Nottingham... and do you love your city?
Discussion
Faust66 said:
I live in Beeston (about 4 miles outside of Nottingham) and work in the city centre.
Place is OK I suppose. Not a fan of the lefty City Council ad their ongoing war against the motorist. That said, they've got to do something as it seems pointless to have a permanently gridlocked city centre.
There seems to be ever increasing numbers of empty shops and aggressive chavs hanging around (no different to many cities though), the nightlife can be good (I tend to frequent the Sal & Tap n Tumbler for the rock/goth scene and I can't really comment on other pubs and restaurants as I'm not really bothered by that sort of thing.
Same with shopping: order off ebay or mingle with the great unwashed in a crowded city? Online every time, thanks.
Much prefer Beeston: lively suburb with a 'village' feel for shopping (local butchers, greengrocers, bakers etc.) and some damn fine real ale pubs. And free parking.
Oh, Rock City: stopped going there many years back when they were playing some s
t pop music in the main room. Still a good live venue IMO but the club nights are a bit mainstream for my taste.
The traffic gridlock in the city is a result of the council's policies. 24 hr bus lanes when there are no 24 hr bus services, dedicated cycle lanes that cyclists never use, siting traffic bollards the center carriageway directly opposite bus stop. I could go on but I think anyone will get the idea. Place is OK I suppose. Not a fan of the lefty City Council ad their ongoing war against the motorist. That said, they've got to do something as it seems pointless to have a permanently gridlocked city centre.
There seems to be ever increasing numbers of empty shops and aggressive chavs hanging around (no different to many cities though), the nightlife can be good (I tend to frequent the Sal & Tap n Tumbler for the rock/goth scene and I can't really comment on other pubs and restaurants as I'm not really bothered by that sort of thing.
Same with shopping: order off ebay or mingle with the great unwashed in a crowded city? Online every time, thanks.
Much prefer Beeston: lively suburb with a 'village' feel for shopping (local butchers, greengrocers, bakers etc.) and some damn fine real ale pubs. And free parking.
Oh, Rock City: stopped going there many years back when they were playing some s
t pop music in the main room. Still a good live venue IMO but the club nights are a bit mainstream for my taste.Another thing, ask a Lenton homeowner why they can't sell their house, no one wants to move there due to the trouble from students who dominate the area.
Promised Land said:
Also the Black Orchid miles out of town on some industrial estate, still going?
Nope. It closed in 98, and reopened as ISIS (before they were formed) You can see why that name didn't work in the end, they shut in 2009.
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Monday 25th February 20:49
mikeiow said:
bingybongy said:
I also spent far to much time in The Narrowboat. The Shippos was spot on.
After the Narrow boat round to the Irish Club to try and pull a student nurse with a pocket with a few coppers in to drop in the bucket the shirt and tie thugs brought round.
Ironic that the Narrowboat was demolished for canal development....but the Irish Club: great nights! A bunch of us used to drive up from Leicester (late 80s, early 90s) for evenings ending there, I’m amazed the ceiling didn’t collapse with the numbers bouncing up and down upstairs! We sometimes still reminisce about them. Still in Leicester (a much improved City now, I can report!!)After the Narrow boat round to the Irish Club to try and pull a student nurse with a pocket with a few coppers in to drop in the bucket the shirt and tie thugs brought round.
Lived with gf (now wife!) in dodgy flat in Chilwell for a year before buying in Leicester, remember being burned off (in my fairly nippy Colt turbo) by a clearly well tuned mk1 Escort going into town....
Some great evenings in Nottingham: wandering around Hockley, great old arts cinema at the Broadway, too many pubs to remember the names of....the Trip to Jerusalem was a top place (oldest pub in England, I see they now offer cellar tours!!).
Happy days!
Still head there on rare occasion...our kids loved to go to Rock City, & I caught a great Stranglers gig there a couple of years back with a beer buddy pal
Edited by mikeiow on Monday 25th February 07:40
Edited by mikeiow on Monday 25th February 07:41
I took the wife there once when we first started going out, she nearly dumped me!
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Nope. It closed in 98, and reopened as ISIS (before they were formed)
You can see why that name didn't work in the end, they shut in 2009.
Ah, Crisis! Good memoriesYou can see why that name didn't work in the end, they shut in 2009.
