The annual It’s in Nottingham Independents Festival makes a return to the city this weekend on Saturday, 6 July to celebrate and highlight Nottingham’s vast range of independently owned businesses with free activities and events taking place across the city, courtesy of Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID).
At Trinity Square and in the surrounding area, local businesses are organising a family fun day with free entertainment, music, stalls and activities from 10am to 4pm. Amongst the activities are:
· Pedal your way to create a smoothie
· Make colourful flowers and turn them into jewellery – The Bead Shop
· Braids and glitter hair – Steele Hairdressing
· Food Samples – Tough Mary’s Bakery
· Chocolate Samples – Studio Chocolate
· Learn how to plant and grow plants for eating
· Dance to jazz, disco and world music with JamCafe
· Festival Hairstyling and 50% off voucher to be used in the salon or coffee bar -Tuckwell & Co
· Colouring fun – Handmade Nottingham
Special events and workshops will also be taking place at some of the city’s most popular independent shopping destinations throughout the day including:
· Trinity Walk
o The Little London Herbal Shop are running a selfie competition with MooGoo the Cow
o Steele Hairdressing – face painting, balloon modeller with vouchers giveaway to spend at Steele Hairdressing
· Kings Walk
o Handmade Nottingham- Quick portraits and clay workshops
· Bridlesmith Walk
o Stick and Ribbon – free tote bag with every purchase
· Derby Road
o Tough Mary’s Bakehouse enjoy the delights of the Bakehouse and a plant pop-upup by Welch the Florist
· Flying Horse Walk
o 200 Degrees Coffee. Barista brewing bar experience from 8am-11am. No booking required plus special breakfast offer of a hot drink and a breakfast item for just £5 from 7.30am til 11.30am, whilst stocks last.
o Brew Cavern and the Cheese Shop are teaming up for a day of cheese and beer with 10% off at each business for all paired products – all day.
· Hockley
o The Carousel on Hockley Street – an opportunity to learn about Risograph printing and create your own selfie – 11am til 3pm
o JamCafé – Open deck event so take along your own vinyl
· The Lace Market
o Annie’s Burger Shack – Summer Street Party including a hot dog eating competition with live music
o Debbie Bryan – Wall plate crafternoon from 5pm til 7pm when people can try their hand at illustration and hand lettering to craft a unique decorative wall plate.
o Deli-cious Chocolate at the National Justice Museum – Free chocolate lollipop for the first 50 people.
· Maid Marian Way area
o The Specialty Coffee Shop with Loxley Opticians and Eyewear Specialists– face painting, glitter and children’s games from 10am til 4pm
o Ye Olde Salutation Inn – Tours of caves underneath the Inn, all day and then for 18s and over there will be Wildside, the UK’s No1 glam rock and heavy metal night from 9pm.
· Market Street
o The Bead Shop – make a flower at Trinity Square then take it into the shop to receive a sparkly badge any time during the day.
o Flint Barbers – arcade games, mocktails and vegan snacks in their underground room and also vintage clothing available to buy throughout the day along with an opportunity to win a £50 FIO vintage streetwear voucher.
· Pelham Street
o Gray and Bull Opticians – artist Emily Catherine will be in store from 10am til 1pm to draw people’s portraits.
o The Kitchen on Pelham Street Movie night. Watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s whilst enjoying high tea and prosecco at 7.30pm Tickets for this and workshops can be won – keep an eye on @itsinnottingham social media for a chance to win.
· St James Street
o Dukki – make a key ring or a badge and paint your own salt-dough duckoration throughout the day
o Shop Zero – a goodie bag worth £20 full of St James’ Street Treats for the first five customers; enjoy unpackaged bread and cake from Betty Rose Bakes – bring in your own containers to collect . Family music from Busking with Johnny
o The Malt Cross – Nottingham Craft Breweries Take Over – featuring local breweries Black Iris, Neon Raptor and Liquid Light 12 Noon til 1am. From 1pm local artist Lawrence English of Kagoule will be creating an art piece on the theme of independence and there will be a set from Stiff Kittens and music from local artists curated by Phlexx Records
· St Peter’s Gate
o The Tokenhouse – spend £10 and receive a free tote bag.
· Sneinton Market – music, dancing, food drink and local crafts
o Curious – try a vintage sewing machine, craft a flower or buy a vintage item – 10am til 3pm
o Montana – spray painting – all day
o Stewarts – 10am-2pm an opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn how coffee is prepared.
o Vegan Chocolates by Luisa – chocolate tasting and chocolate making workshops – 10.30am til 5pm.
In addition, there will be opportunities for people to take part in free tours of areas of the city where there are clusters of independents with Nottingham’s favourite outlaw, Robin Hood. The tours will be taking place on Saturday 6 July as well as on Saturday 20 and Saturday 26 July with three different tours to choose from. For more information and details about how to register for a city tour visit: www.itsinnotingham.com
“There will be so much going on in the city for all the family to enjoy during the It’s in Nottingham Independents Festival that we encourage people to come and enjoy all the great activities that are taking place,” said Geoff Williams, director of Nottingham BID. “Supporting Nottingham’s independent businesses is so important to help our city flourish and to define it from other cities in the area.”
