Independent shopping on Nottingham’s Derby Road

By Benedict Cooper

Unassuming sophistication

Take a 5-10 minute stroll out of the city centre towards Derby Road and you will soon enter an area with an unassuming sophistication. With elegant independent shops and great places to eat and drink there’s a wealth of creativity on this well-walked established street in Nottingham. The area is full of high quality, often family-run, shops which offer speciality goods and services for all ages. Whether you are looking for something for the home or garden to a great place to eat, they have it all in one place.

Choose from countless local businesses that can help with your home and garden spaces. There’s Brown Dog Interiors, a family-run company manufacturing and retailing eco-friendly, bespoke timber furniture. The Worm That Turned has carefully chosen collections of distinctive, beautifully-made products to buy for your outdoor space, whatever its size. The Danish Homestore showcases the very best in mid-century and uniquely Danish design.

Pick up some gifts on your shopping trip

There is even specific places that can help before you need to look for items to fill your home. Parc Flooring which has been established over ten years has a vast range of flooring ideas to suit with a bespoke service from initial design to installation, and a second to none after sales service. So anything for your home and garden, you will be covered.

For that more personal touch, Smalleys, established in 1888, has more than a century of experience in providing luxury men’s clothing and first class tailoring. Welch The Florist, a family business established in 1920, is Nottingham’s premier Interflora member, offering a great service and beautiful blooms from a single stem to a huge hand-tie.

The area is full of high quality, often family-run, shops which offer speciality goods and services for all ages. Whether you are looking for something for the home or garden to a great place to eat they have it all in one place

Award winners

The Derby Road area is also well-known for its excellent selection of eateries, pubs and restaurants for everyone’s palette. Why not visit the award-winning Hand & Heart gastropub? It serves a selection of real ales and offering locally sourced home-cooked English food in a fabulous unique cave environment. For more real ale and good home-cooked food there’s also The Falcon Inn and Sir John Borlase Warren on Canning Circus – both with great traditional pub feel.

For sport enthusiasts there is Raglan Road, a modern Irish bar showing major sporting events, live music and traditional Irish sessions. There is also The Ropewalk which is popular with students. Both serve food and have a lively atmosphere.

Or for something a little quieter, A Room with a Brew is Scribbler’s Ales first micropub, selling real ales and cider, fine wines and snacks in a literary-themed environment.

Further down the street, tucked round the corner from the cathedral, next to Anish Kapoor’s iconic Sky Mirror sculpture, you will find Cast, a modern restaurant, deli and bar at the wonderful Nottingham Playhouse. The Playhouse has been one of the UK’s leading producing theatres since its foundation in 1948.

For eating on the go in between shopping there are two authentic cob shops on the street, Snax in the City and Parfitt’s are great delicatessens for individuals on the go. If you have a bit more time or are stopping by for brunch then perhaps somewhere like Warsaw Diner is a great place for a hearty breakfast. Whatever your taste buds, there’s a place for you on Derby Road.

If you are in need of some pampering or a new look, then Derby Road has plenty of options there too, with a host of hairdressers and barbers to choose from. From the ultra-cool Sonic and Deckchair Barbers to independent salons for both men and women. Perhaps Tim Foster Hair, Cavanagh’s or Soul Hairdressers is up your street with relaxed environments which provide a welcoming atmosphere.

For sport enthusiasts there is Raglan Road, a modern Irish bar showing major sporting events, live music and traditional Irish sessions

Art lovers

Maybe you fancy a bit of arts and culture, there are three wonderful galleries on the street, all showcasing something different. Hung Up Gallery has a passion for urban street art while Framework and Lime Gallery have been an established framers for over 30 years.

Between all three galleries they show work of both established worldwide artists as well as emerging artists. From local Nottingham craftspeople to nationally renowned artists, each gallery has a different feel and caters to all your cultural whims. Not forgetting to mention other wonderfully crafty places such as The Craft Studio which hosts a wealth of regular workshops and also has the best haberdashery and fabrics to purchase with plenty of choice when it comes to textiles.

Hung Up Gallery

Windblowers is an amazing music business that has been around since 1978 and is the Midland’s premier wind instrument centre. With highly experienced and knowledgeable staff they also have their own fully qualified instrument maker and repairer to offer specialist attention to your instrument. Windblowers are principle sponsors of the Nottingham Young Musician of the Year and Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra.

If you are looking for a gift for a wine connoisseur, then look no further than Vintage Wines which boasts a huge selection or wines, champagnes and tipples to name a few.

Overall Derby Road is a part of the city not to be missed. So make sure you set aside some time during your visit to Nottingham for a leisurely stroll down this unique street.

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