December 2025 starts with a bang in Nottingham, as a host of occasions from the festive, to the musical, to the artistic, take place...
When: Thu 4 & Fri 5 December
Where: The Nest
How much: £49.50
This will be a fun one – The Nest are hosting a 500-person capacity ‘Christmas work party for office elves’, featuring acclaimed local drag artists Nana Arthole and Marilyn Sane. There’ll be lots of food and drink (an all you can eat Christmas banquet is included), drag bingo, karaoke, a mechanical reindeer, and a guaranteed array of further, suitably anarchical activities to make it a memorable night. The Nest is also an excellent, multi-purpose space for parties, bound to be enjoyed by most.
When: Fri 5 December
Where: Metronome
How much: £20
London Calling are a tribute act to The Clash. This month, they’re visiting Notts to play the A and B sides of The Clash singles released between 1977 and 1983. These guys have created lots of buzz about their live shows over the years, having received lots of praise for, not just for their accuracy in emulating some of punk’s foremost pioneers, but also for their impressive musicianship. If The Clash is close to your heart, this show is bound to smash your expectations and then some.
When: Fri 5 – Sun 7 December
Where: Nottingham Contemporary
How much: Free
It’s likely that, this year, you’ll find yourself buying at least one Christmas present at the last minute, so why not visit the Contemporary’s craft fair to support independent artisan makers in the process? After a launch party on 5 December, featuring live music, food and drink, and late-night access to the galleries, the craft fair will host over forty designers and makers from Notts and beyond across the weekend. There’ll be plenty of products to admire and take home, including ceramics, textiles, jewellery, homeware, and much more.
When: Sat 6 December
Where: The Model
How much: £8 (advance) / £10 (OTD)
Club night Blue Soup has brought soulful, hip-hop tinged dance beats, jazz, and spacey funk to Nottingham venues for a good while now, and this week returns to The Model. This event will feature UK sound system savant Donsurf, curator of percussive, funky tracks Samiel, and internationally renowned DJ Steffi Bricks. Along with Movers, The Model is a venue that's injecting a dynamic, exciting new energy into Hockley's nightlife by showcasing alternative, nostalgic forms of dance music, with a 'living in the moment' ethos, so if you haven't checked it out yet, now's a good time.
Constellation: A GOBS Collective Poetry Showcase
When: Sun 7 December
Where: Waterstones
How much: £16.95
Local spoken-word collective GOBS continue to be vital in keeping Nottingham's poetry scene vibrant and buzzing, and on Sunday there's a chance to experience the talent they have to offer at Waterstones. They'll be launching pamphlets and performing poetry as part of a new project: Constellation - facilitated by local printing press, Bad Betty. This event is guaranteed to be pretty dynamic and energizing; even if you don't think of yourself as a 'poetry fan', you're bound to get something out it.
Don't forget to check out the rest of our website's event listings, at leftlion.co.uk/events
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