The Easter holidays don’t necessarily mean that you’re back home with your parents, home cooked meals and chocolate eggs. Plenty of us will be staying in Nottingham for at least part of the break due to part-time jobs, looming essay deadlines and the dreaded word ‘dissertation’. However, just because you’re staying in Nottingham during the holidays doesn’t mean that you should be stuck in Hallward 24/7. Here are 10 ways to spend your downtime in Nottingham this Easter.
1. Lost City Adventure Golf at the Cornerhouse
A couple of weeks ago my sister came to visit and we went to the Lost City Adventure Golf at the Cornerhouse. I hadn’t played Adventure Golf in years but it was surprisingly fun – you can’t beat the thrill of getting a hole in one! With a décor reminiscent of the game Temple Run, and a casino to test out your luck next door, who wouldn’t want to try out 36 holes and a free beer for £10 for students, Monday to Thursday? If you clear the final hole, you win a gold coin which you can convert into a free game!
2. Have a whole loveseat to yourself at the Savoy
Everyone loves a good night at the cinema. Saturday nights at the Savoy during term time are packed with students looking for cheap tickets. During Easter take advantage of an empty cinema screen at the Savoy and veg out on a loveseat just for you (and maybe your popcorn too). If you fancy a more indie, artsy or foreign film, head to the Broadway cinema in town.
3. Branch out from Nando’s and try out a different restaurant, like Annie’s Burger Shack, Marrakech or the just opened Five Guys
There’s a reason why Nandos is so popular – it offers tasty food at prices affordable for students. However, Nottingham is home to many more restaurants, so use your time off from lectures to take advantage of this. Gorge at Annie’s Burger Shack in Lace Market, savour Lebanese-Moroccan food at Marrakesh or try out the new Five Guys in Market Square. If you want to try somewhere even more unique, stroll down Lace Market and discover your new favourite café.
4. Take selfies with the icons of Nottingham, e.g. the Robin Hood Statue and the Lions in Market Square
It can be easy to neglect taking pictures of our great student city when we spend three years living here. But it’s the age of the selfie, so make sure to take those iconic photos next to the Robin Hood Statue and the Lions in Market Square (especially if you are graduating soon!)
5. Sing-along Frozen
Be a big kid and belt out ‘Let It Go’ at the Theatre Royal Concert Hall’s interactive screening of Frozen. There are two shows on Monday 13th April – one at 11am and one at 3pm. Dressing up is encouraged!
6. Use the hopper buses and explore Jubilee, Sutton Bonnington and even King’s Meadow campuses
You can forget that the University of Nottingham consists of more than just University Park campus. Take a hopper bus and explore the futuristic buildings at Jubilee campus, the beautiful countryside at Sutton Bonnington campus and even the oft-forgotten archives at King’s Meadow campus.
7. See a night of comedy at the Glee Club
This one is yet to be crossed off my bucket list for before I graduate, but I’m hoping to go during Easter. Every Friday and Saturday nights you can see live comedy at the Glee Club (next to the Cornerhouse), with student tickets at only £5.
8 .Take a bus out of town to an area of Nottinghamshire you’ve never been to before
If you are yet to venture further than Uni Park, the City Centre, Lenton and Beeston, try taking a bus from town to an area of Nottingham which you have never been to to truly get to know your student city. Make sure you have data on your phone for GPS and get ready for an adventure! You don’t have to study abroad to explore a cool new place, just take the Navy Line bus to Gotham!
9. Pride of Nottingham Beer Festival
Get drunk the old fashioned way at the oldest pubs in Nottingham. From 14th-19th April, Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem and The Bell Inn are hosting a beer festival including live music, food and of course beer!
10. Experience Spoken Word poetry at Poetry Is Dead Good & Twisted Tongues
One of Nottingham’s most well-known secrets is its spoken word poetry scene. Once a month Jam Café in Hockley is host to Poetry Is Dead Good, including sets from local poets and an open mic, whilst The Fat Cat in Derby also hosts Twisted Tongues once a month. Poetry Is Dead Good is free, whilst Twisted Tongues is only £1 for students. Check their Facebook pages for more info.
Edited by Harriet Dunlea
Sources:
http://www.lostcityadventuregolf.com/
http://www.savoycinemas.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/england/university-nottingham-jubilee-campus
https://www.glee.co.uk/nottingham/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ye_Olde_Trip_To_Jerusalem_1997.jpg