you’ll be sure to decipher the local vernacular in no time. Once you’ve covered the basics, why not test your fluency on the locals? ‘Appeh lonnin’.

THE HUMAN FACE Bonce Tabs

Tegs Gob

LOCAL FOOD AND DRINK Cob

Tuffies/duddos

Nobby greens

Musheh Peas

Sukka

Watter

Taters

Guzzgogs

USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES Hello – Ayup Goodbye – Tarrar/Tattar Yes – Aye No – Nehhh How are you? – Ahh yow gooin’ on then?

I would like… – Gizzsum

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Something – Summat Here you go – Ee-yar Please – I beg yer Thank you – Ta Hot – Ott Cold – Code

Anything – Owt (pron. Oat) Nothing – Nowt (pron. Note) I am feeling unwell – Am a bit badleh You’re making me grumpy – Yer mekkin’ meh mardeh You/Yourself – Yow/Yersen Me/Myself – Meh/Mesen

Whether you fancy yourself the next Charles Dickens or spend your lectures making extravagant doodles, the Young Creative Awards is definitely something you should get involved in. Now in its twelfth year, the awards are the annual celebration of the talented young people living, studying and working in our beautiful city.

Entries are open to 11 – 24 year-olds and there are eleven different categories – Animation & Digital Media, Architecture & Design, Creative Writing, Dance, Fashion & Textiles, Film, Graphic Design, Music, Photography, Theatre and Visual Art. There’s no theme – it’s just a great way to put yourself out there. It’s a dead good opportunity to show off your talents, develop your contacts, and perhaps even to launch your own creative career. You can conjure up something new to submit, or show off your existing work, including stuff you’ve done at uni. You’ve got nowt to lose, and you could bag yourself a cash prize, as well as open up a whole load of opportunities.

Previous YCA winners have gone on to creative heights including performing at Glastonbury, having a book published, taking part in international festivals, designing a dress for Beyoncé, even having a top ten record! Winners also get opportunities to take part in exhibitions and showcase events, and to take up work placements and mentoring opportunities with creative businesses in the city.

If you’re up for getting creative before the awards entries open, you can watch the Young Creatives at Home videos, available on the YCA website. Created by former winners, there’s a range of activities you can try your hand at, from flexing and embroidery to graphic design and yoga paired with writing.

The Young Creative Awards are open for entries on January 2021 – keep an eye on the YCA social media channels for more details. youngcreativeawards.org

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words: Ashley Carter

illustrations: Natalie Owen

NOTTS REBELS A dig back through the people, movements and events that helped shape Nottingham will show one attribute appearing time and time again: rebellion. Whether it’s fighting unjust laws, striving for a sense of justice or simply daring to express yourself in a society that isn’t accepting of who you are, we’re a city blessed with rebels from all walks of life…

Alan Sillitoe Channelling the experiences of a poverty-stricken childhood in 1930s Nottingham, Sillitoe became one of the ‘angry young men’ – a title he hated – that portrayed the honest feelings of disenfranchised workingclass men in the 1950s. The rebellious, anti-establishment nature of his novels Saturday Night and Sunday Morning to The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner captured an authentic rawness of time and place, and a palpable sense of frustrated disillusionment within his anti-heroic leading men George Africanus A victim of the transatlantic slave trade, Africanus was taken from a Sierra Leonean village in the early 1760s. He eventually settled in Nottingham as a free man at the age of 21 where, with his wife Esther, he started an employment agency in the city’s Lace Market. As Britain’s first black entrepreneur, his trail-blazing legacy is marked with a blue plaque on the railings of St. Mary’s churchyard.

Brian Clough His management career with Forest might be defined by silverware, but his reputation as being outspokenly honest and fearlessly controversial off the field is what makes Brian Clough a rebel. Wildly charismatic and always ready with an opinion, Clough consistently marched to the beat of his own drum, and suffered no fools in the process – just ask the lad who caught a mean right hook from him during a 1989 pitch invasion.

Margaret Humphreys CBE The Nottingham-born social worker dedicated her entire life to bringing attention to the British Government programme of Home Children, the widespread policy of forcibly relocating poor British children to Commonwealth countries. After uncovering the scandal in 1987, she worked tirelessly to bring justice to the surviving victims, which included a landmark apology from then Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2010.

D.H. Lawrence Through his radical exploration of themes like sexuality, vitality and spontaneity, Eastwood-born writer Lawrence garnered many enemies during his short life. Enduring endless persecution, censorship and the misrepresentation of his pioneering work, he spent the second half of his life in voluntary exile. Now, he’s considered one of Nottingham’s greatest artists.

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Usha Sood In a career that’s spanned three decades, lawyer Usha Sood – who studied at the University of Nottingham – made huge inroads fighting for human rights. Most notably, she saw the first successful use of the Wardship in Immigrations law, which, in 2009, eventually led the Government to pass legislation to make children’s welfare a priority in immigration cases Sleaford Mods In a time when the music industry is filled with fake-rage and insincere rebellion, Sleaford Mods have consistently shown that they’re not afraid to put a boot firmly in the establishment’s backside. Frontman Jason Williamson’s brash, brutal style perfectly accentuates his embittered explorations of austerity-era Britain and working class life and culture.

Eric Irons OBE As Britain’s first black magistrate, Eric George Irons OBE spent his life fighting racial inequality. Having been born in Jamaica, he was recruited to the RAF during World War II. After settling in Nottingham post-war, he pushed back against the rampant racial prejudices in 1950s Britain, setting up a community group, the Colonial Social and Sports Club, at his own home.

