This is the Igloo Backpackers Hostel blog. We post about things to do in Nottingham, music, videos… and probably some cat photos.
We are delighted that Igloo Hybrid has been awarded a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2018. A big thank you to all our lovely guests over the years! You can also leave a review of your stay with us on Tripadvisor, Facebook, Google, or through Booking.com and Hostelworld.
There is a new interactive art trail based around Nottingham this summer! Hoodwinked 2018 is a unique world-class sculpture trail displaying loads of quirky Robin Hood (robins!) sculptures all over the city until September 2018.
Image from: http://www.hoodwinked2018.co.uk
We've taken a look at some of the Robins ourselves and they are really beautiful. The trail is well worth taking, especially on a nice sunny afternoon! Hoodwinked 2018 will be running until September when the art pieces will be auctioned off to raise funds for Nottinghamshire Hospice. So make the most of them whilst you can!
Our favourite so far is the Royal Robin Redbreast by Julie Vernon outside Nottingham Train Station! Check it out:
You can download a free map of the full trail to follow here: http://www.hoodwinked2018.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Hoodwinked-Map-web.pdf
There is also a hard copy free map you can pick up from the tourist information centre, any Boots store, or a Nottingham City library. Or for 99p there is an interactive app that you can follow and unlock rewards and track all the robins you've seen!
You can find out more about the trail here: http://www.hoodwinked2018.co.uk.
P.S check out this video below of one of the robins getting made by www.inkversion.com!
Head down to Old Market Square this summer and you'll find Nottingham Beach... complete with a sandy beach, palm trees, a large paddling pool, rides, food and a 'beach bar' - you may even spot people snorkelling in the fountain!
Annual summer event with food, stalls, activities, music and a wonderful chance to explore the gardens and find out about what’s going on locally. All welcome, free entry.
Paloma Faith will be headlining Splendour’s 10 year anniversary party alongside other epic acts including The Charlatans, Marc Almond, The Stranglers and many more!
The pride march starts just around the corner from Igloo Hybrid at Castle Gate, around 7000 usually walk through the city in support of LGBQT+ rights. There is live music and events celebrating Pride all over the city from 11am until all night long!
PHOTO BY https://www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/whats-on-news/nottingham-pride-notts-2018-parade-1789763
Nottingham's first collaborative hip-hop festival. Connecting local creatives, brands and organisations to celebrate and showcase hip hop culture. What to expect: Traders, crafts, live performances, live art, food stalls, children's entertainment, open mic, music! FREE EVENT.
Hey everyone!
My name is Alexandra, I’m 20 and I’m French. I came in England to improve my English. I chose this option to be in touch with lots of people and of course because the concept is very nice: you have to work just 4hours/day and you’re accommodated. It’s funny and sporting, you clean bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens… you have to garden also. All tasks are very diversified. The rest of the time, you’re free, so you can visit, practise sports (Formula One, best gym ever), discover a new culture and new people.
I didn’t choose Nottingham, the opportunity presented itself, but if I had to go back it’s obvious. The city isn’t big but it’s really cute and you have lots of good places to eat (all type of food: vegan, Korean, typical English…), to do shopping (charity markets, famous brands…). The life here isn’t expensive and I was really surprise to see how the city is safe. You can hanging out later and nobody troubles you.
I stay here for 6 weeks. I share my room with 3 roommates. They aren’t French so it’s really interesting because I’m obliged to speak English with them. Igloo Hostel is the coolest place to stay, rooms are lovely and you have a kitchen, you can meet people and be more autonomous. It is situated 5min from the biggest shopping centre, the streets have lots of markets too and they close later.
So, when would you like to come ?!
