Widely regarded as the 'coolest' area in Nottingham, Hockley is a mix of cobbled streets and Gothic architecture, bustling with independent cafes, vintage furniture stores, second-hand shops and speak-easy style bars. If you're visiting for the weekend, Hockley is where you'll find the city's heartbeat.
And, just off Carlton Street, the mini-high street for this creative quarter, is one of the area's most-loved venues - Hockley Arts Club. Everything about Hockley Arts Club is designed to surprise and delight, starting with its location. Indeed, this bar, restaurant and party venue is housed in a three-storey townhouse hidden out of site, tucked behind shopfronts with only a small sign (and at weekends, a rather long queue) to give it away.
Once inside, it's a little bit like stepping through the looking glass. Every floor has a different theme and the decor is deliberately wacky, like entering another world each time. The ground floor is called Stockholm, a name that nods towards its mid-century furnishings and 70s colour palette. This take on an old fashioned Scandinavian pub operates as its own, independent bar with a huge selection of wines and cocktails and is open until late-late at the weekends.
On the second floor you'll find the main space, the Blue Rooms. This lofty area has high ceilings, cosy chesterfield sofas and dangling chandeliers. There's a full table service and a menu of artisan sharing boards to enjoy alongside a curated selection of drinks. For a special occassion, you might also consider booking the afternoon tea.
Finally, the Electric Garden is a playful pocket of neon lights and cherry trees which fill the space with colour. This is a quirky place for a drink, but also available for private hire and would make a unique setting for a birthday party.