When we were on our way back home to Scotland after our recent trip to Holland and Belgium we chose to stop overnight in Nottingham. I’m not sure why we chose that place but maybe thoughts of Robin Hood and his Merry Men was at the back of my mind, and we had never been there before. By the time we got there it was dinner time and we had seen the art deco pub in the photo below.
Jack is a big fan of art deco and the pub sold food so we thought we would give their eatery a go, and it would give us a chance to see if the interior was also art deco. When we parked the car I said to Jack – I can see a huge St George’s cross flag. Then I thought – Well, why not, it’s about time the English rescued their flag from the rough elements who usually brandish them with violence in mind.
On entering the pub we saw that the entire place was festooned with St George bunting and flags (this was long before the football tournament started) and worse than that the pub was full of very rough looking men indeed. We just knew that our Scottish accents were going to be like a red rag to bulls. So we backed our way out again, all of the art deco had been stripped out of it anyway, if it had ever been there in the first place.
It was a bit of an eyeopener really, there are parts of England that are truly a foreign country, and I suspect that is so for many English people too. If David Cameron had known that communities like that existed he would never have dreamt of having that damned referendum.
We ended up in what was supposed to be a ‘posh’ bit of Nottingham but it wasn’t an awful lot better. There were ‘bouncers’ on every restaurant doorway and when we finally found somewhere to eat that didn’t look too grotty it was a bit like something out of a sitcom as we were the only people in there who looked up when the many emergency vehicles screamed past the windows, it was obviously normal life as far as the other diners were concerned.
There was proof that Nottingham had had a genteel past though as you can see below. The Zara shop is situated in a lovely art nouveau building which I think must have been a beautiful department store in its heyday.
I’m very susceptible to atmosphere in places and I really didn’t like Nottingham, it was only when I got back home and mentioned that to some people that they said – that’s hardly surprising as it has had a lot of trouble with gang warfare and shooting incidents in the recent past! Where is Robin Hood when you need him?!
That’s so funny! The buildings are lovely though.
Peggy,
It’s just about the only place I’ve been that I really didn’t like. It’s not like I’m fussy!
I’ve been to Nottingham once, we wanted to see the house where D H Lawrence was born in Eastwood, near Nottingham. He lived until he was about 5 I think. It was an excellent visit, the house furnished as it would have been in the late 19th century. We went into the city shopping area, which is just like any other city these days, same shops etc.
I have heard other people say the same as you about the people there – it’s a pity! We need another Robin Hood.
Margaret,
That’s interesting, I’ve not read anything by DH Lawrence and I don’t think I realised he came from Nottingham. I think Nottingham must have gone downhill fairly recently.
should have said ‘he lived there’ etc – it’s still a bit early in the morning and my fingers are not fully awake đŸ™‚
Margaret,
Yes I knew what you meant though!
When I saw you were writing about visiting Nottingham, Katrina, I was musing on it being yet another place I’ve never visited. I’m not sure that I’ll be visiting any time soon after your experiences! Although I know several young people who studied at the university there and I’ve not heard any dark tales about the city from them or their parents. There’s good and bad everywhere, I suppose…
Sandra,
My own Dutch nephew studied at Nottingham for one year and he liked it and his parents thought Nottingham was nice when they visited, but that must have been about 20 years ago now. I usually really like university towns too as they always feel lively and optimistic to me, with all the students around, not this one though. Maybe it was just a bad night.
The buildings are gorgeous even if your experience was less satisfactory.
I just introduced my daughter to Robin Hood. She is reading a free version on my Kindle and has several others lined up for later. Now she is trying to convince us that she needs a bow and arrows.
Jennifer,
I well remember that Robin Hood phase although back then as a girl there was no way I was going to get a bow and arrow. My brother did though, so I was his victim, just as well it was a rubber sucker on the end of the arrows!
The buildings are pretty. too bad you didn’t see Robin Hood while you were there!
Stefanie,
I know, maybe he could help us out of the mess we’re in now!