Notts Going On — Luminarium and Neon Bar opening
Bright exhibitions, a £1.5m home in Greasley, new bars and restaurants, and more...
Hello and welcome to Notts Going On — your weekly guide with events, property, news, and more.
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Notts Going On
By Eve Smallman and Sam Swain
What’s On This Week 🗓️
Men’s Test Series 🏏
When: May 22-25
Where: Trent Bridge, West Bridgford
How much: £25-£40pp adult, £10pp child
The likes of Ben Stokes and Joe Root will be heading to Trent Bridge for this one-off test match against Zimbabwe — England’s first against them for 25 years. Expect fast-paced cricket and a gorgeous aesthetic (that’s made even better by a cup of Pimms or two in our opinion). Adult tickets are £25pp on the final day, and a little more for the first three.
Do if: You’d like to get into this very British sport — traditional, red ball cricket is the best way to do so.
FOREST 🖼️
When: May 24-November 2
Where: Nottingham Castle
How much: Free with £15pp paid ticket
This brand-new exhibition explores the beauty of arboreal art, with six newly commissioned works exploring relationships to Sherwood Forest, the Major Oak, and other broader inspirations. The launch night on Friday is free to attend (but must be booked), and you can meet the artists involved and enjoy live music from Burd Ellen.
Do if: You’d love to explore the natural beauty of Nottinghamshire in a different way.
Scrunchie Making Workshop ✂️
When: May 24
Where: Knit Nottingham
How much: £30pp
During Sew Em Lou’s workshop, you’ll learn how to craft your own cute scrunchies with hand-sewing techniques, fabric gathering, and elastic inserting. By the end, you’ll have two handmade scrunchies to take home with you, and all the skills to make more at home. The ticket price includes materials, equipment, and refreshments.
Do if: You’d like to make a lovely gift for friends or family (or even just for yourself!).
Luminarium: Myriad 🌈
When: May 24-June 1
Where: Lakeside Arts, Beeston
How much: £6.50pp
Nottingham-based artists the Architects of Air are premiering their latest design at Lakeside Arts, which will have colourful domes and tunnels for you to explore. It’s a soothing, sensory experience that is enjoyable for kids and adults alike (FYI, there is an evening grown-ups-only event on May 29). While you’re there, you can also visit Highfields Park and its beautiful waterfall, which is one of our top beauty spots in Notts.
Do if: You’re looking for a relaxing way to spend the bank holiday.
More events:
What’s On This Bank Holiday and Half-Term 🗓️
May half-term and bank holiday in Nottingham — 7 things to do
Looking for things to do during the May half-term around Nottingham? There are so many fun events happening across the whole county.
Theatre 🎭
A Thousand Splendid Suns at Nottingham Playhouse: “Compelling and impactful” — theatre review
Nottingham Playhouse is always a real pleasure to visit, thanks to its quality, curated shows. It’s currently showing A Thousand Splendid Suns — a theatre adaptation of the 2007 novel by Khaled Hosseini, which it’s presenting alongside Birmingham REP and Leeds Playhouse.
Hot Property 🏡
The seven-bedroom Greasley House dates back to 1869, and is filled with a mix of characterful period features and modern touches. Highlights include the polished kitchen, the wine cellar, and the hotel-style bathrooms. There are even integrated Sonos speakers in key rooms to add extra ambience. Outside, it has five glorious acres of gardens with fruit trees, a pergola with power and heating, and outdoor speakers. It’s listed at £1.5m and marketed by Fine & Country. rightmove.co.uk
News 🗞
🎶 Music to our ears: Calling all local artists — the Future Sound of Nottingham competition is officially open! Eight finalists will get the chance to play the Rock City main stage on July 6, where two champions will go on to open the main stages of Splendour. To enter, email hello@nusic.org.uk with one song (mp3 or wav) on a file-sharing link or one streaming link. You’ll also need to confirm your Nottinghamness and if you’re able to perform live. Entries close on May 26. nusic.org.uk
🍹 Cheers to that: New bar Neon officially opens this Wednesday, which will have (you guessed it) bright neon lights and a fun feel. It’s by the team behind vintage store Hopkinson, so expect plenty of quirky vibes, along with cocktails and Pot Noodles (yes, really!). @neon_notts
🍝 Bellissimo: The Italian restaurant Pici has opened in Hockley, which serves fresh pasta, pizzettes, small plates, and more. It’s run by Ryon Ishfaq, who also runs Slice ‘n’ Brew (one of our favourite restaurants in Nottingham). Keep an eye out for our interview with the man himself. picinottingham.co.uk
👗 Dress to impress: Did you catch Eurovision over the weekend? If you did, you likely saw host country Switzerland’s Zoë Më performing. Her dress was designed by Row Seward, who is originally from Beeston. Row told the BBC that it was a ‘pivotal moment’ for her. bbc.co.uk
Scores on the Doors 🏆
🌳 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 2-1 win away at West Ham. Goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic mean that five clubs are separated by a point going into the final game of the season, with Forest needing a win and results to go in their favour in order to qualify. Forest also paid tribute to Taiwo Awoniyi, who continues to recover from a serious abdominal injury.
🐦 Notts County
Notts County's season ended with another disappointing playoff 2-0 aggregate defeat against AFC Wimbledon. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg and without top scorers Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick, Notts fell behind early in the second leg and offered little threat in response, only managing one shot on target.
🏏 Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire will have to dig in on the final day of their County Championship tie at Durham, in what has been a good weekend for batting. Nottinghamshire posted 407 with Haseeb Hameed carrying his bat for 206*, before Durham scored a club record 664. Nottinghamshire will need to bat out the day to secure a draw.
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