Alexandra x
The summer is (finally!) upon us. The weather in Notts has been bloomin' lovely recently and festival season is about to get into full swing. If you're visiting us in the next few weeks check out what's going on in the city and surrounding areas below:
"The two-day beer festival will showcase some of the best beers from across the globe. The biggest beer brains of Castle Rock are combining their knowledge and contacts to bring you guys an impressive array of keg and cask beers, with 20 available at any one time. There’ll be street food featuring a classic British barbecue from the Vat & Fiddle and the most glorious meats from Smoqued – served from their bespoke 1973 Citroen H van. Plus, there will be events taking place in the Vat & Fiddle (our beloved brewery tap) throughout the festival, and Saturday includes a family-friendly afternoon with a section of the yard dedicated to entertainment for the sproglets!" For all the important info and to buy tickets head over to www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/yard-party-faq/
AMC Garden's annual spring event with food, stalls, activities, music and a wonderful chance to explore the gardens and find out about what’s going on locally. All welcome, free entry! http://www.amcgardens.co.uk/
Photo by Xanthea Heynes
One for all the ravers out there! Just up the road from Igloo Annexe and Pods at The Maze. Line-up is:
DJ SS ( Formation Records )
BIZZY B ( Suburban Bass )
SUPA APE ( UK Jungle Records )
DJIMM ( UK Jungle Records )
DTR DJ'S
ADSKI SELASSIE
POWERED BY: SINAI SOUNDSYSTEM
ROOM 2 HOSTED BY THE NEST COLLECTIVE
T FLEX
DJ CASE
KINGSKINZ
LINKWITZ
SUBFONIX
Tickets - £8/10 Advanced M.O.T.D
Local food and independent businesses in a beautiful setting! To get a taste of what to expect take a look at their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheParkMarketNottingham/
Since starting in Nottingham in 2005 Dot To Dot Festival has established itself as the UK’s premier festival for unearthing the hottest new talent around, alongside established acts from all over the globe. This years venues are: Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham Trent University Student Union, Stealth, The Bodega, Rough Trade, Black Cherry Lounge, The Orange Tree (BBC Music Introducing in the East Midlands), Alt. Gaming, Broadway, The Chameleon, Contemporary, Jam Cafe, Junkyard, The Herbert Kilpin, Suede, The Angel. For more info and tickets go to http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/
The Wheee! family weekend is always special and this year is no exception. There will be lots of arts and craft activities plus outdoor theatre and dance performances to entertain family members of all ages. The fun will start at mid-day (although the luminarium will be open from 11am with the usual ticketed entry).
*all events free with the exception of Daedalude Luminarium and indoor theatre performances.
from https://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/children-and-families/event/3804/wheee-family-weekend.html
Events throughout the weekend include:
Save the Earth Cooperative are putting on their first Community Market in Sneinton, The event will highlight the importance of food education, tackling food waste, Social Chefs, Ethical Products & Crafts, Supporting local businesses, Artisans and crafts people.
Since starting in Nottingham in 2005 Dot To Dot Festival has established itself as the UK’s premier festival for unearthing the hottest new talent around, alongside established acts from all over the globe. This years venues are: Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham Trent University Student Union, Stealth, The Bodega, Rough Trade, Black Cherry Lounge, The Orange Tree (BBC Music Introducing in the East Midlands), Alt. Gaming, Broadway, The Chameleon, Contemporary, Jam Cafe, Junkyard, The Herbert Kilpin, Suede, The Angel. For more info and tickets go to http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/
The iconic rock and metal festival set next to East Midlands Airport. Headliners this year are Avenged Sevenfold, Guns N Roses and Ozzy Osbourne, also on the lineup are Marilyn Manson, Hatebreed, You Me at Six, Parkway Drive. If you don't fancy camping each day (and as most Download attendees can tell you it will either be 30 degrees sun all weekend or non stop rain with floods) then Igloo Hybrid is situated just a few minutes walk away from the Skylink bus which will take you to the airport right near the site. There are shuttle buses available to and from East Midlands Airport train station to the festival also. https://downloadfestival.co.uk/
If metal isn't your thing then during the same (hopefully) sunny weekend Nottingham's legendary underground music promoter Detonate are hosting almost 50 acts at Colwick Country Park to bring some serious noise for the biggest bass music fans in the country. Featuring a line up that brings together the best in drum & bass, hip-hop, dub, grime, R&B and house, there is something for everyone across the 4 stages that Detonate Festival comprises of. "After the sun goes down and the main event eventually comes to a close, do not worry as every year there is the Detonate Festival After Party 'Detonation', which takes place in the city, bringing even more first class DJing talent to the stage to keep you going all night long. The likes of DJ Hype, Goldie, Hazard, Bailey, Randall and DJ Derek have played at the festival after party and you can be sure this year will hold more of the same." http://www.detonate1.co.uk/
"Deerstock is a wonderfully small but beautiful boutique music festival organised by festival goers for festivals goers, on a not for profit basis. The aim of the event is primarily to raise funds for good causes. Donations are given each year to three different charities, and the festival has raised over £70k to date. Charities supported in the past include UNICEF, Alzheimers Society, Help for Heroes, CALM, Reach, The Lee Bonsall Memorial Fund, The Roy Stone Foundation amongst others. With 3 stages, a craft tent, children’s activities, workshops, a well-stocked bar, a cheese and cider tent and an excellent selection of food stalls we are sure there is something for everyone. A chance to experience a ‘proper’ music festival in a field with camping and the chance to meet other families and festival goers in a small safe environment. Set in the picturesque Nottinghamshire countryside, Deerstock really is a perfectly petite festival." Check it out: https://deerstock.co.uk/
Nottingham's premier family friendly music festival held in the lovely grounds of Wollaton Hall http://www.splendourfestival.com
After I finished school last year, I've always wanted to spend some time working and travelling around the UK.
