Nottingham, 2006
Another wedding trip to Nottingham!
Photos and report by Mike Slocombe, Tuesday, 5-6th August, 2006

Nearly two years on from my last trip to Nottingham, another wedding brought me back up north for a weekend of walking around, taking a few pictures and, of course, drinking.


Booking Hall, Nottingham railway station



I've no idea why people would want to dine inside the truly hideous Broadmarsh shopping centre that blight the centre of Nottingham, but business looked brisk enough on Saturday afternoon.


Proudly boasting to be Nottingham's 'CAMRA pub of the year,' the Bell Inn is a traditional 15th Century Coaching Inn situated on The Old Market Square in the centre of Nottingham.


Apparently sitting on a 'labyrinth of sandstone caves', the Georgian frontage conceals two medieval buildings behind.



Britain hasn't the greatest of reputation when it comes to guest houses and hotels, and it has to be said that ours was pretty awful too.

The hotel - incredibly ranked as highly as three stars - was covered in hideous embossed floral wallpaper that would have looked right at home in a Victorian granny's flat and the nylon mix bedsheets were straight out of the 1970s (anyone remember Alan 'Fluff' Freeman and Brentford Nylons?).

Note the breakfast time: you've got to get up before 9am to have breakfast. On a Sunday!

The hotel owners were friendly enough but bore an uncanny - and rather disturbing - resemblance to characters from the League Of Gentlemen.




In the evening we went to the reception that involved the usual vast amounts of quaffing. We had a great time, although the extended Karaoke session by these ladies sent us fleeing to the other room.



Waking with a surprisingly small hangover. we were up early (yes, we made breakfast!) and out in the glorious sunshine for a walk around Nottingham.

In this view from the bridge carrying London Road over the River Trent, you can see the Notts Forest football ground ('City Ground') to the right.




The various high flood levels of the River Trent have been carved into the stone by the bridge.


Looking south east from the river path with Trent bridge in the background.


Pedestrian footbridge over the Trent that looks like a mini Clifton Suspension Bridge.




There was some sort of mini-festival going on, with a fairground, stalls and shops by Memorial Gardens.

The Meadows memorial (behind the 'Ready Steady Cook' stall), was constructed during the 1920's to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Great War and has since become the focus of remembrance for subsequent conflicts.


Deserted bandstand awaits the next performance.



We grabbed lunch at the Malt Cross Cafe Bar in St James Street, which is situated in a beautifully restored 1877 music hall.

The venue, which features a fabulous curved glass roof, still puts on live acts.




We took a shortcut to the station through an area known as 'The Meadows'


It seemed that time had stood still in some places, with the area retaining its original red-brick Victorian housing. This is a view of an old factory on Pyatt Street.


Knocked over bollard, Turney Street and Wilford Crescent East.


Motor Tab Cycles, corner of Bathley Street and Wilford Crescent E.


Fire damaged workshop.


Newsagent with headlines warning of an 'eviction threat to moto users' (a 'moto' is those annoying little motorbikes that kids race noisily around streets and pavements on).

As As car parks go (and believe me, that generally isn't very far in my world) this one's almost stylish.




Fisherman and barge.


A last look at Nottingham's surviving main line station before catching the 13:36 back to London St Pancras.




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