What Legends Are Made Of | Experience Nottinghamshire

Posted on 07 October 2016

Vote for the Original Bramley Apple for ‘Tree of the Year’

Tucked away in a cottage garden in Southwell, you’ll find the single tree responsible for all Bramley Apples grown in the UK today.

The humble tree was planted from a pip more than 200 years ago in 1809, in the garden of a young girl named Ann Brailsford. It first began bearing fruit in the 1830s when a butcher called Matthew Bramley moved into the property belonging to the garden.

Later, the apples were spotted by local nurseryman Henry Merryweather, who asked if he could make cuttings from the tree to reproduce it’s perfect specimens. Bramley agreed on the condition that the apples took his name and the nation’s classic cooking apple was

Posted on 05 October 2016

Women’s Sport Week – Charlotte Gilmartin

Charlotte Gilmartin is a short track speed skater who began competing for Team GB since the age of fifteen. Already a World Cup and European champion, she’s hoping to bring back a medal at the next Winter Olympic Games in South Korea in 2018

Charlotte trains full time at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham. The city was named as the official VisitEngland Home of Sport back in 2015 and has produced a glittering history of ice-skating stars including the Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Team and the nation’s favourite figure skating team, Torvill and Dean.

For #WomensSportWeek, Charlotte is sharing her journey into skating and how she became captain of an all-female squad.

I began skating seriously aged 12 after being spotted racing

Posted on 09 September 2016

Walking D H Lawrence’s Nottinghamshire

Eastwood, which lies around eight miles away from Nottingham, is bustling with events and activities over the next few weeks to celebrate the life and legacy of the town’s most famous son – D.H. Lawrence.

Nottingham was recently named a UNESCO City of Literature, and the county’s lyrical landscapes have shaped and inspired the writing of everyone from Lord Byron to J.M Barrie and Alan Stilitoe over the years.

D.H. Lawrence often wrote of his love of the Notts’ countryside, and in 1929, penned of the woodlands around Eastwood: ‘To me it seemed, and still seems an extremely beautiful countryside, just between the red sandstone and oak trees of Nottingham and the

Posted on 24 May 2016

New Robin Hood Film – Rumour Round-Up

Update – One year to go!
Start counting the days, it’s one year to the day until Robin Hood returns to our cinemas – and he’ll be bigger than ever, thanks to an IMAX release.

It’s been announced that the release date will change from March next year to September, presumably for commercial reasons, to avoid clashing with other blockbuster releases.

The film stars Kingsman star, Taron Egerton, as the main man himself, and has been directed by Peaky Blinders’ Otto Bathurst. We’ve been promised a dark and gritty tale, in the same tone as Peaky Blinders – just 365 days to wait!

Update – New Robin Hood Film has Release Date – September, 2018
As we predicted

Posted on 28 April 2016

Arsher Ali shares his favourite places in Notts

We can’t wait to watch to the series finale of BBC Two’s gripping drama Line of Duty tonight – not least because of the homegrown talent in the cast! We caught up with Basford native Arsher Ali to talk all things Notts.

What do you and your family like to get up to in Notts when you’re not busy filming?

I have an office in town – so I spend as much time as I can with my friend and writing partner, Hugh Dichmont.

Other than that – my visits to Nottingham are to my Mum’s house or the other most important place in Nottingham… the City Ground.

Do you have any favourite places to eat

Modest bed for a Duchess credit Andy Tryner

Posted on 24 March 2016

Hardwick’s Last Lady breathes new life into Hall

Today our guest blog is from Nigel Wright, House & Collections Manager at Hardwick Hall, a stunning National Trust property on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border. Here, Nigel tells us about the experience of the new Last Lady of Hardwick exhibition. Duchess Evelyn Devonshire was the last of the Cavendish family to call Hardwick her home and now you can step into her life and experience Hardwick the way she lived it – and cared for it.

The sound of the 1920s now drifts out from the small cinema introducing people to the story of Duchess Evelyn Devonshire, the last member of the Cavendish family to make Hardwick her home. Born in 1870

Shoppers outside Paul Smith Willoughby House Nottingham credit VisitEngland

Posted on 07 January 2016

A Paul Smith-themed shopping weekend in Nottingham

With its lively Creative Quarter, historic Lace Market and more bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants per square mile than any other city in Europe, Nottingham has always been a discerning choice for a UK city break. But here’s another good reason to visit in 2016, and some recommendations from the Good Hotel Guide on places to stay in Nottinghamshire.

Renowned British designer Sir Paul Smith turns 70 in 2016. He was born and bred in Nottingham so a Paul Smith-themed shopping spree here is a fitting way to pay tribute. Sartorially, you’ll be in good hands. After all, this is the man who coined the phrase ‘classic with a twist’ and

Posted on 03 November 2015

Unearth Nottingham’s Hidden History with New Cave App & Trail

They’ve been used as shelter from falling bombs, housing extensions, and secret passageways over the years, now – for the first time ever – a new app gives you the chance to virtually explore Nottingham’s extraordinary man-made caves.

Nottingham’s a city built on caves, and the carefully chiselled, sandstone excavations that sit below the city centre are filled with history and intrigue.

For a long time, these caves have been hidden mysteries, sealed off from the public, and completely inaccessible.

So it’s no surprise that there was a real sense of excitement in the air at Nottingham Castle on Friday – as a brand new smartphone app was launched, designed to provide users

Posted on 14 October 2015

Nottingham welcomes the Pied Piper

The Pied Piper is visiting Nottingham this weekend, along with William Tell, to take part in some legendary events with our very own Robin Hood across the city. We caught up with him for a quick chat ahead of his visit to the city…

How long have you been the official Pied Piper of Hamelin?

Over 20 years, which is nothing in the long 731 year life of the Piper (so far).

Have you ever been to Nottingham before?

Yes, I had the pleasure to visit in 1998 during the Castle Festival. I have the city in fond memory. Had an inspiring guided tour and good eats at the “Sheriffs Lodge” and in a

Posted on 23 April 2015

Four Hollywood studios plan new Robin Hood films

It’s the news legions of Robin Hood fans around the world have been waiting for . . . no less than four major Hollywood studios have announced that they are planning to make films about Nottinghamshire’s famous outlaw.

Warner Brothers, Sony, Disney and Lionsgate could be making major Robin Hood productions with new takes on the popular legend. Although the Warner Brothers’ film has yet to be given a name, Sony is set to release Hood, which will see Robin Merry Men given an Avengers makeover, while Lionsgate is producing Robin Hood: Origins and Disney is planning a Pirates of the Caribbean-style film called Nottingham and Hood.

Following the announcement, Experience Nottinghamshire’s chief executive Jennifer Spencer said: “The myth