But sometimes it's more difficult than you think to find a hostel which takes volunteers. Back in Germany, I spent ages in front of my laptop, writing E-mails to differnt hostels in the UK, but most of the time didn't even get an answer. That is why I was all the more happy to hear that I could volunteer at the Igloo Hostel in Nottingham.
Many people ask me, why I came especially to Nottingham and didn't go to bigger places like London etc. But I want to use my time in the UK to explore smaller places, which maybe don't come to somebody's mind in the first place when thinking about the UK, because I believe there is so much more to discover in this country. And Nottingham is great!
The work here at the hostel is quite easy, only four hours a day, which leaves a lot of freetime to discover the city and the sourroundings. I just completed my second week here and I've already seen a lot of beautiful places and met so many friendly people.
Besides visiting Nottingham Castle and Wollaton Hall, I spend almost one whole day in the "Galleries of Justice" Museum and "City of Caves", which was very fascinating and a good opportunity to learn a lot about Great Britian's and Nottingham's history. While walking through the ancient caves and passageways, the tour guide of the "City of Caves" told us a lot about how the inhabitants of Nottingham lived and worked in those sandstone caves from the 11th century on. The caves where used even until the 1940's, mostly recunstructed as air raid shelters during the second world war.
My favourite place I've visited so far is Newstead Abbey. Newstead Abbey is the ancestral home of the poet Lord Byron and a really beautiful big house with a lovely garden. To go there I took the train (Newstead is only to stops away from Nottingham) and then had to walk there for about 30 minutes. Even though (or just because) the weather was really bad (it was cold and it rained all the time; there was even some snow on the streets) I enjoyed the walk towards Newstead Abbey a lot. It was kind of adventurous to make my way through the flooded and muddy streets; and the advantage: I had the garden all for my own, because no one wanted to take a stroll at this weather except for me.
But there are also smaller places in Nottingham like bars or cafes, which are nice to visit. I enjoyed a Tuesday evening at The Bodega Social Bar tryintg to answer the challenging questions of the weekly Music Quiz and listened to funny and fascinating stories told by the "Storytellers of Nottingham" at the Malt Cross.
So there is a lot to do in Nottingham and I can't wait to explore even more in the four weeks that are left of my volunteer experience at the Igloo Hostel.
Anja
In celebration of the incredible amount of places to eat in Nottingham here is our first list of our favourite eateries.... this time pizza is on the menu and there are loads of joints that offer up a great slice. Join the Notts pizza party and head to one of the destinations below!
