What's On in Nottingham

Nottingham Beyond Van Gogh — Running in sessions from 9:00am right through to 5:00pm, this extraordinary immersive experience turns the Motorpoint Arena into a living, breathing painting, wrapping you in thousands of Van Gogh's swirling brushstrokes projected floor to ceiling all around you. It is the kind of thing that makes you gasp a little and then stand very still, taking it all in — perfect for art lovers, curious teenagers, and anyone who wants something genuinely different from a Saturday morning. Check the website for session times and ticket prices, and book ahead because sessions are filling fast.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — The smash-hit West End show that had London audiences on their feet rolls into the Theatre Royal Nottingham for both a 2:30pm matinee and a 7:30pm evening performance, so you can take your pick. Based on the audacious true story of a World War Two Allied deception operation, this is musical theatre at its most thrillingly inventive — funny, moving, and genuinely surprising in equal measure. Check the website for ticket details and do not sleep on this one; it is exactly the kind of show people talk about for weeks afterwards.

Save The Rave: Indoor/ 90's Festival Experience - Nottingham! — From midday, this indoor 90s festival experience promises to drag you straight back to the golden era of neon bucket hats, euphoric piano riffs, and hands-in-the-air anthems that simply do not make themselves anymore. The venue is to be confirmed, so check the website for the location, but the concept is gloriously simple: dress up, let go, and dance like it is 1995. Whether you actually lived through the decade or you are coming to it fresh, this is pure, uncomplicated joy.

Red Dog's Bottomless Country Brunch — At £40–£46 a head, the Bottomless Country Brunch at Red Dog Saloon from 2:00pm is the kind of gloriously indulgent afternoon that turns into an early evening without anyone quite noticing. Think hearty Southern-inspired food, bottomless drinks, and a live country soundtrack filling the room with warmth and twang. It is rowdy, it is fun, and it is the perfect way to kick off a big Saturday night — or simply to make the afternoon the main event.

Reggae Bingo - Nottingham - Sat 1st Aug — Bingo gets a serious upgrade at The Mixologist Cocktail and Wine Bar from 6:00pm, where the numbers are called to a soundtrack of reggae classics and the atmosphere is anything but your nan's village hall. At £18–£20, it is a brilliant early-evening option that brings together great music, friendly competition, and the kind of room where strangers quickly become teammates. Arrive early, grab a cocktail, and prepare to argue very passionately about whose card is closest.

ROMANCE: Nottingham's biggest indie club night — From 10:00pm at the legendary Rescue Rooms, Romance delivers exactly what Nottingham's indie faithful have been waiting for all week — wall-to-wall guitar anthems, a room packed with people who know every single word, and the kind of sweaty, communal energy that reminds you why you love going out. At just £5 on the door, it is one of the best-value nights in the city, and the Rescue Rooms' reputation as a venue that genuinely cares about atmosphere means the sound will be spot on. This is the one you stumble out of at 3am, hoarse and completely delighted with yourself.