What's on in Notts? June 2019

Cricket World Cup 2019 Fanzone - Old Market Square, until 2nd June

Free-to-enter Fanzone to get involved as there will be live screenings of all World Cup matches over the four days, along with exciting street cricket activities, live music, entertainment and food and drink from around the globe.  

Autokarna Motor Show - Wollaton Hall, 02+03 June

The Nottingham Transport Festival features the Pre War Austin Seven Club Autokarna, which has been held at Wollaton Park for over forty years and incorporates the Nottingham Motor Show and The Nottingham Heritage Vehicle Charity bus rally. The Autokarna element will feature various vintage, veteran and classic vehicle displays, including cars, motorbikes, auto-jumble selling a diverse range of old car parts and accessories alongside  the display of buses and commercial vehicles. The Nottingham Motor Show features displays of the latest models from a range of Marques and Motor manufacturers on the Sunday with a Preview day on the Saturday.

Wonder 2019 - University Park, 15 June

The University of Nottingham is throwing open its doors to curious minds for a day of hands-on fun. Wonder 2019 will showcase the best of what we do at the University, with an exciting schedule of free activities for all ages. We are inviting families to explore the huge range of research and teaching activities that will be celebrating the Year of the Periodic Table.  Activities will have a fun link to the elements and range from art workshops through to science experiments.

Steampunkalia! - 29 + 30 June

Don your top hat, dust off your time-travel gadgets and clear your diary. Because our ever-popular Steampunk festival, Steampunkalia, is returning! This event features fun for all the family. It’s one you can’t miss, with Steampunk stalls, astounding acts, exhilarating engines and creative costumes!

Volunteer Experience: Ignacio

I really wanted to live in England for a while, to perceive the ways in which people speak, accents, phrases, registers (I am passionate about language and communication). At the same time, I needed a year away from college and work. After five years of study and two years of work, I perceived that I was becoming a little lonely, self-absorbed and less and less communicative. I decided that a long trip, in which I could meet people, socialize and exchange, would help me grow, explore other personal areas a little forgotten.

That sounds romantic and courageous, but I was very scared: I had never traveled to Europe and I was afraid that the place is not cozy, that people are not so warm to foreigners, that the climate is merciless. But getting here was like a warm hug, (metaphorically, of course, people usually do not touch each other when they say hello).

The atmosphere of the hostel is so cozy, the facilities are beautiful. I understood right away that good vibes do not come from the building itself. It's the volunteers, the receptionists and the managers who make it a special place. Among all the people who work here, a relationship is maintained that combines symmetry in personal treatment, with the responsibility of each one in their tasks, always with warmth, joy and willingness to listen and help each other. It is clear that in such an environment, people easily become friends and that moments are lived with intensity.

I've been here for 2 months and I could choose Nottingham as my home. It is a charming city, with very diverse architectural styles and very well preserved. The vitality in its streets is perceived and students who come from all over the world bring diversity and openness to cultural differences.

 I was happy in each of my days with my roommates, in each night out, in each visit to museums and historical places, each talk, food and laugh with the people who are part of this team. It makes me emotional to think that my volunteer experience will end in a short time, but I also leave my dear Igloo so that someone else feels, as I did, their spaces and the people who live there.

Where to eat...fish and chips

One of the most regular questions we recieve at reception is “where can I get fish and chips?” Being located slap bang in the Midlands (about as far away from the sea as you can get) doesn’t stop Nottingham from serving up some great fish and chips. Here are our favourite spots..

George’s Great British Kitchen

One of the best places to eat in town. Not only do they offer delicious flakey fish and twice cooked chips but also fried fish in onion bahji batter (the best) or a smoked paprika option too. You can even add mushy pea fritters or Stilton chips on the side. Yum. Oh and they have a gin bar too!

PHOTO FROM LEFTLION: https://www.leftlion.co.uk/eat/2018/february/9-places-to-take-your-hot-date-on-valentines-day/

PHOTO FROM TRIPADVISOR ‘GEORGE’S GREAT BRITISH KITCHEN NOTTINGHAM’

The Cod’s Scallops

Located on Mansfield Road just a few minutes on the bus from Igloo Annexe and Pods this place is worth the visit as it was voted the best fish and chips in the UK! This is THE ultimate fish and chip shop. Whilst they have all the classics they will grill or fry pretty much anything on their fresh fish counter including lots of seasonal delicacies. We recommend the battered salmon and chips. Everything is fried in beef dripping so not great for veggies who just want chips but this method officially makes the tastiest chips and crispiest batter bits in town. See the full menu here: https://www.codsscallops.com/our-menu/

PHOTO FROM northern food blog: http://m62food.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-cods-scallops-wollaton-nottingham.html

PHOTO FROM THE COD’S SCALLOPS

Moulin Rouge

Located in Trinity Square this small takeaway is good for a casual and quick lunch or evening takeaway treat. Their mini fish and chips are iconic!