Hand stretched sourdough pizzas. Signature pizzas include 'Pancetta, red onion, sweet chilli infused pineapple, parmesan, olive oil' and 'Roast aromatic duck, spring onion, cucumber, on a hoisin sauce base'. (YUM!) They've got plenty of veggie options too and have vegan cheese available. Once you've squeezed all that in they also do killer shakes like 'Rolo Banoffee: Nestlè Rolos, fresh & frozen banana blended with ice cream & topped with cream' ..drool. Build your own 12" for £7 or upgrade to a large for £3 more which includes all sauces and unlimited toppings. Every Tuesday and Wednesday it's 2-4-1 on ALL pizzas and for £12.50 on Thursday it's all you can eat. Check out their full menu here.
photo from https://deliveroo.co.uk/menu/nottingham/nottingham-city-centre/suede-bar
So secret they don't have a website or anything but we found their Instagram, word on the street is they make a fine pizza. Catch them at the side of Rough Trade knocking up special daily flavours like 'Smoked Stilton with red wine and onion marmalade' and 'oak smoked crispy salmon skin with Sicilian preserved lemons, fresh chilli and flowering oregano'. All on a fresh sourdough base... get in my mouth!
The original independent Notts pizza co. They've been making their delicious pizzas since 2013 and are legends on the local food scene. They've got their famous 14 inchers for £14, pizza by the metre and a banging vegan menu. Toppings include 'The Cosmopolitan' (serrano ham, tinned peaches and fresh basil leaves), 'The Checkpoint' (butternut squash roasted in cumin & chilli, award winning smoked streaky bacon and fresh sage).. or go for a vegan option like the 'Cheat Sweats' with vegan chicken, 'fakon', and vegan ham. As well as their pizzas they've got a killer mac n cheese menu, and great locally made desserts. Head over to their website to see the full menu, book tables and all that.
Find "pizza innovator extraordinaire" Louis Louis at his residency at Das Kino. Find delicious and unique pizzas like the ' 'Three Amigo's'.. red peppers, red onion, jalapenos, nachos, sour cream and guacamole on a salsa base or 'Slumdog Millionaire'.. a tomato tikka base with chicken, raita, mango chutney and a mint yoghurt drizzle.. Vegan cheese and gluten free options available too. If you're looking for something sweet the Nutella Pizza is the way to go. If pizza isn't your thing (why?) there are massive burgers and sundaes too. Check out the menu here.
Just a minute or so away from Igloo Hybrid, Mod Pizza serve up build your own pizzas with plenty of toppings and all kinds of cheese (including vegan options). There is loads of choice so we'd recommend checking out the options before you go otherwise you'll be stuck in the que for ages trying to decide (like we did) OR just get EVERYTHING on top.. here is the full list as well as some ideas from them. For £7 it's a bargain and they've got a great drinks machine as well.
The most beautiful library in Nottingham! Usually only open to members but throughout the year they hold open tours which are really worth a visit, £2 per person.
The Bell Inn has stood looking over Nottingham's Market Place since it was first built as a priory in the reign of Henry II. Through its doors have come the famous sons and daughters of Nottingham. Visitors including Oliver Cromwell, A famously well kept house especially by the Jackson family who had ownership for over 100 years. Come and explore behind the scenes where the guests rarely go and hear the stories that the staff tell each other! £15pp includes a drink.
A celebration of independent labels within the city selling their wares under one roof.
Join Robin Hood, his Merry Men and a whole host of colourful characters in this immersive experience and be transported back in time to 12th Century Nottingham. The Castle grounds are transformed into a medieval village encampment, complete with period cooking, traditional crafts, jesters, street theatre, music and puppet shows. Tickets: ad£12.00/ch£9.00/family £30.00 includes admission to castle.
An iron man, giant birds, a diabolical Mr Punch, a treasured maiden and the talents behind the workings of the National Theatre’s War Horse will be featured in Nottingham’s first-ever Puppet Festival. Local, national and international artists, both upcoming and old-hands, will be bringing their talents and demonstrating their skills at locations across the city including the National Videogames Arcade, Nottingham Lakeside Arts, Broadway Cinema, Dance4 and Malt Cross Caves. 22-25/03. Free and ticketed events.
Bringing their revolutionary sound to fans around the world, the UK tour will see The Wailers play the iconic Legend album live on stage in its entirety, including its greatest hits Three Little Birds, I Shot the Sheriff, Jammin’, and many more.
