We are having a child free night away in... Nottingham

[poopcollector101]

Ok, so me and DH are going to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary by getting tattooed by a friend, he is currently working in Nottingham so we are travelling up there on the Saturday, getting tattooed and then staying over for the night. I know its not a particularly romantic or exotic location but a child free night away it is and we want to make the most of it.
Can anyone recommend places to stay / eat / visit?

We like craft beer and films! Also museums are good.

Nottingham is great! Think the cool area with bars and restaurants is called the lace market.

Nottingham is awesome. There are thousands of options for things to do and places to eat.

I am a native ask me anything 😁 I love my city!
Will you have access to a car and what kind of food/nightlife scene are you into?

Suggest Nottingham Contemporary gallery, Broadway cinema, Bar Iberico for a lovely meal. Will watch out for beer recommendations. We've only lived in Nottingham two years but don't get many child free nights out either!

Being a native I haven't stayed in many hotels but I have reliable recommendation that the ibis hotel is reasonably priced and nice.

If you like films and are staying in the city centre I recommend Broadway Cinema or there is a Cineworld in the corner House complex along with hundreds of chain restaurants and bars.

Mine and DH childfree night in the city would go thus;

Staying at the ibis hotel

Dinner at Annie's Burger Shack in the lace market

Drinks in the many hundreds of bars/pubs to choose from but we do have a fondness for the pit and pendulum pub, the malt cross and the old trip to jerusalem (oldest pub in England)

A ghost tour from the old salutation Inn which is always a giggle.

The wonderful thing is the city centre is really condensed so everything is a ten minute walk away.

You could do the caves tour, it's fascinating and accessible from the city centre.

I agree with Mrs Shelby. Annie’s burger shack is great (just check out the menu online) if you want casual but cool food. Good beer selection too.

The Malt Cross and the Trip to Jerusalem are both great for beer (but a bit of a walk from Annie’s). If you want something more upmarket and in the same area as these two pubs, Forthergills is really lovely.

I personally don’t love the Lace Market anymore. I’m too old for the scantily dressed street drunks, but the other end, all round the castle is lovely.

Oh and I should probably mention places to NOT go.
Avoid the rose and crown near the victoria shopping center as well as blah blah bar on on St James Street.

(The Canal House, also near Fothergills, The Malt Cross and the Trip is also fanatastic for craft beer- there are zillions! And it’s a cool pub, built over the canal)

You probably want to check out the Bell Inn too- it competes with the Trip for being the oldest pub in Britain...or something like that!

Sounds like a great night actually!! What time shall I meet you? 😉

I also recommend Annie’s Burger Shack. Bloody amazing food, which any option can be made veggie or vegan. Some of their burgers are insane. DP has a Sunday dinner burger so basically an entire Sunday dinner (veg and gravy too) on a bun with a burger patty! Cool vibe too.

We stayed in the Hilton once when there, it was ok (we got a good price for the king size plus room)

@Dakotafanny Fothergils is upmarket? 😂 It's always full of tired and pissed off looking lawyers and old men when ever I'v been in. A bit like browns near the castle.

More upmarket, without being posh I would say? I really like it there...the food is very good. Have only been twice, so may be wrong...no lawyers when I have been. (I also love Browns though 😬)

Oh op, just a word of caution. DO not be tempted to touch the ship encased in glass in the upstairs bar at the trip to Jerusalem. Unless you want to be cursed and die of course, then go for it 😁

I love talking about my city. Honestly I could go on for hours. lol

Definitely Annie’s for awesome burgers. They have a great bar downstairs too with retro games consoles.

I love nottingham and live here! Ask away!

Some suggestions

Broadway for movies as suggested by others
St James hotel is lovely and reasonable

Craft beer - brewdog, junkyard, ned lugg, and there is one opposite Broadway but cant remember the name!

Loads of other nice bars if you like a cocktail. Tilt is my favourite.

For food it depends what you like...bar iberico, baresca and Botti di mamma are my favourites

Have a great time and happy anniversary

We stayed in the Hilton on a Sat night, it was a nice hotel and we got a voucher for a free Costa in the Costa cafe they have which was nice. However it was packed and v noisy. The noise didn't really disturb us as we were fortunately in a room on one of the highest floors but I'm sure it would have if we were on one of the bottom floors. There were a few hen and stag parties etc but it was March/April time.

We visited the cat cafe which was nice altho v busy and imo overpriced but they are all expensive I know. And the castle which was good fun and interesting, def worth a visit.

@meadowhay the castle is a great recommendation but is currently closed undergoing major refurbishment untill late 2020

Go and play a game of adventure golf underneath the Corner House

I didn't think much of kitty cafe, the cats ignored me and DS! Could have been ignored by my own cat at home for that price.

I forgot museums! The contemporary and galleries of justice are both different but great!

The Lacemarket is the old lace factory buildings and runs into area known as Hockley. If you're asking directions, ask for Hockley as it's the busiest area and just up from the Market Square. It's a great option for a one night stay. Full of bars, cafes, restaurants and home to the Broadway cinema, which shows both indie and quality mainstream films and also its own bar and cafe. Great atmosphere in that area, do not miss it to go to Cineworld or the Cornerhouse (they could be anywhere. ...you want to experience Nottingham!). Broadway tickets also cheaper than the national chains, it's a win-win.

Ibis hotel is 1-2 min walk away ftom Hockley area and about 5-8 mins walk from the train station or it has a tram stop outside.

For food, I've heard good things about 'Sexy Moma Loves Spaghetti ' and Edin's (same ownership). Think there are two of each now. All in the Hockley area and a couple opposite Broadway. There"s also 'Oscar and Rosie's (near The Angel pub) for fantastic pizza....very slightly more £ than Pizza Express but worth it. Annie's is famous for huge burgers, but I"ve only ever been once and that was enough for me...depends how burger-mad you are! Lots of Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and Indian choices near Broadway too.

Craft beer...... Google "Castle Rock Brewery' They brew in the city, down by the railway station but have pubs or micropubs scattered all over the city.

For Saturday Night/Sunday Morning (another great Nottingham reference), there's the Contemporary art gallery. Usually one or two exhibitions, fab gift shop and cafe. Or, Google 'Sneinton Market'. This is just over the road from the Hockley area and has lots of tiny independent shop and makers units, the Fox and Grapes pub serving Castle Rock beer, and on some nights is alive with open air events and live music (only sometimes though, so Google first).

Can only scratch the surface here....a great city that gets into your soul....hope you have a fab time and get to return for a longer stay.

This is all so helpful, thank you everyone.

I think we might well go for the Ibis, as its reasonable and we just booked trains (£82 per person from Bristol :o )

We will definitely visit Annies, so many recommendations!