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Monday 25th February 20:49
I haven’t been back to Nottingham since finishing uni in 2005. it sounds like it’s gone a bit downhill?
It could get a bit chavvy during the weekend when the “townies” would come from out of town to party, but it never felt unsafe or particularly dodgy. I did mostly hang out in studenty bars/clubs back then though.
And Lenton Boulevard was great!
Few pre game drinks at home, then Bag O’Nails, then out in town to some club, and finish back home until the very early hours!
Does anyone else remember when Sytners were on Huntingdon Street, and under the showroom they sold all sorts of exotica?
Between 13-16 every time I was in Nottingham I would take a visit. Over the years I got to see in there a Diablo, a Dodge Viper, a Porsche 959, an F40. Even though it was a kid visiting they'd always take the time to chat to me about their stock, I was quite sad when they buggered off to near the Showcase!
Between 13-16 every time I was in Nottingham I would take a visit. Over the years I got to see in there a Diablo, a Dodge Viper, a Porsche 959, an F40. Even though it was a kid visiting they'd always take the time to chat to me about their stock, I was quite sad when they buggered off to near the Showcase!
My father was born in Nottingham and had lots of family up there and although he moved to Kent to settle down we regularly went up to the city to visit relatives.
My grandad lived on a road called Peas Hill Rise which was flattened and The St Anne’s estate was built(in the late 60s)
I remember the Victoria centres water clock, the lace market, but that was a long time ago.
I still have family in Nottingham and one has one of the party boats on the Trent, Captain Paul,
Been 4 years since I have visited but will be up for a long weekend this year.
On a PH note took my parents and hound up to visit the family in a brand New Bedford MIDI van with less than 400 miles on it when we got T boned by a transit van on a roundabout on the St Anne’s Well Road, right in front of. Police car which I was quiite pleased about as a good witness. Boss was not pleased but the van ended up being reshelled.
My grandad lived on a road called Peas Hill Rise which was flattened and The St Anne’s estate was built(in the late 60s)
I remember the Victoria centres water clock, the lace market, but that was a long time ago.
I still have family in Nottingham and one has one of the party boats on the Trent, Captain Paul,
Been 4 years since I have visited but will be up for a long weekend this year.
On a PH note took my parents and hound up to visit the family in a brand New Bedford MIDI van with less than 400 miles on it when we got T boned by a transit van on a roundabout on the St Anne’s Well Road, right in front of. Police car which I was quiite pleased about as a good witness. Boss was not pleased but the van ended up being reshelled.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Ace-T said:
We had our wedding reception in the Narrowboat. 
Was run by our mates at the time who gave us the run of the pub as a wedding present. Mates band played upstairs. Good times
I liked that pub. We had a proper skinfull there before going across the road to the People's College to see the Pirates. Was run by our mates at the time who gave us the run of the pub as a wedding present. Mates band played upstairs. Good times I was a regular drinker in there. The landlord at the time was Tim Taylor.
Easy to remember as they sold Tim Taylor beer on one handpump along with the Shippos.
I went to Peoples to resit my A levels and regularly nipped across for a few pints and cheese and onion cobs in the Trip.
Normally never made it back to lectures.
Sometimes used the Sal across the road. Anyone else remember Stevie the barman who used to perform to Hey Big Spender when it came on the jukebox.
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Does anyone else remember when Sytners were on Huntingdon Street, and under the showroom they sold all sorts of exotica?
Between 13-16 every time I was in Nottingham I would take a visit. Over the years I got to see in there a Diablo, a Dodge Viper, a Porsche 959, an F40. Even though it was a kid visiting they'd always take the time to chat to me about their stock, I was quite sad when they buggered off to near the Showcase!
I used to go with my dad to Sytners too when it was there back in the late 80's/early 90's, one car I remember sticking out was a flatnose turbo Porsche. I think Frank also bought my dads Cobra off him back in the 60's...I'm sure there's quite a few stories. I remember seeing him turn up at a Donington in an immaculate E30 M3 Evo also, although that's probably 20 years ago now!Between 13-16 every time I was in Nottingham I would take a visit. Over the years I got to see in there a Diablo, a Dodge Viper, a Porsche 959, an F40. Even though it was a kid visiting they'd always take the time to chat to me about their stock, I was quite sad when they buggered off to near the Showcase!
Promised Land said:
Quickly browsed the thread, is Yates still in that square?