Fresh and rested, ready to tackle our last day in Berlin, we make our way by the S train to the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag building (German Parliament building), stopping at Alexanderplatz on the way, but the weather is still horrible and we can barely stand being outside. We finally find a cute vegan Vietnamese restaurant (short walk away from the gate but Sarah cannot read a map on her phone either apparently…) where we wait in the warmth for a friend who lives in Berlin to join us. We have the best meal ever after which my friend takes us to the Jewish memorial, then the Museum Island, we walk around Mitte and sightsee in the much better weather by then. Attila who has been fascinated by the crosswalk signal on every traffic light pole has a ball when he finds out that someone made a brand out of these little guys and is actually selling hundreds of products with the green and red men on it. We then go inside Haus Schwarzenberg where not an inch of the several-story staircase is without graffiti and we take a moment to try and make out as many messages as possible. There are some very funny ones and even several “Go Vegan” ones that make us laugh. We walk around some more until the evening when my friend takes us to the East Side Gallery and a place closeby where what looks like abandoned warehouses are instead rehabilitated into restaurants, bars, clubs, a swimming pool, a bouldering and climbing place etc. All of them covered in graffiti if course.
We then go to a cool bar where we are surprised to see almost everyone smokes inside. My friend explains to us that apparently in Berlin, many bars and clubs have found a way around the smoking ban where after a certain hour, if no hot food if served and there are no minors present, people are allowed to smoke inside. After the drink, my friend makes his way home and Attila and I start walking back to the hostel. That’s when I see it: a sign outside a small place on the street saying “Vegan Waffles”, which I’ve been pestering the guys with all day at this point. It is a sign, we HAVE TO go in and try it. Attila, more than full himself is not really impressed and remains in the cold, smoking but I go in and ask the guy behind the counter if the place is still open. He answers that it is and in fact, he just started making a new batter for waffles, which just proves this was meant to be and we have to try the waffle! But the wonder doesn’t stop there: his specialty is the Thai ice cream, which we have all seen videos of when street vendors pour liquid milk on top of fruits on a very cold tray and start stirring and shaking the liquid which then becomes solid ice cream. I am mesmerized by the process as I watch him make us a vegan strawberry-Oreo ice cream. We get to talking and we find out his name and how he came up with the name for his place: Delabuu Ice Cream. Let’s just say that there is French homework and his best friend playing a football game on TV involved. You’ll have to ask him yourself for the full story if you want to know! 😊 We left the igloo mark on the chalk board so have a look for it if you go.
After the really good sweet treat, we finally make our way back for to the hostel. We checkout in the morning and make our way to the airport after getting delicious Vegan breakfast wraps and smoothies from a place at the station. We make our way to the gate and board the very crowded aircraft back to Nottingham where we get the Skylink Express bus back to the city center for even cheaper than before as the driver sells us two tickets for just £10.
After this 2 day trip, we can definitely recommend Berlin as the perfect destination to go for just a couple days or more if possible. It is very often super cheap from EMA and really quick and easy to go. Or the other way around! People from Berlin can come to Notts very easily from Schönefeld Airport and here’s a crazy thought: stay at one of our premises for the duration of their stay! Most of the staff has been to Berlin before so we’d definitely have experiences to share and tips to give each other 😊
The Vegans in Berlin, Attila and Sarah.
The Igloo Backpackers Hostel and The Igloo Annexe are proud to be valued as Nottingham's most popular cheap budget accommodation for backpackers, tourists, students, schools and sports groups. We offer a wide arrangement of rooms (female dorm and mixed dorms, as well as private single, double, twin, triple, quad and family rooms) at budget prices. Both our buildings have self-catering kitchens and our staff is award winning friendly and always there to help you make the most of your visit to Nottingham.
PS - Even if ‘the computer says no’ for what you are looking for, it's always a good idea to contact reception about what you need, our rooms are much more adaptable than what can be shown online. Igloo is run by humans after all, and we can often move things around and make adjustments to accommodate your booking.
If can not find what you are looking for or if you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact our reception team. Read all of our Terms & Conditions
MAUD & B LIMITED IS A REGISTERED COMPANY IN ENGLAND. NO. 06984258
4-6 Eldon Chambers
Wheeler Gate
NG1 2NS
Telephone: +44 (0)115 948 3822
Email: hybrid@igloohostel.co.uk
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