Lord Byron From keeping a pet bear during his time at Cambridge to fighting in the Greek War of Independence, Byron’s life was so rebellious it’s almost easy to forget that he was one of our greatest ever writers.

While it’s hard to pick a single definitive moment from his life, our personal favourite came on 3 May 1810, when he took it upon himself to swim the Hellespont Strait between Europe and Asia. Why? Because he could.

Robin Hood The legendary heroic outlaw is probably the most famous thing to ever come out of Nottingham, and the rebel of all rebels. Everyone knows the legend (as well as the string of terrible films): he robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, and properly irked Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the process. Robin Hood is less about historical facts, however, and more representative of an ideal that has survived for centuries after his purported existence.

BEST OF NOTTS: FESTIVALS DETONATE FESTIVAL

GOOSE FAIR

HOCKLEY HUSTLE

This one is loved by students at both universities, so no doubt you’ll have plenty of mates to accompany you.

On an island in the middle of Nottingham’s oldest country park, the guys at Detonate provide over 12,000 of you with some of the biggest DJ’s in the country.

For over 720 years, Nottinghamians have been gorging themselves on mint sauce and mushy peas, and seeing if they can keep them down after a session on the waltzers. With over 500 different attractions, there’s sure to be something that’ll tickle yer fancy. Fill yer purse and nab yersen a giant teddy.

Hockley gets taken over by musicians, street performers and food stalls in an all-out shindig for charity. Performers include some of the biggest artists from our local thriving music scene. This year’s online green version of the festival has already taken place, but you can still check it out online.

June, Colwick Country Park detonate1.co.uk

October, Forest Recreation

October, various venues hockleyhustle.co.uk

MAYHEM FILM FESTIVAL Every year, Nottingham’s independent fireball of a picturehouse, Broadway Cinema, is home to the flick festival to end ‘em all. Expect screenings of horror, sciencefiction, and cult cinema, premieres, previews and masterclasses.

October, Broadway Cinema mayhemfilmfestival.com

NOTTINGHAM CRAFT BEER WEEK

NOTTINGHAM POETRY FESTIVAL

NOTTINGHAM PRIDE

SPLENDOUR

If you like craft beer – congratulations – you’ve moved into one of the UK’s hotspots. Every year there’s a whole week where the best international breweries bring their beer to Nottingham pubs and bars. Then at the end of it, there’s a massive weekend-long festival on Sneinton Avenues.

Like poetry? Well, you’ll love this fortnight-long celebration of the spoken word where poets pop up in venues all over the city from our major theatres to smaller sets in local pubs.

Some of the bigger names who’ve been part of it in the past include Mark Grist, Henry Normal, Roger McGough and Benjamin Zephaniah.

Nottingham Pride is a magical day for all. The parade moves through the city centre and the streets are filled with trans singers, comedians, spoken word artists, emerging LGBTQ+ performers and drag queens and kings. 2020’s festival took place virtually so here’s hoping next year’s goes to plan!

This is the day us Notts folk kick the deer out of Wollaton Park and take over the grounds to host the biggest music event in the city. Headliners over the past few years have included Paloma Faith, Kaiser Chiefs, Busted, Dizzee Rascal, All Saints and the Notts legend that is Jake Bugg.

June, various venues nottinghamcraftbeer.co.uk

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Let’s face it, 2020 hasn’t exactly been a great year for festivals. Fingers crossed sometime in 2021 things will be a bit more normal, hey? Here are some of the best fests we hope will be back next year…

May, various venues

nottinghampoetryfestival.com

July, various venues nottinghamshirepride.co.uk

July, Wollaton Park splendourfestival.com

NOTTINGHAM'S BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE, CLUB, BAR & PATIO

RESCUEROOMS.COM

f l t @RESCUEROOMS

It’s been a challenging time for nightclubs recently, and things are likely to be different for a while because of social distancing measures, but that doesn’t mean things are off the table completely. So have fun, but be sensible out there...

BEST OF NOTTS: NIGHTCLUBS THE BODEGA

COCO TANG

NTSU

It’s been at the forefront of the Midlands’ live music scene for the past two decades, having hosted some of the biggest names in the industry before they hit the big-time. But it’s also regarded by locals and students alike as one of the best places for club nights.

This place would be completely hidden if it wasn’t for the chinese lantern that hangs proudly over the entrance on Bridlesmith Gate.

If you see a burly bouncer and a big queue of nicely-dressed students desperate to get a cocktail in their hand, you’ve found the right place.

The union bar is open every day for you to grab a pint after an extremely challenging lecture, but it does like to treat its students to one wild night every Saturday. And don’t worry UoN students, they’ll let you in too if you smile nicely enough.

23 Pelham Street, NG1 2ED bodeganottingham.com

45 Bridlesmith Gate, NG1 2GN

Shakespeare Street, NG1 4GH

trentstudents.org/ents

Full of neon signs, urban artwork and chinese lanterns, Pom Pom is your typical, everybody’s-happy kinda club.

There’s a pop room and an R&B room, and as it’s in The Cornerhouse, you’re seconds away from a row of takeaways for your after-club chips.

Burton Street, NG1 4BT pompomnottingham.com

PRYZM

RESCUE ROOMS

ROCK CITY

STEALTH

Could Notts even be classed as a city if we didn’t have a Pryzm? Since they already have ten clubs in the country, most of you probably know the drill with this one. Popular music, cheap drinks and the latest reality stars doing personal appearances.