Yates still there. Not much different (although if you are really old you might remember the old ladies in the booths that took the money! (Or the old geezer on the violin upstairs)Fuelled by eleventeen pints I thought I could fly from one side of the balcony to the other. I can still visualise the Saturday night crowd parting below me as several mates were dangling me over the edge!
HSV_V8 said:
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Does anyone else remember when Sytners were on Huntingdon Street, and under the showroom they sold all sorts of exotica?
Between 13-16 every time I was in Nottingham I would take a visit. Over the years I got to see in there a Diablo, a Dodge Viper, a Porsche 959, an F40. Even though it was a kid visiting they'd always take the time to chat to me about their stock, I was quite sad when they buggered off to near the Showcase!
I used to go with my dad to Sytners too when it was there back in the late 80's/early 90's, one car I remember sticking out was a flatnose turbo Porsche. I think Frank also bought my dads Cobra off him back in the 60's...I'm sure there's quite a few stories. I remember seeing him turn up at a Donington in an immaculate E30 M3 Evo also, although that's probably 20 years ago now!Between 13-16 every time I was in Nottingham I would take a visit. Over the years I got to see in there a Diablo, a Dodge Viper, a Porsche 959, an F40. Even though it was a kid visiting they'd always take the time to chat to me about their stock, I was quite sad when they buggered off to near the Showcase!
gus607 said:
Faust66 said:
I live in Beeston (about 4 miles outside of Nottingham) and work in the city centre.
Place is OK I suppose. Not a fan of the lefty City Council ad their ongoing war against the motorist. That said, they've got to do something as it seems pointless to have a permanently gridlocked city centre.
There seems to be ever increasing numbers of empty shops and aggressive chavs hanging around (no different to many cities though), the nightlife can be good (I tend to frequent the Sal & Tap n Tumbler for the rock/goth scene and I can't really comment on other pubs and restaurants as I'm not really bothered by that sort of thing.
Same with shopping: order off ebay or mingle with the great unwashed in a crowded city? Online every time, thanks.
Much prefer Beeston: lively suburb with a 'village' feel for shopping (local butchers, greengrocers, bakers etc.) and some damn fine real ale pubs. And free parking.
Oh, Rock City: stopped going there many years back when they were playing some st pop music in the main room. Still a good live venue IMO but the club nights are a bit mainstream for my taste.
The traffic gridlock in the city is a result of the council's policies. 24 hr bus lanes when there are no 24 hr bus services, dedicated cycle lanes that cyclists never use, siting traffic bollards the center carriageway directly opposite bus stop. I could go on but I think anyone will get the idea. Place is OK I suppose. Not a fan of the lefty City Council ad their ongoing war against the motorist. That said, they've got to do something as it seems pointless to have a permanently gridlocked city centre.
There seems to be ever increasing numbers of empty shops and aggressive chavs hanging around (no different to many cities though), the nightlife can be good (I tend to frequent the Sal & Tap n Tumbler for the rock/goth scene and I can't really comment on other pubs and restaurants as I'm not really bothered by that sort of thing.
Same with shopping: order off ebay or mingle with the great unwashed in a crowded city? Online every time, thanks.
Much prefer Beeston: lively suburb with a 'village' feel for shopping (local butchers, greengrocers, bakers etc.) and some damn fine real ale pubs. And free parking.
Oh, Rock City: stopped going there many years back when they were playing some s
t pop music in the main room. Still a good live venue IMO but the club nights are a bit mainstream for my taste.Another thing, ask a Lenton homeowner why they can't sell their house, no one wants to move there due to the trouble from students who dominate the area.
On the flip side:
Most days I walk back from Nottingham to Beeston after work and the traffic is horrendous. Castle Boulevard, Abbey Bridge, University Boulevard are jammed 90% of the time so something clearly needs to be done. Dunno what the answer is (wish I did) but the scum slug (aka the Tram which I will NEVER use as it's a complete white elephant) is not the answer.
Traffic is now worse IMO than before they built the bloody thing. Good use of 700 million, eh?
I was particularly amused by the cycle lane on Abbey Bridge. Installed and then removed and re-built on the other side of the road within 9 months as residents were complaining they couldn't get off their drives!!
