When it comes to a great night out, Nottingham is right up there with the best of them. The large variety of traditional pubs, cool bars and bizarre hideaways leaves something for every party type.
Night owls from near and far flock here to enjoy the city’s vibrant nightlife.
Here at Nottinghamshire Live we’ve put together a light-hearted list of things you only know if you’ve been drinking in Nottingham, from the dangers of the pubs of the same name to dancing on tables until 3am and where to go the best Late night kebab.
1. The risk of going to the wrong pub or bar
Inside Six Barrels – but which one?
(Image: Anna Whittaker)
Some of the pubs and bars have the same name. If you’re at the Six Barrel Drafthouse in Hockley and wondering where your friends are, they are likely waiting for you at the Six Barrel Drafthouse, half a mile away on Mansfield Road.
Now there are two Roxy Ball Rooms to add to the confusion.
Then there is The Magic Garden and the Secret Garden – both outdoor bars in the city center – so make sure you have the right thing. One serves Finding Nemo cocktails in a mini fishbowl – the other doesn’t.
2. Sit on the lions, pose next to the Robin Hood statue or take a selfie with Brian Clough
Many evenings in Nottingham include a photo of the Robin Hood statue, the lion or Cloughie’s statue
(Image: Jessica Rose Grace Instagram)
Make your choice. If you stumble upon a few sorbets from the Slug & Lettuce or ‘Spoons, it seems like a good idea to climb the lions on the Alter Markt (preferably the left one because we know it’s always the favorite).
When this is physically impossible, the next best photo opportunities are at the statues of Robin Hood and Brian Clough.
3. Have a paddle
Drunk man in the fountain in the old market
(Image: Nottingham Post)
If you go far back, you may remember the larks when the older fountains bubbled over after cheerful men and women poured fairy liquid into the water.
The new style fountains put an end to this drunken debauchery, but it hasn’t stopped some night owls from paddling a lap. It’s best not to undress too much or you could end up at the Bridewell for one night.
4. Caves
Lost Caves at the Mercure Hotel
(Image: Angela Ward)
Some of Nottingham’s cave-built pubs, such as the Hand & Heart on Derby Road and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, at the foot of Nottingham Castle, have quite a unique setting for drinking.
Then there is the very cool Lost Caves, a hidden bar 8 meters below the oldest hotel in town, the Mercure, in Hockley.
Other pubs like Angel, Salutation and Malt Cross also have caves below.
5. We may be wild, but …
A night owl in Newcastle
(Image: PA)
We dance, we sing, and we stumble down Long Row, but we have more respect for our trees than the girls up north.
6.Late night nibbles
Beer bellies have to be filled – so off to the Trent Kebabs when an onslaught of nightly nibbles strikes.
You’re in there so often, the guys behind the counter know your order before you mumble it out, and there’s always a bit of banter at the takeaway on Shakespeare Street.
7. Deer and chickens
A hen party at Bistro Live
As one of the most popular cities for stag and hen parties, no weekend goes by without big rowdy guys and gangs of women with L-plates, sashes and inflatable you-know-what roaming the streets looking for the next bar.
8. You can win a cuddly duck
Cuddly ducks for prizes in the crane grab machine
(Image: Nottingham Post)
You don’t have to go to Skeggy to have the fun of a seaside arcade.
Nottingham is home to Penny Lane, a cocktail bar with a two-pusher, air hockey, pinball machine, a donkey derby and crane claws with cuddly ducks for prizes.
There’s even a Mr Whippy-style ice machine behind the bar and cocktails served in little pink flamingo inflatables.
9. Canal bars
The Canalhouse Pub in Nottingham city center
Many cities have pubs on the canal – Nottingham is nothing out of the ordinary there.
But we have a pub, aptly called the Canalhouse, which a canal extends into, complete with narrowboats inside.
Hit this manchester.
10. Cocktail? Ice lolly? You can have both
Twister cocktail at The Hockley Arts Club
There are many cocktail bars that serve mojitos and cosmopolitan, but there is only one with a twister.
The Hockley Arts Club on Carlton Street is known for its quirky cocktails and the Twister, a combination of vodka, strawberry and fruit wine, is “garnished” with popsicles.
11. Or cockles
Dave Bartram, the cockle man who makes the rounds of Nottingham pubs
No night in Nottingham was complete without a pot of prawns or cockles by Dave Bartram, aka the cockle man.
Dave and a seafood basket have been doing the rounds for almost 60 years, stopping at pubs like Stage, Bell, Castle and Langtry’s.
12. Amen
Pitcher and piano
Once a Unitarian church from 1876, today only cocktails, bottomless brunch, shared plates and Sunday roasts are worshiped in the Pitcher & Piano in High Pavement.
The impressive stained glass window of the listed property makes it one of the most impressive drinking places in the city.
13. We love costumes
Any excuse to dress up
Dress up as a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day, wear devil horns for Halloween or a Santa Claus outfit for Christmas.
But we don’t need a special reason to wear a crazy outfit unless it’s fun. Don’t worry, there will never be any evidence … unless our photographer catches you on camera.
14. Dancing on the tables until 3am
Some bars may put you off, but the Mojo on Thurland Street is different.
The bar with the motto “Leave Disdeveled or Leave Now” actively encourages you to take a few puffs on the tables (or at least before Covid).
15. Wednesday evening
Students on Route One
(Image: Route One)
Loud lifeguards, dogs, angels, nurses, pirates, whatever, the streets of the city are full of Trent Army, aka Nottingham Trent University students, in costume on Wednesday night.
Discover them on Route One, the beer cellar and Icon on the way to the Ocean nightclub.
They’re loud, they’re rowdy, they’re great fun and make you wish you were 18 again.
16. To the rescue
Help from the street pastors is there
When everything gets too much and the night gets emotional or restless, the caring street pastors are there to protect you, talk down fights and help drunk night owls.
If you’ve lost your friends, need water, or are injured, volunteers patrol the streets in the early hours of the morning.
If your heels are too painful to go in, they’ll even give you a pair of flip flops.
17. Where am I again?
One of the new fleets in the market square
(Image: Trentbarton)
It’s 4 a.m. You made it to Friar Lane. You managed to take the right bus, the 24-hour Skylink. But you fell asleep, missed your stop, and woke up an hour later at the terminus at East Midlands Airport.
Worse, you stepped on the indigo and ended up in the derby.