If you’re looking for plenty of alternative tunes, with a helping of rock, a side of pop and a sprinkle of hip-hop, you’ve found the right place.

It’s also one of Nottingham’s most loved gig venues, so check out their gig guide if you like watching live acts.

Despite its name, it’s not just home to hoards of metal lovers. In fact, it’s a firm student favourite. When they don’t have world-famous bands gracing their stage, they’re holding some of the biggest parties in town. At the time of writing their club nights are sit down sessions, which is better than nothing.

The housey younger brother to Rock City and Rescue Rooms. It describes itself as the “musical mecca” for dance fans in the Midlands, and prides itself on showcasing the newest musical talent each week. They often bring resident DJs and mix it up with hip-hop and some nineties throwbacks.

8 Talbot Street, NG1 5GG rock-city.co.uk

Goldsmith Street, NG1 5JT stealthattack.co.uk

Lower Parliament Street, NG1 3BB

pryzm.co.uk/nottingham

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cocotang.co.uk

POM POM

Goldsmith Street, NG1 5LB rescuerooms.com

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BEST OF NOTTS: LIVE MUSIC JAMCAFE

JT SOAR

METRONOME

MOTORPOINT ARENA

Aside from serving some hard to find craft beers, this tiny Hockley venue also delivers a cracking live set or two from some of Hoodtown’s best-loved bands. They also host regular live Friday Sessions and a Wednesday open mic, should you feel all inspired to get up and give it a go yourself.

In a former life, JT Soar was a fruit and vegetable warehouse. But gone are the days of apples, pears and cauliflowers running the shop.

This tiny Sneinton Market venue is now one of the best DIY music and arts spaces the city has to offer.

This is the newest venue to hit the streets of Notts and it’s right next door to Confetti college. It’s home for all things that deserve a stage from music, moving image, video games, live performances to spoken word. Not only can you catch local talent, but you can also see national and international artists too.

The behemoth venue where all the truly massive acts go.

In the past Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, Foo Fighters, Prodigy and many many more have played here. It’s also home to regular Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey matches and Nottingham Beer Festival.

Heathcoat St, NG1 3AA jamcafe.info

Aberdeen St, NG3 2DG facebook.com/JTSoar

Huntingdon St NG1 1AP metronome.uk.com

Bolero Square, NG1 1LA

motorpointarenanottingham.com

PEGGY’S SKYLIGHT

RESCUE ROOMS

ROCK CITY

ROUGH TRADE

You like jazz? Pop on your snazziest frock and fedoras and get yourself to Peggy’s, which will give you all those La La Land vibes. With both up and coming and established musicians playing, there’s always something deliciously exciting and smooth to tap your toes to.

For intimate gigs that still give you a bit of elbow room, this venue comes to the rescue. Big names such as The Killers, Ellie Goulding and Chase & Status have all rocked the stage. Grab one of their signature cocktails and enjoy.

This legendary venue is revered around the country and the world for hosting iconic sets from huge bands and artists, such as David Bowie, Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, and countless others. When gigs are all back on track, you have to go to at least one Rock City gig in your time here.

There’s only five of these in the world, you know. Two in London, one in New York, one in Bristol and one in Nottingham. It’s a record shop with a great live music venue upstairs. They’ve had some pretty big names in too – usually you just have to buy the record to get a ticket for the gig.

Goldsmith St, NG1 5LB rescuerooms.com

Talbot St, NG1 5GG rockcity.co.uk

Broad St, NG1 3AJ roughtrade.com

George St, NG1 3BH peggysskylight.co.uk

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We’re not short of places to catch music in its purest form here in Notts. So once things are safe enough for live music to start up again at indoor venues, here are some of the places you can find it...

BEST OF NOTTS: ART GALLERIES BACKLIT

BONINGTON GALLERY

CITY ARTS

A two-storey independent art gallery located in Sneinton and set up by NTU graduates.

It provides affordable studio spaces, supports early career graduates and emerging artists, and puts on some banging – and often confrontational – exhibitions.

An exhibition space and curatorial entity situated within the art and design department at NTU. They curate a monthly programme of exhibits that are always interesting and thought-provoking. If you’re studying on the city campus, it’s on your doorstep.

From sauerkraut-making workshops to gigs and digital art, City Arts is a four-decadeold collective centred on inclusivity and accessibility, with a base in Hockley. Over the years they have done everything from bringing art into care homes and to challenging preconceptions around mental health.

Ashley St, NG3 1JG backlit.org.uk

Dryden St, NG1 4GG boningtongallery.co.uk

Hockley, NG1 1FH city-arts.org.uk

LAKESIDE ARTS Located on the main University of Nottingham campus, Lakeside Arts has two visual arts venues. The Djanogly Gallery presents a year-round programme of largely twentieth-century and contemporary art exhibitions by a range of artists.

University Park, NG7 2RD lakesidearts.org.uk

NEW ART EXCHANGE

NOTTINGHAM CONTEMPORARY

PRIMARY

SURFACE GALLERY

A showcase of contemporary art, but with a focus on cultural diversity. The New Art Exchange believes that art can stimulate political debate, but that the voices of non-white artists need to be better represented. Pop down to their galleries to see work from both British and international artists.

One of Britain’s leading, and largest, centres for contemporary art, with four major exhibitions per year and hundreds of other events aside. It’s totally free to get into the exhibitions, and they have a great cafe bar downstairs where you can talk about what you’ve seen with your mates after.

An artist-led and not-forprofit studio located in an old primary school just off Ilkeston Road. They hire out spaces, have regular exhibitions as well as many artist workshops dedicated to different themes.

