Notts Going On: An elevated chicken shop and farmyard fun
Notts Going On: An elevated chicken shop and farmyard fun
East Midlands' first mayor, a stunning Sherwood home, and a pop star on the theatre stage...
Welcome to Notts Going On! We’re back after a beautiful bank holiday weekend. We hope you all got to enjoy some rays and properly relax. We enjoyed heading to Lakeside Arts’ Counter Culture exhibition, which is a very thought-provoking exhibition that’s more than just Boots goods (as fascinating as they are).
Looking for things to get stuck into for the week ahead? If your morning coffee isn’t enough to energise you, we’ve got plenty of news and events that will…
Notts Going On
By Eve Smallman
News 🗞️
🗳️ Coming up roses: Labour's Claire Ward was elected East Midlands Mayor on Friday. She collected 181,040 votes across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and had 51,708 more than Conservative Ben Bradley. Meanwhile, Labour's Gary Godden replaced Caroline Henry as Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, defeating her by over 40,000 votes. Her five speeding offences might not have helped. East Midlands Mayor nottstv.com / PCC nottstv.com
🍔 Winner winner, chicken dinner: Fried chicken restaurant Mollis — created by Alchemilla's Michelin chef Alex Bond — took over the Saltbox at the Motorpoint on Friday and will now be there for three months on Fridays and Saturdays. It'll be serving up dishes such as Nashville hot oil fried chicken with miso ranch and southern fried chicken with kewpie mayo, aiming to elevate casual dining for fans. Alex Bond says, "It's a chance to introduce our delicious food to thousands of people coming to see their favourite acts at the Arena and give them some of the best fried chicken they’ve ever had." mollis.uk
👨🍳 Surprise visitor: Gordon Ramsay visited Kushi-ya last Wednesday, visiting the restaurant with his family and calling the food ‘delicious.’ He’s not the first celebrity to enjoy the Japanese restaurant — The Observer food critic Jay Rayner visited in 2022, which launched it into major fame in the food scene, with it even scooping up a Bib Gourmand. @chefinnotts
🏏 Bowled over: Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club's Ben Duckett has been named in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad. This tournament starts in June and will take place in the West Indies and the USA. The top-order batter has a career T20 tally of 4,500 runs at a strike rate below 140. In March 2019 he scored a double century for Notts, which was the fastest first-class double century by a Nottinghamshire batsman. trentbridge.co.uk
Hot property 🏡
Sherwood is one of the hottest places to bag a property at the moment, and this detached family home is a beautiful and characterful choice. The property spans four floors and includes three reception rooms, a kitchen diner, five bedrooms, and five bathrooms. The highlight for us is the stunning decked balcony, which offers soaring views of the area, and looks like the ideal spot to enjoy a drink and dinner with friends. It’s listed by DHP Living and is listed at £485k. rightmove.co.uk
What’s on 🗓️
Punch 🎭
When: May 7-25
Where: Nottingham Playhouse
How much: From £9.50pp
The world premiere of Punch opens at the Playhouse this week. Set in Nottingham, this play explores the true story of Jacob Dunne, whose life completely changes after one adrenaline-fuelled night in Old Market Square. The play is based on Jacob’s book Right From Wrong, and has been adapted for the stage by Nottingham’s James Graham, writer of BBC’s Sherwood. It promises to be gripping, moving, and heartbreaking.
Do if: You have a drama queued up to watch on TV — this will be better, trust us.
2:22 A Ghost Story 🎭
When: May 7-11
Where: Theatre Royal, Nottingham
How much: £17.50-£45.50pp
Have you ever argued with your partner that there are ghosts in your house? You might relate to Jenny, who believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. As the night draws on, they get a feeling they can’t shake off, and stay up until 2:22 to find out if anything is lurking in the dark. Newark’s own Jay McGuiness, of The Wanted fame, stars alongside George Rainsford, Fiona Wade, and Vera Chok.
Do if: You’ve seen the memes about the show and want to know what it’s actually about.
Nottinghamshire County Show 🌳😋
When: May 11
Where: Newark Showground
How much: £18pp adult, free under 17s
Explore the best of the area’s farming, rural life, and countryside on this day out filled with activities, food, and more. See adorable farmyard animals from White Post Farm and take part in workshops and demos, get closer to the local community by meeting county-wide groups and seeing performers, and have a go at baking and gardening in the make and grow section. You can also delve into food from handpicked local producers. Basically, you’re going to be busy.
Do if: You want to learn more about what our area has to offer.
National Mills Weekend 🌳
When: May 11-12
Where: Green’s Windmill, Sneinton
How much: Free
We think it’s amazing that we have a whole 19th-century windmill that’s just a few minutes stroll away from the city centre. If you’ve never been, this weekend is a great opportunity to head inside it and enjoy breathtaking views. You can also learn how it still turns grain into flour using 200-year-old methods and can even grab a bag to take home with you to turn into delicious baked goods.
Do if: You’re looking to entertain the kids without spending a lot.
Nottingham Vintage Pop-Up 🛍️
When: May 12
Where: Nottingham Contemporary
How much: £5pp early bird, £1pp after the first hour, free for last hour
Shake up your Sunday shopping experience by heading to the Contemporary and browsing over 40 rails filled with vintage clothes, with prices starting from as little as £10. There will be clothes of all kinds, such as Y2K, designer, American and European. No matter whether you’re trying to find a diamond in the rough or want to go for that casual vintage look, you’re sure to find something that suits your style.
Do if: You need some new garms for summer and want to shop sustainably.