We secured a ticket for Public’s sell-out lasagne night in April, which saw local foodies gather at the coffee shop after hours for a taste of Public’s take on two Italian classics…
Independent coffee shop and bakery Public landed in Nottingham in 2024, opening its fourth East Midlands store on Lower Pavement. Unlike most places that launch with a bang and naturally quieten down over time, Public is still one of the most popular destinations for coffee or brunch in the city centre, with people queuing out of the door at peak times.
From the decadent stuffed croissants and extravagant iced drinks to the Scandi-style interior and iconic wall of plants, Public feels like a trendy Soho coffee shop. It’s easy to see why it appeals to students seeking a cool spot to catch up over matcha.
The lasagne had a distinctly homemade feel - hearty, comforting and generously portioned - and that was part of its charm
Given the hype surrounding the Nottingham store, it was only a matter of time before Public brought its after hours dining events to the city. These evenings are already a regular fixture at their Loughborough store, so news that they were coming to Nottingham was always going to attract plenty of interest.
Tickets for the inaugural pasta night were £23, which included lasagne and tiramisu, with drinks, starters and sides available to buy on the night. The lasagne had a distinctly homemade feel - hearty, comforting and generously portioned - and that was part of its charm. Unlike the perfectly presented dishes you’ll find at Nottingham’s best Italian restaurants (if you haven’t tried La Storia and Bar Gigi yet, you’re missing out), this dinner wasn’t trying to compete with the city’s finest Italian cooking. It was simply very good food for a very fair price, served in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
There was something refreshing about the simplicity of the evening. No curated plating or daring flavours, just proper, good-for-the-soul comfort food. The lasagne portion was big enough for us to skip the sides, but I saw many people happily tucking into freshly baked focaccia.
The tiramisu was a crowd-pleaser in its own right. Heavy on cream but light on coffee, it was delicious and tasted that much sweeter knowing my sleep wasn’t at risk from a 8pm caffeine hit. Despite telling myself to savour every bite, it went down too smoothly and I finished my dessert in record time.
The highlight of the evening for me, however, was the atmosphere. Public after hours has a softer, calmer, more intimate feel. Even though it was a fully booked event, I didn’t feel rushed or hurried out of the door, a stark contrast to Public during the day where you are conscious of hogging a table for too long as it’s always busy. Conversation flowed easily and so did the drinks. The staff team was friendly and attentive, allowing diners to move through the meal at their own pace.
Hopefully this is the start of many after-hours events at Public. I know I’ll be fighting for tickets to the next one!
Visit Public at 11 Low Pavement, Nottingham NG1 7DQ.
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