Make sure you pop into Small Food Bakery for delish grub.

Led by volunteers and showcasing the city’s raw talent. One of their most popular endeavours is the annual International Postcard Exhibition, where anybody can submit anything as long as it fits on a 6x4 postcard. They’re always after volunteers too, if you want to get involved.

Seely Road, NG7 3FZ weareprimary.org

Southwell Road, NG1 1DL surfacegallery.org

Gregory Boulevard, NG7 6BE

nae.org.uk

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If art is your thing then this city has plenty of studios and exhibition spaces that you should visit in your time here...

Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB nottinghamcontemporary.org

“The most inspiring gallery in the UK” – Guardian

Explore International Art Exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary

Free entry We’re in City Centre by the Lace Market Tram Stop nottinghamcontemporary.org

Image credit: Sam Kirby, Marc Atkins

BEST OF NOTTS: CINEMAS

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When it’s time to give Netflix or Amazon Prime a break, go and check out a film on the big screen at one of these local cinemas...

BROADWAY

CINEWORLD

SAVOY

SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX

An independent local cinema, situated in the heart of bustling Hockley, showing the best selection of independent and foreign films this side of Cannes. They do £5 tickets for under-25s for all shows. Check out the Paul Smith seats and the top-notch bar.

You know the drill with this one. The nation's favourite multiplex is situated in The Cornerhouse, so you can catch the latest blockbuster with an Ice Blast, and then make your way up to Fun Station for a round on the arcade games.

If you’re on a date, this ArtDeco treat is an absolute must. Not only can you bask in the glory of your romance in one of their snug loveseats, but you’ll be treated to proper popcorn in a bucket, so you can awkwardly brush hands as you both reach in. It’s also only £5 with an NUS card.

This classic cinema brings back fond memories of birthday parties as a kid, and Saturday morning movie sessions complete with film specific snack trays. Plus, as a “de Lux” cinema, it’s got fancy reclining seats.

Broad St, NG1 3AL broadway.org.uk

Burton St, NG1 4DB cineworld.co.uk

Derby Road, NG7 1QN savoyonline.co.uk

Redfield Way, NG7 2UW showcasecinemas.co.uk

BEST OF NOTTS: ACTIVITIES

After you’ve fully settled into the city, you might want to find a few new ways to amuse yourself.

Here’s some things that are a bit different…

CIRCUS HUB

GO APE

ICE SKATING

LOST CITY GOLF

Ever wanted to twirl and dangle from the ceiling like a magical circus performer? Here in Notts we have our very own circus hub, where you can learn how to hang from a ceiling in style and get fit doing it. This place offers aerial acrobatics and circus skills, both of which are amazing ways to burn off some calories.

Get some proper fresh air in your lungs and fly around in the air like a crazy mother.

Attached to a zip wire, you make your way through obstacles in the heights of massive Sherwood Pines’ trees, and end up feeling like Tarzan.

If that don’t toot your horn, you can rent a segway or a bike there too.

Whether you fancy some proper ice-skating lessons, or just want to try out one of the public sessions, the sickest ice rink in the country is at your service. If you want to relive those Friday nights in year eight dressed in neon with your cronies, now is the time.

Go deep below The Cornerhouse and you will find an adventure golf experience that’s a bit like summat out of an Indiana Jones film. Get a few rounds in as practice before you take your mates there and set up a bet – winner buys dinner.

Nelson St, NG1 1DR circushubnotts.com

Sherwood Pines, NG21 9JH goape.co.uk/sherwood

Bolero Square, NG1 1LA national-ice-centre.com

The Cornerhouse, NG1 4DB lostcityadventuregolf.com

NOTTINGHAM BOWL

PLANET BOUNCE

STONEBRIDGE CITY FARM

All that time spent on Wii Sports during your youth will finally come in handy. As students, you can bag a single bowl for a fiver or splash a tenner on three rounds of bowling, and don’t forget to take full advantage of the arcade machines and hot dogs when you’re done.

They’ve bagged themselves an old warehouse, bundled in a truck-full of inflatables, and created themselves a wonderful world that’s like something out of your childhood dreams. You can quite literally bounce off the walls, or have a race down the obstacle course.

Sometimes when it all gets too much, you just want to cuddle a rabbit and gaze at some cute little animals.

Luckily this farm is located just off the city centre, so you can yank on yer wellies and play at bein’ Old MacDonald.

It’s free and all, but they do accept donations.

Belward St, NG1 1JZ nottinghambowl.co.uk

planetbounceinflatablepark.com

Huntingdon St, NG1 3NL

Stonebridge Road, NG3 2FR

stonebridgecityfarm.com

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BEST OF NOTTS: THEATRE AND COMEDY THE GLEE CLUB You can see some proper off-kilter stuff at the canalside venue that specialises in both music and comedy.

There are regular burlesque and cabaret nights from The Gilded Merkin and they host comedians every Saturday night, as well as live music.

JUST THE TONIC Born in Nottingham almost twenty years ago, they now promote comedy across the country. JTT’s Saturday comedy gigs are a great place to discover some up and coming stars. Over the years everyone from Ricky Gervais to Stewart Lee has played for them.

Canal St, NG1 7EH glee.co.uk

Huntingdon St, NG1 1AP justthetonic.com

LACE MARKET THEATRE

NONSUCH STUDIOS

This small, independent theatre is the place to check out all of the up-and-coming acting talent before they make it big. From amateur productions and stand-up comedy, to musicals and pantomime, The Lace Market Theatre were even subject to their own BBC documentary, Panto! a few years back.

