By early evening the pubs around the Old Market Square are filling, the restaurants of the Lace Market are busy, and the trams are carrying people in from the suburbs for a night that can run late. Later on, the same streets hold a mix of drinkers, diners and gig-goers, with venues spread across the centre rather than concentrated in one strip.
Nottingham's nightlife suits people who want variety within walking distance: historic pubs, bars in converted buildings, live rock and student disco nights, and a well-established gay scene. The city is generally described as friendly and down-to-earth, and it is regarded as gay-friendly, with notable LGBT visibility and a scene referred to as the gay capital of the Midlands.
Where to go out in Nottingham
1. Lace Market
The trendy area east of Market Square, with many good restaurants alongside its bars. It suits a night that starts with dinner and continues over drinks, and the restored former industrial buildings give the district its character.
As a practical starting point, treat the Lace Market as the beginning of an evening rather than the end of one, since it sits within easy reach of the rest of the centre.
2. Around Market Square
The pubs here tend to appeal to younger drinkers, with a Wetherspoon's and a Yates's Wine Lodge among the options. It suits a straightforward, busy night out in the middle of the city.
Several of the city's oldest pubs are in and around this area, including The Bell Inn on Angel Row and The Ned Ludd on Friar Lane, which serves local ale from Nottingham Brewery.
3. Canal side
The area around the Canal House pub is described as a little more discerning than the Market Square cluster. It suits a quieter, more settled drink rather than a loud night.
The Canalhouse itself sits on Canal Street, and Brew Tavern is within the railway station off Queen's Road if you are arriving or leaving by train.
4. Hockley
Hockley provides a range of pleasant bars to suit a range of budgets. It suits groups who want to move between several places without committing to one for the whole evening.
5. The Cornerhouse complex
Near the Royal Centre tram stop, this complex contains several bars, with Revolution named among them. It suits a convenient, central night where everything is under one roof.
The Playwright 38, formerly The Orange Tree, is close by on Shakespeare Street.
6. Historic pubs
At least three pubs in Nottingham claim to be among the oldest in the city and the country, so a night built around them suits anyone interested in the city's older side. Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, below the castle, claims to be the oldest pub in the UK and is often on the tourist trail.
Ye Olde Salutation Inn on Maid Marian Way has a building dating from 1240 and caves from the 9th century; at a quiet moment you can ask for a tour of its cellars, dug by hand into the sandstone and once used as a brewing area. The Bell Inn began as the site of a friary and became an inn after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and now serves food, drink and sports on TV.
7. Live music and club nights
Rock City on Talbot Street hosts one of the biggest student disco nights in town, with standard dance and pop music, when popular live rock bands are not playing. It suits a late, loud night and a student-heavy crowd.
For something different, The Pitcher and Piano is a converted Unitarian church with Gothic decor and stained glass windows, and draws a slightly more mature crowd. LBC, a monthly electronic music event at The Bodega, features upcoming artists from around the world, has fairly cheap entry and is aimed mainly at the student population.
8. Sneinton
The multicultural area of Sneinton, slightly out of the centre, is home to the Lord Nelson, a pub with a great garden and real ales. It suits a more relaxed evening away from the busiest streets.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not set out a detailed timetable for an evening. What they do show is that the city has a range of pubs and bars serving drinks late into the night, that the Lace Market works well as a place to eat before drinking, and that club and disco nights such as Rock City's run after the pubs. Plan on eating first, then moving between bars, with the option of a late venue afterwards.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Nottingham Goose Fair — held on the Forest Recreation Ground on the first weekend of October each year, at the Forest tram stop. One of Britain's largest funfairs, it is free to enter and is best seen after dark, though it is likely to be less busy during the day.
- Riverside Festival — held at Victoria Embankment on a weekend at the start of August each year, with live music, markets and fairs, finishing with a fireworks display.
- Nottingham Pride — held annually on the last weekend of July at the Forest Recreation Ground, with stages of music and comedy, stalls and food and drink areas. Entry is free.
- Bonfire Night fireworks — an annual display at the Forest Recreation Ground, which also has a funfair.
- Varsity sports series — the annual series between the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, the largest of its kind outside North America.
- Nottingham Open — a tennis tournament held each year in the week running up to Wimbledon.
Frequently asked questions
Where is a good place to start an evening in Nottingham?
The Lace Market, east of Market Square, is described as a good place to start, with many restaurants as well as bars.
Is Nottingham a good city for LGBT visitors?
Yes. Nottingham is described as gay-friendly and accepting of LGBT people, with notable gay visibility and a scene referred to as the gay capital of the Midlands. Nottingham Pride is held annually on the last weekend of July.
Can you go out late in Nottingham?
Yes. The city has a range of pubs and bars serving drinks late into the night, and there are club and disco nights for afterwards.
What is on in Nottingham in autumn?
The Goose Fair is held on the Forest Recreation Ground on the first weekend of October each year, and the same ground hosts the city's annual Bonfire Night fireworks display.
Decide which part of the city suits the evening you want, check what is on, and plan your route between them before you set out.