For this instalment of These Streets are Ours we celebrate the creative hub of Sneinton Market Avenues…
When we explore Nottingham, it’s all-to-easy to stick to the beaten path. Often, we act like heat-seeking missiles while out-and-about: either going straight from work to home, visiting a very specific shop, or returning to a familiar food and drink spot.
This habit would often characterise my experience of Notts city centre for nearly three years of living here – never did I think to cross the intersection where Hockley meets Lower Parliament Street, until one day I did, and discovered a hub for independent arts and culture: Sneinton Market Avenues. For those unfamiliar, here’s the elevator pitch…
Where Nottingham city centre borders Sneinton, there’s over forty independent businesses housed in historic trading units. On setting foot in the Avenues most are immediately struck by the colourful sights and lively sounds: from the chatter of patrons to the Blend coffee shop often sitting outdoors, to the clatter of skateboarders on a nearby plaza, while vibrant colours characterize the shop fronts.
Sneinton Market’s history goes back to its hosting of Nottingham’s main wholesale market from the 1920s. After the 1970s, the area unfortunately fell into disrepair and dereliction, as UK retail started relying more on cheap goods and supermarkets than independent, family owned shops.
In 2014, Nottingham’s Creative Quarter set up their headquarters in Sneinton Market, and slowly but surely the area was given a new lease of life. Around 2016, the first two businesses to move in were design brand Art of Football and artist collective Curious, which is led by creative force of nature Sarah Manton.
“We had our own working spaces, but we also taught classes in different art forms. That became reassuring for other people to start moving in,” says Sarah. “It was quite a large number of women moving in – we realised that it could be what we dreamed of: a community of artists and like-minded people who share resources, tools, and products, while supporting each other. It’s an absolute delight to work with a real, proper community.”
“Some big events take place in city parks or the square,” continues Sarah. “They’re great, but restrictive. You’re surrounded by shops, or other businesses that have got rights to the space outside their businesses to carry on with what they’re doing,”
It’s really nice being part of the community – everyone helps each other out and helps promote ourselves
“We have a retail aspect, but tend to be much more flexible. So having big markets, and Pride here – we’ve managed to accommodate it beautifully. The Carousel and Montana are also organizing Art Fest on 20 September – they’ll be holding a big market too.”
When it comes to shops at Sneinton Market with a long history, Montana is a great example – the paint shop is pretty central to Nottingham street art. Another business linked to events in Sneinton Market is Circus Hub. Run by duo Kay and Ria, this friendly, aerial circus studio runs circus skill classes and performances.
“It’s really nice being part of the community – everyone helps each other out and helps promote ourselves,” says Kay, adding, “we just did Pride and had an amazing time performing in the Avenues. And if we’re not in the studio, we’re at Blend working: it’s a lovely inviting space with the best coffee!”
Opposite Blend, the Avenues cafe is a favoured spot for local folks, providing delicious lunchtime cobs, cooked breakfasts, and more. And when it comes to other food spots – visitors are pretty spoiled for choice. On Avenue A, Working Man’s Kitchen serves up excellent pizzas, plus their viral pizza dog, while on Avenue B Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates sells cocoa treats, handcrafted on-site.
Next-door to Luisa’s, Vietcentric runs popular cooking courses for Vietnamese food, while on Avenue C, Breadmill Bakery sells award-winning baked goods. Next to Southwell Road, the Fox and Grapes Pub provides ale and scran, with Asian meals served at the GB Oriental Diner.
Sneinton Market continues to host artist studios. On Freckingham Street, couple Martin and Carly facilitate woodworking classes in their studio By Our Hands We Make Our Way, while neighbouring artists, sculptor Sarah Fiander and punk-meets-pop artist Herbie Hare, showcase their striking creations.
Further down, designer Craig Proud leads studio Dizzy Ink, while on Avenue B, vibrant twin shops Get Crooked and Megan Crook Textiles create handmade clothing and festival-wear. Take a left, and you’ll probably spot the bold, female-focused imagery of artist Emmy Smith, whose studio Emmy Lupin is on Avenue A.
Beyond the Sarah Manton-run shop Curious, other shopfronts include Wolf Wytch: an apothecary stocking handmade products in folkloric vein, alternative jewellery shop Bonearrow, pet-products-supplier Wiff Waff, custom clothing printers Splatt and OneBC, stationary store Rose Press, record store Running Circle, and analogue camera sellers Lens Fayre.
Elsewhere the Watered Garden gives well-cared-for house plants new homes, while Awn Surface Design casts resin and concrete surfaces. Meanwhile, piano showroom Sherwood Phoenix welcomes those with a penchant for the ivories.
There’s plenty more spots for the musically minded too. Renowned music studio Can’t Stop Won’t Stop borders cosy gigs venue The Grove, which last month celebrated its 1st anniversary. Further away Fast Forward Music provides music tech education, while next door the Brazilian Cultural Centre teaches dance, music and performance from the home of Samba.
For those needing a tipple, Stewarts Roastery distributes tasty coffee to Blend, and anyone who fancies taking some home, while nearby you’ll find Nottingham’s only gin maker and distillery: Redsmith’s. Elsewhere, the Neon Raptor Brewery produces beers which are loved across Nottingham.
Sneinton Market is a place where serving the community is prioritized. The Pretty Windows Nursery has done so since 1997, while the Nottingham Mill Co-op “puts food systems back in the hands of citizens.” Near to them, Minor Oak provides a welcoming space for remote workers and students, and elsewhere this very magazine you hold in your hands is produced monthly at the LeftLion office.
Exhausted yet? I’ve barely touched on the events hosted in the area, believe it or not. That, however, is for you to discover – if you have a free hour, or so, on the weekend or on your lunch break, have a wander through this wonderful space and you might find one of your favourite new spots in the city.
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