Notts’ newest creative venue and studio theatre opened last year with a remit to “empower cultural freedom through unlocking creativity and celebrating life.” As well as theatre, comedy and film events, they offer a great rehearsal space and a selection of acting and writing courses for all ages.

Halifax Place, NG1 1QN lacemarkettheatre.co.uk

Lower Parliament St, NG1 1EH

NEW THEATRE

NOTTINGHAM PLAYHOUSE

THEATRE ROYAL

Based on the University of Nottingham’s main campus, this is the only entirely student run theatre in the country, staging an in-house production every week of term and a further ten throughout the year. If acting is your thing, you should definitely get involved.

Crowned Regional Theatre of the Year by The Stage Awards 2019, the Playhouse is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres. It’s dedicated to bringing daring performances and timeless classics to the heart of Nottingham. Check out its courses, work placements and development programme, Amplify.

This lovely place is split into two sections; the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall. One side is the place to be for upcoming shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

The other usually hosts touring acts, with big name comedians and musicians making regular appearances.

Wellington Circus, NG1 5AF

Theatre Square, NG1 5ND trch.co.uk

Cherry Tree Hill, NG7 2RD newtheatre.org.uk

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Our city has plenty of fine stage offerings, and while some may not be open at the moment, it’s still worth knowing about them and checking out what they’re doing online...

nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

wearenonsuch.com

BEST OF NOTTS: FOOD 31K

ANNIE’S BURGER SHACK

ALTO

BARESCA

A hidden gem in Hockley, 31K specialises in cocktails and meatballs – a winning combination. With buildyour-own meatballs, and a 144 hour long happy hour from Sunday to Friday, you’ll never have to overpay for your tropical cocktails again.

Home to the biggest burgers in Hoodtown, it won’t be long until you fall for the charm of the whoppers.

There’s over thirty burgers on the menu, each of which can be made meaty, veggie or vegan, so it’s the perfect spot for a flat meal out. They also offer a cracking American style breakfast menu.

For a boujee evening out, Alto has everything you need for a classy yet affordable time. Tuck into one of their handmade pizzas, delectable small plates or snazzy salads.

They do a range of classic and remixed cocktails – their electric blue iced tea is a must-try.

Bringing Barcelona to Byard Lane, Baresca is all about those tapas, nibbly bits that will give you sunny holidays in Spain vibes. Baby chorizo, mackerel escabeche and patatas bravas all feature, but if you’re veggie or vegan there’s plenty for you too. Get yourself a big glass of one of their Spanish wines.

Goose Gate, NG1 1FE bar31k.com

Broadway, NG1 1PR anniesburgershack.com

Forman St, NG1 4DB altonottingham.co.uk

Byard Lane, NG1 2GJ barescatapas.co.uk

BUNK

CLEAN CUT KITCHEN

DAS KINO

DOUGHNOTTS

Ten wings and curly fries for £6.50. We repeat: ten wings and curly fries for £6.50.

Get to Bunk any time before 10pm, and you can enjoy half price wings tossed in your favourite Bunk seasoning and all the house cocktails for £4.50 each. Don’t worry veggies, they do exactly the same with Quorn nuggets for you too.

From fit fish and chips to super bowl salads, Clean Cut Kitchen is Nottingham's one stop shop for all things healthy and delicious. Its modern and quirky vibe makes for a snazzy environment when tucking into your granola. If you're after summat refreshing, they also sell clean juices and scrumptious smoothies.

Das Kino is a super cool bar where you can tuck into some pizzas while trying your hand at ping pong. Their pizza names are filled with pop culture references, such as the Good Morning Vietnam, which is topped with a full English. Yep, you read that right. Other shiners include the tomato tikka-based Slumdog Millionaire, and garlicky delight Mutha Clucka.

Doughnuts like you’ve never seen doughnuts before.

Some of our faves include the Homer, red velvet, vegan cinnamon sugar, and the one where they make it into a proper millionaire's dream, with shortbread and all of that caramel. You really have to see ‘em to believe ‘em.

Derby Road, NG1 5AA cleancutkitchen.co.uk

Fletcher Gate, NG1 2FZ das-kino.co.uk

Stoney St, NG1 1LP bunkwings.com

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In Nottingham we refer to our food as ‘snap’ or ‘nosh.’ Don’t ask why, we don’t know either. Anyway, here’s a list of some of our favourite places to grab a bite to eat in town…

14 King St, NG1 2AS twitter.com/Doughnotts

BEST OF NOTTS: FOOD GEORGE’S

KUSHI-YA

OSCAR AND ROSIE’S

PIEMINISTER

Here in Nottingham, we’re about as inland as you can get. But you wouldn’t know it if you eat here. Forget your typical cod and taters from the local chippy, George’s is on another level altogether.

Sneak in some of the cocktails from their menu and pretty soon you might actually believe you’re by the seaside.

From skewers and snacks to rice and miso soup, each dish served here is presented as if designed purely for the ‘gram, but there’s a relaxed vibe here too. There’s nothing too spicy or in yer face, but they’re not afraid to be brave either. This is the place to go if tapas-style Japanese food is yer thing.

Olly, an ex-local-solicitorturned-entrepreneur founded Oscar and Rosie’s in 2013, after growing tired of lackluster pizza with “plastic-like toppings”. It started off as a pop-up in a sandwich shop, but the people of Notts love it so much they keep growing into bigger venues.

You can’t beat a good pie and since this place specialises in the boggers, they’re the best you’ll find around. Don’t be fooled that this place is just for meat lovers, as they have some pretty cracking vegetarian and gluten free options too. The best bit is that you can get a pie and two sides for just a tenner. Bargain.

Queen St, NG1 2BL

Cannon Court, NG1 6JE kushi-ya.co.uk

Stoney St, NG1 1LP oscarandrosies.com

Long Row, NG1 6JB pieminister.co.uk

georgesgreatbritishkitchen.co.uk

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THE PUDDING PANTRY

STREET FOOD CLUB

TOUGH MARY’S BAKEHOUSE

WARSAW DINER

Your quest for the best pancakes and milkshakes ends here. With dishes such as their blackberry pavlova, which includes shards of charcoal meringue, they’re guaranteed to change your pudding game forever. They also do a crackin’ brunch and are open late for pancakes and prosecco at the weekend.

Shopping centres don’t tend to house a street food section but the top floor of Victoria Centre in Notts is a little different. They host a variety of different local foodie vendors such as Secret Burger Club, as well as regularly hosting outdoor events at Sneinton Market.

This place specialises in sourdough bread that’s smashin’ for lunchtime sarnies.

Not only is the stuff much healthier for you than Tesco’s own batch of white, but it tastes a whole lot better too. If yer looking to switch up your snack game, they also offer a whole host of savouries, pastries and other sweet treats.

Themed in the style of a classic American diner, but with an unusual nod to Poland. Their pancakes will make you go “Yee-haw!”, and so will their homemade hash browns. In the evening, the menu transforms to traditional Polish fare. They’ve been goin’ for twenty-odd years, and are definitely a local institution.

Trinity Square, NG1 4AF thepuddingpantry.co.uk

Victoria Centre, NG1 3QN streetfoodclub.co.uk

Derby Road, NG1 5FD toughmarysbakehouse.co.uk

Derby Road, NG1 5BB warsawdiner.com

BEST OF NOTTS: CAFES 200 DEGREES These guys are all about making sure you get a perfect coffee and are proud of it. After getting a good foot in the coffee-house door of Nottingham just off the square, they opened a second cafe, near the train station, which is conveniently located for commuters.

Flying Horse Walk, NG1 2HN Carrington St, NG1 7FE

200degs.com

BLEND

BSWEET

This ain’t the fanciest cafe on the list, but this place thrives with the fact it doesn’t need bells and whistles. Cobs, coffee, bang-up breakfasts and more all at a student-friendly price. Their fry-up is stuff from the grease gods, and they even do a banging vegan version too.

Located in the heart of the new Sneinton Market/Creative Quarter development, this is a great place to visit, just to check out the amazing creative stuff going on down here.

The LeftLion offices are this way too, so if you pass by our window, give us a wave.

While they also offer pancakes and delicious cheesecakes, BSweet specialise in their ice creams and sundaes, with over twenty delicious flavours to choose from. Their ice cream also happens to be dairy and sucrose-free, so is suitable for all you vegans and diabetics.

Gedling St, NG1 1DS

Sneinton Market, NG1 1DW blendnottingham.co.uk

5 Wheeler Gate, NG1 2NA bsweetdesserts.co.uk

THE AVENUES CAFE

facebook.com/The-Avenues-Cafe

EFFY

KIGALI

CAFE SOBAR

WHITE RABBIT TEAHOUSE

For some of us, the most important part of a cafe is if it’s gonna look nice on the Insta page, and the pink-themed Effy is as good as cafes get for stylish snaps of your coffee and cake. With 50p off all drinks from Wednesday to Friday, you know you’re gonna be in there for your cheap coffee fix.

If you’re a die-hard coffee lover, then this place’s in-house roasted coffee will get you bouncin’ off the walls. All their nosh is made fresh on the day, and they make sure it’s proper healthy too. If you’re craving summat a bit naughtier, they source their sweet treats from Tough Mary’s Bakehouse.

Prove you’re not a lager lout out on the razz every night by checking out Nottingham’s alcohol-free cafe/bar. They do a wicked ice-cream shake, the food’s spot on, and it’s light and bright too. They also have bangin’ menus for brekkie, brunch, and lunch, with bagels, baked taters and burgers aplenty.

Somewhere to take yer mam, or if you want to go somewhere a bit classy. All the cutlery and plates are hand-selected, beautiful pieces that’ll make you feel like you’re in wonderland.

Try one of their decadent homemade cakes, washed down with tea in a china cup.

Could it get any more dainty?

Hounds Gate, NG1 7AA

Stoney St, NG1 1LG outpost.coffee

facebook.com/effynottingham

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There are two kinds of people in this world: those who drink coffee and those who don’t. And hey, we don’t discriminate, but a mocha from Costa doesn’t qualify you as a coffee person…

Friar Lane, NG1 6DQ

facebook.com/SobarNottingham

Bridlesmith Walk, NG1 2HB whiterabbitteahouse.com

BEST OF NOTTS: DRINKS THE ANGEL MICROBREWERY With lots of vegan friendly options, The Angel Microbrewery’s bar is jam packed with a range of beers, ales and ciders. They even have The Chapel, a space upstairs that plays host to gigs, poetry nights and more.

Not to mention they do a cracking roast, plus the gaff is pooch friendly.

Stoney St, NG1 1LG angelmicrobrewery.com

BOILERMAKER You’ll hear about this one dead quickly, because it’s home to the most secretive bar entrance in Notts.

Although it looks like there’s an epidemic of faulty boilers in your new city, the queue outside is a pointer to the downstairs delights within.

Carlton St, NG1 1NN boilermakerbar.co.uk

THE CASTLE Designed by local legend Watson Fothergill – a dude that made the hellaimpressive buildings you can spot around town – The Castle Pub is a great place to relax and soak up one of the most impressive views in town, Nottingham Castle itself. Their pizza is also to die for.

Castle Road, NG1 6AA thecastlenottingham.co.uk

COCK AND HOOP

THE DRAGON

A ROOM WITH A BREW

You ain’t gotta jump through hoops to find this place – it’s just round Lace Market way.

Local beers are this historical pub’s finest offerings, which they switch up regularly. Pair a pint with a fish finger sarnie and an apple crumble for pud, and you’re sorted for a satisfied stomach.

Squished between a greasy takeaway spot and West End Arcade – a haven for the weird and wonderful – sits The Dragon, a favourite of Nottingham locals and home to a weekly Scalextric car racing nights. Yeah, you heard us right.

If you know your Brontës from your Brownings, this micropub’s for you. We’re talking beers, books and some proper clever puns.

Why not try One Brew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest? Or there’s Hoppy Potter and the Goblet of Ale...

Long Row, NG1 6JE the-dragon.co.uk

Derby Road, NG1 5FD scribblers-ales.com

High Pavement, NG1 1HE facebook.com/cockandhoop

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From cocktails to craft beer, our city’s bars and pubs know how to make and serve up a proper tasty beverage. Pay a visit to one of the fine venues on this list, but make sure to drink responsibly kids...

CASTLE ROCK BREWERY They own loads of pubs in the city, including the Canalhouse.

They do a fab range of core ales,and also have their ultra special ‘Nottinghamian’ beers named after famous local folk.

You can even go on a tour around their factory for £12, where you can see how they make their products so beerliant. various venues castlerockbrewery.com

HOCKLEY ARTS CLUB Spread across three floors, Hockley Arts Club is a favourite with students and the locals. This is definitely thanks to its aesthetic, which is basically a mix of fluorescently-lit hipster sayings like “tomorrow is here”, and old-fashioned leather armchairs.

Carlton St, NG1 1NN thehockleyartsclub.com

BEST OF NOTTS: DRINKS ICON BAR AND LOUNGE

JUNKYARD

MALT CROSS

Adorned with murals of Marilyn Monroe, David Bowie and other icons (see what they did there?), this place is easy on the eye. You’ll more than likely become familiar with their ‘4 Shooters for £10’ deal in no time…

Hidden in a street just off the tram tracks, Junkyard will become your go-to haunt if you’re a fan of craft beer. Their laid-back taproom and shop is perfectly chilled, and nabbing a seat in their backyard is a must in sunnier weather.

Possibly the most beautiful venue in Nottingham’s history.

This old Victorian music hall has now been decked with fairy lights to become a cosy, charity-run bar which does top-notch grub too. Make sure not to miss their famous Beer and Carol nights at Chrimbo, too.

St James’s St, NG1 6FH facebook.com/iconbarnotts

Bridlesmith Walk, NG1 2FZ junkbars.com

St James’s St, NG1 6FG maltcross.com

OZ BAR One of Nottingham’s best sports bars, serves three VK’s for a fiver and offers 50% off food and drink every Friday.

What’s not to like? They also offer a ‘make your own pitcher’ deal for £9.95, which can only end well… right?

St James’s St, NG1 6FH acebook.com/ozsportsbar

PENNY LANE

PEPPER ROCKS

SIX BARREL DRAFTHOUSE

SOUTHBANK BAR

This snazzy bar doubles as a classic arcade complete with air hockey, claw machines and penny pushers. The fairground-themed cocktails are a real treat, including the sweet ‘Jammy Dodgem’ and ‘Hook-A-Duck’ sharer. Don’t forget to bring some change!

This one’s a favourite with anyone looking for a quiet drink, which means it can get a bit packed on a weekend, even on the terrace. If you get there before 10pm, you’ll get yer mitts on cocktails for £4.50. On Fridays and Saturdays they also hand out free bags of fresh popcorn.

Six Barrel is a craft beer haven that boasts over sixty different craft beers. As you’d expect from a watering hole up in Hockley, its marketing is dead cool; the blackboard outside always has a different alcohol-related joke on it, often complete with emojis.

Southbank shows every major sporting event, and also has some fantastic live music.

It’s perfect for spending an afternoon with your mates in, or can even be a stop on a bar crawl if you’re going wild.

Carlton St, NG1 1NN sixbarreldrafthouse.co.uk

Friar Lane, NG1 6DQ southbankcity.co.uk

Fletcher Gate, NG1 1QQ pennylanebars.com

Pepper St, NG1 2GH pepperrocks.co.uk

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BEST OF NOTTS: SHOPPING BRADERIE

You’ll find some quirky and interesting shops across Nottingham, thanks to our thriving independents scene. Have a peruse of the places below and get yourself some bits and bobs you wouldn’t be able to buy back home…

BEHIND THE RED DOOR

CARSI COLLECTION

THE CHEESE SHOP

With vintage items sourced from all over the world, Braderie boasts one of the most eclectic clothing selections in Notts. They refresh their stock twice a week, including their own reworked items, meaning that you never have to wait long before popping in again.

Home to some of Nottingham’s most contemporary gifts and cards, this is the place to go if you’re looking for some gifting inspo. Sourced from a diverse range of companies, they also have a cheeky 10% discount for students. Perfect for getting a present that’s just a wee bit extra special.

