Notts Going On — Half-term fun and the return of cricket
Family-friendly activities, a £1.9m home in Mapperley, Vitality Blast tickets, and more...
Hello and welcome to Notts Going On — your weekly guide with events, property, news, and more.
We’re just about over Valentine’s Day and are getting ready to jump into pancake day (keep an eye on your inboxes this weekend for our top picks!). However, our love for Nottingham lasts for all days of the year — and we’ve celebrated this with a little video showcasing our favourite things about the area (click through to Instagram to watch it!).
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Notts Going On
By Sam Swain
What’s On 🗓️
Nashville at Heart 🎶
When: February 18
Where: Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
How much: £29.50pp
Country music is having a moment right now, with some of the biggest songs of the last year coming straight out of Nashville. Nashville at Heart are made up of some fantastic session musicians, who will be covering the likes of Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and Taylor Swift. There is limited availability and this is on Tuesday, so you might want to be quick in snapping up tickets.
Do if: You’d like to see your modern country music playlist brought to life (we know you have one!).
Wickedly Ariana 🎶
When: February 19
Where: Mansfield Palace Theatre
How much: £24.50pp
Hannah Thomas is bringing one of 2024’s biggest film releases to Mansfield Palace Theatre this half term, covering tunes by pop sensation Ariana Grande. Expect stunning outfits, incredible choreography, and — of course — some of your favourite sing-along hits. She’ll be playing a mixture of songs from her discography (think 7 Rings, thank u, next, and One Last Time), as well as ones from the musical Wicked.
Do if: You’re looking for a mid-week pick-me-up.
Half Term at Wollaton Hall 🖼️🌳
When: Until February 23
Where: Wollaton Hall, Nottingham
How much: Mix of free and ticketed events
Wollaton Hall is one of Nottinghamshire’s most iconic landmarks, and is hosting a feast of half term activities this February. Inside you’ll find lots of historic animals (including the infamous George the Gorilla). It’s also the last chance to see Dr Willard Wigan MBE’s Miniature Masterpieces exhibition Disappearing World, which showcases 20 intricate sculptures all in the eye of a needle. Outside, you can follow the Little Critters trail and discover different wildlife (£2 per trail map).
Do if: You’re looking for some educational fun to entertain the kids with this half-term.
Have a Go Archery 🎯
When: February 23
Where: Sherwood Forest, Edwinstowe
How much: From £3
Ever wanted to try your hand at archery? Fancy yourself as the next Robin Hood? The Sherwood Outlaws are at Sherwood Forest this weekend and will be giving expert archery tuition to help you hit target. No booking is required, making it a great addition to a day out in at the home of Robin Hood. It’s also ideal for budding bow and arrow enthusiasts — as long as they’re over five.
Do if: You’d like to give a new activity a go.
More events:
Interiors ✨
Nottingham pro organiser Lisa Coe on how to declutter your home — and keep it tidy for good
Even though it’s not spring cleaning season just yet, you might already be thinking about the items piled up in your home and wondering how to get on top of them.
Hot Property 🏡
Sometimes you just have to go big, and this five bedroom house on Plains Road in Mapperley is all that and more. Downstairs it has a luxe hallway with a central staircase, an open-plan kitchen and living area, and even a spa-style swimming pool. Upstairs, you’ll find the bedrooms — the bedroom suite with the walk-out balcony is especially wonderful, offering spectacular views of the county. The house is listed at a cool £1.95m and it’s marketed by Marriott Estate Agents LTD. rightmove.co.uk
News 🗞
🏏 Good innings: Preparations are well underway for a summer of cricket, with both the Notts Outlaws and The Blaze gearing up for the Vitality Blast, which runs from May 30-July 18. The 2025 edition is the first year that both men and women will play in the Blast together, with the tournament opener against the Birmingham Bears (May 30) being the pick of the double headers (with kids tickets for £1, too!). There’s also a £10 game between the Outlaws and the Yorkshire Vikings (June 11) and a local derby against the Derbyshire Falcons (June 13) to look forward to. The early bird ticket window opens this week on February 19. trentbridge.co.uk
🌟 Chef's kiss: Some of Nottingham’s best dining locations received recognition in the Michelin Guide last week. Alchemilla retained its current star, Iberico World Tapas and Kushi-ya kept their Bib Gourmands, and Raymond’s was featured in the guide for the first time. In the wider county, Restaurant Sat Bains retained its two stars, The Reindeer retained its Bib Gourmand, and Jericho gained a Michelin Green Star. We’re not sure if the people at Michelin read our best restaurants guide before making their choices, but it’s worth a look if you want to see what our city’s best chefs make of food in the area. michelin.com
🩰 RAD Recognition: The Royal Academy of Dance is recognising a centenary of its children’s dance scholarship this year, and in doing so is honouring Sissie Smith — one of its first five pupils. Smith performed for royalty and taught dance in the area for her whole life. Helen Leonard-Taylor who runs the Leonard School of Dance said that Smith, who taught her, left a lasting legacy. bbc.co.uk
Scores on the doors ⚽
🌳 Nottingham Forest 🦌 Mansfield Town 🐦 Notts County
In the Premier League, Nottingham Forest fell to defeat 2-1 away at Fulham despite Chris Wood scoring his 18th league goal of the season. Mansfield Town's losing run ended after a thrilling 3-3 draw in their League One clash away at Blackpool, while Notts County slipped to a 1-0 defeat away against Port Vale.
🏒 Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers enjoyed a high scoring weekend in the Elite League though, beating Coventry Blaze twice — first winning at home 6-2, before a 6-4 win away.
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