And people still vote these useless f
kers in.One thing I've never been a fan of is Nottinghams obsession with average speed cameras. I seem to recall that they were one of the first to use them iirc. They drove me mad when I first encountered them.
I used to enjoy going to the Black Orchid and that was about 26 years ago now. I also remember being blow away at how amazing the Pitcher and Piano was when it first opened, and I'd never seen anything like it before.
Night life wise I've always thought that Nottingham was a bit too spread out/disjointed, maybe that's just me though.
I used to enjoy going to the Black Orchid and that was about 26 years ago now. I also remember being blow away at how amazing the Pitcher and Piano was when it first opened, and I'd never seen anything like it before.
Night life wise I've always thought that Nottingham was a bit too spread out/disjointed, maybe that's just me though.
Yes, what a City. Been my home for 67 years and seen the good times and bad.
Led Zepp chose the Nottingham Boat Clubs when they came back from the US playing to a crammed crowd no more than 250 in number.
Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night and Sunday morning was based here, and I followed Arthur Seaton's footsteps drinking in The Bell, Langtry's, Yates, the Trip ( still my favourite for a sneaky brew or five when in the mood ).
Yates:
|https://thumbsnap.com/NKVJje05[/url]
Langtrys
|https://thumbsnap.com/5mu2Wieb[/url]
The Trip
|https://thumbsnap.com/CS5DFRYp[/url]
Quentin Tarantino chose Nottingham for his world premiere of Reservoir Dogs - I was in the right place at the right time and met the great man.
I can use my bus pass now when I go into the City and avoid peak travel times but everything that has been said about the Council policy is true. They are planning to increase City parking charges to apply upto 10.00pm - another step to dissuade visitors.
Facebook has a lively group 'Nottingham Way Back When' which stirs memories of the town as we remember it.
Nottingham is small enough to have a population where you recognise faces across the bar - the same face that you bump into at a party somewhere in a red light villa in Haden Road but somehow you know you are with friends.
Great Days
Led Zepp chose the Nottingham Boat Clubs when they came back from the US playing to a crammed crowd no more than 250 in number.
Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night and Sunday morning was based here, and I followed Arthur Seaton's footsteps drinking in The Bell, Langtry's, Yates, the Trip ( still my favourite for a sneaky brew or five when in the mood ).
Yates:
|https://thumbsnap.com/NKVJje05[/url]Langtrys
|https://thumbsnap.com/5mu2Wieb[/url]The Trip
|https://thumbsnap.com/CS5DFRYp[/url]Quentin Tarantino chose Nottingham for his world premiere of Reservoir Dogs - I was in the right place at the right time and met the great man.
I can use my bus pass now when I go into the City and avoid peak travel times but everything that has been said about the Council policy is true. They are planning to increase City parking charges to apply upto 10.00pm - another step to dissuade visitors.
Facebook has a lively group 'Nottingham Way Back When' which stirs memories of the town as we remember it.
Nottingham is small enough to have a population where you recognise faces across the bar - the same face that you bump into at a party somewhere in a red light villa in Haden Road but somehow you know you are with friends.
Great Days
gus607 said:
The traffic gridlock in the city is a result of the council's policies. 24 hr bus lanes when there are no 24 hr bus services, dedicated cycle lanes that cyclists never use, siting traffic bollards the center carriageway directly opposite bus stop. I could go on but I think anyone will get the idea.
The bus lanes from the city centre to QMC have 2 24 hour services, I agree the lanes shouldn't have 24 hour time restrictions though. May as well keep them mind, as no one uses the ones from Canning Circus past the Savoy Cinema out of hours anyway. It's great for drivers like me who use the lanes daily*
- ok, I'm a bus driver on the routes
Edited by wazztie16 on Tuesday 26th February 22:45
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Posted in the Lounge rather than Midlands as those in the Midlands probably know. (and it's a general debate about our towns)
Other than having a greater chance than usual of being shot, Nottingham is such a great place! I've just been out for a mooch in this fabulous February sunshine.
I really love this place. Do you love your city? Post us up some pics.
Here's a few of the city I love
The tall building in the second pic was my main university building. Spent a lot of time in there.Other than having a greater chance than usual of being shot, Nottingham is such a great place! I've just been out for a mooch in this fabulous February sunshine.
I really love this place. Do you love your city? Post us up some pics.
Here's a few of the city I love
Gassing Station | Midlands | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff