We love to get nostalgic about the good old days, while taking a look back at what we used to be able to do in Nottingham but we can't any more. But how about flipping that and taking a look at what we can do in 2023 that we couldn't in the 80s and sometimes the 90s.
The 1980s was a time when Splendour didn't exist, you couldn't get a tram into the city and there was no such thing as a cheap pint in 'Spoons.
It illustrates how life has changed in Nottingham. Shopping, eating out, drinking and transport have all changed enormously - whether it's for the better or worse we'll let you decide.
Read more: Valentine's Day ideas for Nottingham lovebirds from cheap and cheerful to pure indulgence
Get a tram into the city
We don't think twice about getting on a tram to travel into the city centre. But before 2004 the only options were by car or bus.
Although it's not without its hiccups - power outages and motorists driving their car on to the tracks - the tram is mostly a convenient and cheap way of getting into town. The first phase, between Hucknall and the city, opened to the public on March 9, 2004, with an estimation that it would eventually carry 10 million passengers every year.
The network's second phase, from Toton Lane park and ride and Clifton, doubled the scale of the system, when it opened on August 25, 2015.
Eat at a Michelin-starred meal
There were no Michelin-starred restaurants in Nottingham in the 1980s or 1990s. Now there are two. Restaurant Sat Bains was the first to be awarded a prestigious star in 2003 for the unique tasting menu served at Lenton Lane.
The coveted accolade put Nottingham on the UK's food map for the first time and diners were presented with dishes like they'd never tasted before. A second star followed in 2011.
Alchemilla continued to enhance Nottingham's foodie reputation by winning a star in 2020, serving gourmet delights such as BBQ lobster, spiced squash, burnt lemon, yuzu and kimchi. Both restaurants feature in UK and worldwide food guides.
Splendour
Nottingham had music festivals but nothing like the scale or continuity of Splendour, which first kicked off in Wollaton Park in 2008 with Kate Nash, Paolo Nutini, Ocean Color Scene and Rufus Wainwright. Since then the event has welcomed some of the biggest names in the business including Blondie, The Specials, UB40, Kaiser Chiefs and the Manic Street Preachers.
Pre-Splendour, which attracts a 25,000-strong crowd, we had the Heineken Big Top, where The Pogues, Kirsty McColl and a little-known Blur played in a circus-like big top. In 1995, thousands turned out to see Boyzone at the Wollaton Park Music Festival, which had a pop-heavy line-up on the Saturday, followed by a more sedate classical afternoon on the Sunday. In 1997 a crowd of around 10,000 people enjoyed sun and music from the likes of boy band Damage at the City of Nottingham centenary celebrations.
City In The Park, the forerunner to Splendour, was the first paid-for music festival, in 1997, with a line-up including The Corrs, Ronan Keating, All Saints, E17 and Gabrielle. The turnout was less than 10,000.
Have a pint in a Wetherspoon pub
Nottingham had loads of pubs in the 80s but there wasn't a single Wetherspoon among them. Drinkers did the rounds at the Fountain Inn, Yates's, Queen Elizabeth, the Dog and Bear and the Canal Tavern.
Out of town it was the Three Crowns in Bulwell rather than The William Peverel and the Durham Ox in Beeston instead of The Last Post. All those pubs have now gone (the premises that were Yates's still stand but it's now the Slug & Lettuce) and the Fountain was converted into shops - White Stuff and what used to be Cath Kidston before its closure.
Those entering 'Spoons know exactly what's in store: cheap beer, reasonably priced food and a patterned carpet.
Cheer on Nottingham Forest Women
Schoolgirls in the 80s rarely had the opportunity to play football. Instead, they were resigned to the netball court. But fast forward to now and how times have changed, as demonstrated by the Lionesses emerging the champions of Europe last summer.
Nottingham Forest Ladies team (now known as Nottingham Forest Women FC) was officially founded in 1990 but women's football still didn't get the recognition it deserved at that time. Fortunately, girls have more opportunity than ever to get into the sport.
Girls aged five to 11 now have the chance to play non-competitive football with the Weetabix Wildcats, while there are 75 youth female teams affiliated to Notts FA. And once they turn 18 they can play within one of 31 women's teams across Notts.
Shop in Aldi or Lidl
The two major discount stores didn't exist in the UK, let alone Nottinghamshire, during the 1980s. There was no such thing as the middle aisle with its ever-changing bargains, or Special Buys, each week.
Britain's first Aldi opened in Birmingham in 1990 and it was another four years before Lidl arrived in the UK in 1994. Instead, shoppers headed to Asda, Sainsbury's or Tesco and long-lost supermarkets such as Kwik Save, Hillards and Safeway.