Having started life as a small swimwear brand, Carsi set up its first proper shop right here in Notts. If you’re feeling a bit fancy, or looking to get hold of something extraspecial, their focus is on high quality and detailed men and women’s clothing. Proper deluxe that.

One thing you’ll learn when you start doing the food shop yourself is that cheese can be a wee bit pricey. But good cheese is worth a bit extra, and there’s no better place to bag your brie than here.

With over 100 suppliers, it’s a cheese lover’s paradise.

Pelham St, NG1 2ED braderie.co.uk

Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB behindthereddoor.co.uk

Bridlesmith Gate, NG1 2GR carsi-collection.com

IDEAS ON PAPER

ICE NINE

NOTTINGHAM CITY GUITARS

PMT

This place is an absolute haven for those of you that get excited about magazines, journals, books and the smell of paper generally. It’s tucked away in the haven that is Cobden Chambers.

They also sell a wide range of stationery and put on regular talks with NTU under the banner of Raw Print.

This gaff will meet all of your hippie-style desires, with its cool clothes, vintage jewellery and treasure trove knick knacks.

There’s also a record store and an adult-section in the basement. Oo-err. It would be difficult not to find something that suits you in this one.

Being the only shop on Woolpack Lane in Hockley, this one is hard not to miss.

You’ll discover that they sell loads of hard to find gear and quality used and vintage electric guitars.

These guys know what they’re talking ‘bout when it comes to guitars and they’ll be sure to help you with every need.

Professional Music Technology is the UK’s largest instrument superstore, so if you’re looking for anything musical or just want to take a browse amongst their crazy selection of guitars, this place will sort yer out good ‘n proper.

Cobden Chambers, NG1 2ED ideasonpapernottingham.co.uk

Goose Gate, NG1 1FE icenine.co.uk

Woolpack Lane, NG1 1GA

SNEINTON AVENUES Immerse yourself in the weird and wonderful world of Sneinton Avenues, where you can bag anything from a new terrarium and some vegan chocolate to a retro football shirt and handdecorated birthday card.

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Flying Horse Walk, NG1 2HN cheeseshop-nottingham.co.uk

Sneinton Market, NG1 1DW

nottinghamcityguitars.com

Huntingdon St, NG1 1AR

pmtonline.co.uk/ stores/nottingham

WHITE ROSE These shops are all about that recycled fashion – aka previously high street clothes that are ready for a new lease of life. You can even bag designer stuff if you keep your peepers open. various shops whiteroseshop.co.uk

BEST OF NOTTS: PARKS ATTENBOROUGH NATURE RESERVE

A slice of country life, just on the outskirts of Beeston. The on-site centre is a great place to learn about the local birds, or you could simply take the hound in your life for a walk. If you’re feeling especially green, visit one of the four tuckedaway hides and spot some of the wetland wildlife going about its business.

Barton Lane, Beeston, NG9 6DY attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk

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You’re studying in a busy city, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t places to escape the bricks and mortar.

Here’s where to get a bit of peace and quiet, sun yourself, and enjoy mother nature...

ARBORETUM

BEESTON LOCK

HIGHFIELDS PARK

A hippy’s paradise. All it takes is one ray of sunshine to pop out from behind the clouds and the bongo drums are rolling away, the students are out in the masses, and some much stinkier clouds emerge. If you’re looking for the ultimate getaway from the hustle and bustle but can’t be bothered to venture too far outside of the city, this is the spot.

Fancy a walk by the river and some boat spotting? The opposite side of the weir sees a nice little pub where you can get a cuppa for about a quid. With its boats and pints, let’s face it, it’s a bit more picturesque than the Clifton side. But there aren’t loads of pebbles to play skimmers with so… potato, potarto.

You’re not a proper UoN student until you’ve been for a gander round Highfields Park.

You don’t have the prettiest campus in the Midlands for nothing. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to snap a selfie with the infamous Beasts of UoN. If you venture down towards the West entrance, you’ll even find a hidden waterfall complete with stepping stones.

Waverley St, NG7 4HF

Riverside Rd, Beeston, NG9 1NR

University Boulevard, NG7 2RD

LENTON REC GROUND

NEWSTEAD ABBEY

VICTORIA EMBANKMENT

WOLLATON PARK

Although you UoN lot have got a lake and a park on your campus, you’ll find most of your second and third year pals down here when the sun comes out. It’s on Derby Road, not too far from where most students live in later years, and it’s the perfect place to get a BBQ out if your landlord still hasn’t brought that outside furniture he promised you...

Lord Byron’s old haunt is about twelve miles out of the city centre, but it’s worth the trip to see the lavish gardens and spaces around it. The park is free to enter and wander around, but if you want to enter the abbey itself and gorp at the bullet holes in the wall in Byron’s old shooting room (seriously) it will cost you a few quid. Keep an eye out for the resident peacock too.

Completed in 1870, and just as popular today. You can have a good, long look at the River Trent while swanning around in the gardens, pretending you’re in an awful indie rom-com. With plenty of water-based activities going down, it’s hard to get bored around here. There are also a couple of sports pitches nearby.

Known as Batman’s gaff because The Dark Knight Rises used the big hall as Wayne Manor, this is one of the best places to get your chill on. It’s a short bus ride from the city centre, so you can easily wile away the day deer spotting, or have a nosey around the stuffed-animalpacked hall. There are a couple of pubs too.

Derby Road, NG7 2DP

Ravenshead, NG15 8NA newsteadabbey.org.uk

Victoria Embankment, NG2 2JY

Wollaton, NG8 2AE wollatonhall.org.uk