PHOTO FROM TRIPADVISOR ‘MOULIN ROUGE NOTTINGHAM’

PHOTO FROM TRIPADVISOR ‘MOULIN ROUGE NOTTINGHAM’

The Angel Microbrewery

Trendy microbrewery meets traditional pub. Not only do they do traditional fish and chips but there are veggie and vegan versions too! For vegetarians, halloumi in beer batter, or for vegans lemon marinated tempeh, both fried in beer batter and served with hand cut fries, pea puree, and homemade tartare sauce. See the menu here: http://www.angelmicrobrewery.com/menu.html

PHOTOs FROM TRIPADVISOR

Lace Market Fish Bar

Classic chippy located in Hockley, one of the best takeaways in town. Open until 3am so great for late munchies after a night out or after the ice hockey! https://en-gb.facebook.com/Lace-market-fish-bar-772071789527097/

PHOTOS FROM LACE MARKET FISH BAR FACEBOOK

What's on in Notts? March 2019

 Sylva @ Lakeside Gallery - All month

Discover the unusual tales of Nottinghamshire’s woodlands and the people who have worked, lived and inspired by them at this exhibition.  Free

St Patrick’s Day @ Old Market Square - 17th March

The 20th annual St Patrick’s Day Parade. Head to Old Market Square to enjoy Irish music on stage and watch the parade make its way through the city. Free

 Daniel Steegmann Mangrame Exhibition @ Nottingham Contemporary - All month

A new immersive installation, architectural interventions, a 16mm film and a virtual reality work, the Rio-based Catalan artist looks at how diverse mediums and technologies represents aspects of the Mata Atlântica. a rainforest in Brazil. Free entry

Gentlemen’s Dub Club @ The Level - 22nd March

 True connoisseurs of blending influences from genres such as dub, reggae, ska, bass culture, jazz, and everything in between, Gentleman's Dub Club have adopted a futuristic tone as they continue their mission to discover the ultimate bassline.

What's on in Notts? February 2019

Light Night @ Various Locations all over the City! 08/02

Discover stunning light installations, exciting performances and plenty of opportunities to get involved all inspired by the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 spaceflight and landing of the first man on the moon. Don’t miss Museum of the Moon at the Royal Concert Hall, a touring work by UK artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface. The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones. Find out about all the events going on across the city on the night HERE

Chinese New Year @ Old Market Square 02/02

See and try out activities which regularly feature as part of China’s New Year celebrations. There will be arts and crafts including calligraphy, brush painting and paper cutting; storytelling, music and dance including the Chinese Dragon Dance as well as the chance to try out some authentic Chinese foods.

Sustainable Tourism 101

Sustainable tourism is the concept of visiting a place as a tourist and making a positive impact on the environment, society, and local economy. In an age of environmental, political and economic change, sustainable tourism is more important than ever. As a sustainable and responsible tourist you help support not just planet Earth but people, heritage and culture.

Find some of our tips on how you can be a sustainable tourist below.

Volunteer Experience: Guilio

Like a modern jules verne, I took my trip to the center of England, because if you draw a line from Manchester to Cambridge, one from London to Edinburgh and another from Liverpool to Norwich, these meet in Nottingham. There is no better place to start exploring England: with a few hours of travel you can get to the big cities like London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester or Newcastle, or discover the Peak district and Yorkshire, or even look for "lost things" in Norfolk.

And Igloo hostel is the perfect base for this kind of adventure: it's like finding a second family away from home, they all do the possible to put you at ease, starting from the managers, passing through the workers up to the volunteers like me.

As in a family, share everything: space, food, thoughts, adventures, beautiful moments (many) and ugly ones (very few). At this moment we are five volunteers, we come from different parts of the world, with different cultures and different habits, but being there together it makes you realize that we are actually more equal than you can imagine.