Go clubbing until 3am
In the 1980s Nottingham was home to the Black Orchid, Zhivago's, the Astoria, the Palais and the Garage. But come 2am the music stopped and the lights went up, signalling it was time to stumble out on to the pavement
Ending up at a club usually came after a pub crawl around the city but going out 2023-style for Gen Z often begins with pre-drinks at home before heading into town just as people in their 40s and 50s are catching the bus home. Then it's on to a club like INK, PRYZM or Rescue Rooms until 3am.
There's also been a shift with some bars and pubs staying open until the early hours for more drinking and dancing. In the 1980s last orders were called and everyone was chucked out at 11pm.
Book an Uber
A night out in the 80s usually ended in the early hours waiting in a VERY long taxi queue in Old Market Square (yes, it used to be alongside the Council House before being relocated to Wheeler Gate). Then you'd get groups of four or more getting into separate cabs so you'd have to wait even longer, often bursting for the loo and really not wanting to go into the creepy underground toilets at that hour.
Now you have the convenience of going onto the Uber app on your mobile phone and summoning a taxi to the door that will be there in minutes.
Get a flat white
Had anyone walked into Nottingham cafe and asked for an Americano or a latte circa 1983, Rita behind the counter would have looked at you as if you were an alien. Specialty coffee was around in some parts of the world but it had yet to take off here.
Instead of a cappuccino or a flat white, it would be a milky or frothy coffee which you would sit down to drink in a mug or china cup and saucer rather than waking the streets with a takeaway cup. As for barista art, well it was some years later before we became acquainted with tulips, sea horses and hearts decorating our drink.
It wasn't until much later with the arrival of high street chains such as Costa and Starbucks that the choice of coffee exploded. When 200 Degrees opened at Flying Horse Walk in 2012 it signalled the start of a new breed of coffee shop, leading to a raft such as Cartwheel, Effy, Kigali and Blend.
See a global superstar at Motorpoint Arena
Where did all the big names in pop and comedy perform when they came to Nottingham in the 1980s? Well, it certainly wasn't the Motorpoint Arena, which didn't open until 2000, under the name Nottingham Arena and later Trent FM Arena.
As the biggest entertainment venue in the East Midlands with a crowd capacity of 10,000, it took the calibre of stars to a whole new level.
Since then the arena has hosted global superstars including Beyonce, Elton John, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber and comedy greats such as Michael McIntyre and John Bishop. Then there's been all the tours of popular TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice, which attract huge crowds.
Bag a bargain in Primark
Love it or hate it, there's no denying that Primark is the busiest clothes shop in Nottingham. The brand first opened in Dublin, under the name Penneys, in 1969 and crossed the Irish Sea to open the first UK Primark in Derby in 1974.
But it was more than 30 years later, in 2006, that Primark arrived in Nottingham. Before that, dedicated followers of fashion headed to high street chains Chelsea Girl, Jane Norman, Topman and Burton or the really cool cats shopped at Roxy Threads, Culture Vulture or clubwear seller Cocky's Shed.
Watch a film at The Cornerhouse
The city's premier leisure complex has a mix of attractions from bars and restaurants to a casino and adventure golf. Film buffs can also catch the latest blockbuster at Cineworld, a 14-screen cinema. Back in the 80s movie fans had the option of either the Odeon or ABC in Chapel Bar, both with fewer screens.
The cinema opened in 2001 under the banner of Warner at the newly built £50m complex, which also housed TGI Fridays, Henry J. Beans, and The Works nightclub.
Eat at a restaurant with virtually any cuisine - and get it delivered to your door
There were plenty of restaurants in the city centre 40 years ago but nowhere near the number there are now. Favourites from that era were Punchinello's (now Caffe Nero) in Forman Street and Le Tetard, a French restaurant, in Fletcher Gate.
Sonny's (now vintage clothes shop Cow) in Pelham Street was considered the city's top fine dining restaurant and ranked in the top ten of places to eat outside London. If you wanted a burger you'd go to Wimpy (and probably eat it with a knife and fork) instead of the likes of BOHNS, Annie's Burger Shack or Five Guys
The diversity of cuisine has exploded with food and drink from all over the globe. Today's food lovers can find everything from Ethiopian to Korean and Jamaican to Japanese.
There's Polish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Persian, Nepalese, Sri Lankan - the choice is endless. And let's not forget all the dessert parlours out there like Heavenly Desserts and Kaspa's.
Back in the 80s there wasn't the option to have food from a Nottingham restaurant delivered to your door but the arrival of Deliveroo (and all the apartments built in the city centre) changed that in 2015.
Go to a vape shop
Not once did you follow a cloud of fruity vapour down the street in 1980s and 90s Nottingham. At that time you could still have a cigarette in pubs and restaurants up until 2007 when the UK smoking ban came into force.
The world's first e-cigarette was invented in 2003 and now virtually every high street has at least one vape shop.
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