Notts Going On: Lion dens and speedy skates
Sink your teeth into our roar-some news tidbits and events...
Happy Monday! I’m feeling the good vibes, thanks to the bank holiday weekend coming up. Spring is also finally springing — I got out to Colwick which is one of my favourite spring walks around Nottingham, and loved the buzz around the place. That being said though, I do get a little scared of the sheer amount of geese there is there, as impressive as they are.
There is someone in Nottingham who is much more fearless than me when it comes to wild animals, though — and I'm not just talking about ducks. All that and more is below...
Notts Going On
Curated by Eve Smallman
News
🦁 Strelley-based exotic animal keeper Reece Oliver has been approached by other councils interested in helping facilitate building 'a world class' home for his animals, after Broxtowe Borough Council rejected his plans last week due to greenbelt and flooding concerns. Oliver keeps four lions, 27 monkeys, a puma and a tapir currently and hoped the new enclosure “would do the same for Trowell as Chester Zoo did for Chester.” Speaking to Notts TV (read the piece here), he said he wants to help more animals and can’t do it in Strelley any more. He's also hoping to submit revised plans, so we don't expect that this is the last we'll hear of this.
🏆 Nottingham's own Bella Ramsey was nominated for a TV BAFTA for their role in The Last of Us. This follows a string of award nominations in 2023 including the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics' Choice Awards. They were born in Nottingham and trained at The Television Workshop, which has seen many notable alumni come out of it including Vicky McClure and Samantha Morton. The workshop also announced last week it's hosting its first-ever black tie ball in October, which sounds like a fab event to go to support the great work they do (more info on The Television Workshop website here).
📜 An unpublished letter penned by Nottingham romantic poet Lord Byron sold for £6,000 at auction. It was written to ‘Father of Reform’ politician, Major John Cartwright, apologising for being unable to attend a meeting between them due to needing to leave London suddenly. Director of Chorley's Auctioneers Werner Freudnel told the BBC the letter "shows a human insight into Byron's extraordinary character and knowing the background to his life at the time makes it all the more interesting." By this, he means this was the time Byron shot into celebrity status in Regency London and was sought after at every party.
🏡 The sun might have started peeking out, but we'll still take any excuse to snuggle up in front of the fireplace. If you're the same and have a house budget of £700k (jealous if so), this Chilwell Lane property in Bramcote on Rightmove may be for you. The ceilings are adorned with dark wooden beams, which are beautifully complemented by the airy paintwork and natural light. It also has three bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, three spacious reception rooms, and a rear garden with bags of potential. The highlight for us is that brick fireplace though, which looks straight out of a storybook.
⚽ Nottingham Forest had a busy week, despite not playing due to the international break. On Monday they received a four-point deduction for breaching financial rules by spending £34.5million above the permitted loss threshold of £61million. They are unlikely to appeal, due to the original verdict of six points being negotiated down to four. Meanwhile, PM Rishi Sunak visited City Ground for the unveiling of Forest's community health initiative A New Vision for Sport, which will aim to ensure adults and children all get the time and space to exercise. Find out more about it on the Nottingham Forest site.
Events
😋 Looking to stock up on seasonal goods for any Easter parties you’re planning? The Welbeck Estate is hosting an Easter Food Market on March 29-30 and April 30 (so Friday, Saturday and Monday). Expect tempting food and drink such as Brewery beers made on the estate, chutneys, sweet treats, and more. Entry is free as is parking, making it the perfect way to spend a bank holiday weekend in our opinion. Find out more about on the Welbeck site here. If you're looking for more seasonal events for both kids and grownups, check out our guide to Easter events in Nottingham.
And if you’re in need of some sweet treats, we also rounded up our top local chocolate shops and makers.
🎶 If you haven't been down to the beautiful new library yet, this event is a great excuse to go down and see it shine. The monthly cabaret night Sound at Central sees a real mixture of artists perform, and lands on March 30 (Saturday) this month. This time around, music-wise wise you can expect singer-songwriter Franx Anslem and BBC Introducing Song of the Week artist Josie Beth. There will also be wordsmith performances from Nottingham Poet Laureate shortlister and rapper Ty Healy and writer of The Telegraph and Financial Times’ Book of the Year Amy Acre. Tickets are £10pp and can be bought on the Nottingham City Libraries site here.
🛼 Get your skates on and head on over to NTU’s Clifton Campus for an exciting roller derby double header. Nottingham Roller Derby are hosting their first event of the year on March 30, debuting their brand new B team the Bolts. Alongside the Arrows, they’ll be playing against competitors from Sheffield Steel Roller Derby. If you haven’t been to a roller derby before, you can look forward to a fast-paced, full-contact game. Tickets are available on the Notts Roller Derby site here and are £6pp in advance and £8pp on the door, with concessions available.