For all of us this is the first experience of life (even if only for a few months) away from home, and Nottingham we can say that she has adopted us and like a mother is teaching us many things that will be part of us in the future. Every evening we gather and cook together some specialties from our countries of origin (Italy, Colombia, Japan, Spain and France) and we watch some movies (strictly in English) or go to have a beer in one of the many pubs that can be found around here.

I had arrived to stay a month and a half, but immediately I decided to extend my stay: I was looking for only a new experience for learning English, but I found a lot more!

Volunteer Experience: Manuela

Hi there!

I’m a Colombian volunteer in Igloo Hostel.

You may ask why and how a Colombian girl ended up volunteering in a hostel located 8500 km away from her home city. Many people have asked me why I decided to change the lovely weather of my city, between 20 to 25⁰C all year round as there are no seasons, and a very warm culture for the English freezing and windy autumns/winters. Well, I decided to come to the UK to study my master’s degree at the University of Nottingham and after a year of new experiences, including seeing snow for the first time (just to mention one), I realised I had fell in love with this city and decided to stay a little bit longer.

I love the student/relaxed atmosphere of the city. Everybody is friendly and willing to ask you about your traditions, family and even eager to learn your language and culture.

I found out that I could volunteer in a hostel and even though I was sceptic at the beginning this place has become my new home! I have had the chance to meet so many people from different backgrounds, to experience countless cultures and to enjoy my staying in the UK even more intensely than I had in the whole previous year!

So far, the most memorable experience has been meeting my international, non-blood related family! With you: the volunteer’s team: Spain, France, Colombia, Italy and Japan.

What a mixture right? We have created such a lovely bond taking care of each other, traveling, partying and specially cooking together!

I have enjoyed every trip, event in the city, movie night or stupid pranks we do to ourselves every day.  This has become my new life and I’m sure this family will last forever without mattering how far we are from each other.

So, why would I want to leave Nottingham? this place has brought to my life good experiences, love and  valuable friends! Just have a look…

Radford Care Group

Every year we choose a local charity to support, for 2018/19 we have chosen Radford Care Group. We put aside 50p from every booking made via our website's booking button, then at the end of the year we give the funds raised to our chosen charity. We feel it really important to support what is happening in our locality, and even more so organisations without much funding or backing from major groups.

Radford Care Group is a charity with a purpose-built centre that welcomes older people in Nottingham for day-time activities refreshments and lunch with an extended specialist service for those in the community in need of extra support. Their aim is to alleviate loneliness and isolation and ensure that older citizens feel they belong within their community, and have better access to quality care, improving their health and well-being.

They are in need of a new centre urgently, as the current building in use does not enable them to expand to address a growing need in the locality. They are running a “buy-a-brick” campaign and taking donations through: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/brickinatick 

IT’S £5 PER BRICK AND YOU CAN HELP BUILD SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL!

…and don’t forget to book your stay with us directly through this website so that we can donate 50p of your booking to this great cause.

Find out more about Radford Care Group here: http://www.radfordcaregroup.org.uk/

We also want to give a big shout out to our last charities Arkwright Meadows Communtiy Gardens, Make to Make and City Arts!

What's on in September?

Nottingham Mela @ The Arboretum 02/09

A cultural feast of family activtiies, workshops, delicious street food, games, markets, live performances, exhibitions, art films, poetry and literature. South Asian street food, mehndi, dance workshops, craft stalls, creative activities for all ages as well as live music and dance performances.

Heritage Open Days @ Various Locations 06-09/09 + 13-16/09

A chance to discover hidden treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture - and it's all FREE. WIth free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission, there are various events across Nottinghamshire. For a full list of sites go to www.heritageopendays.org.uk.

I'm Not From London present Blamalama Sing Song @ Rescue Rooms 14/09

Live band playing great songs that everyong knows. There's no singer. The crowd sings the songs!

Photo from: https://www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk/whats-on/bamalamasingsong-communal-rock-singalong-p665091

The Log-O-Rithmic Slide Rule: A Retrospective @ Nottingham Contemporary (all month)

Nottingham Contemporary presents the first UK retrospective of Trix & Robert Haussmann - one of the most significant and intriguing Swiss architects and designers of the 20th Century. The exhibition celebrates the duo's playful innovations.

Photo from: http://www.nottinghamcontemporary.org/art/trix-robert-haussmann