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Here is today's edition of The Nottinghamian:
Hello,
To round up this week of the Nottinghamian we bring the news of Nottingham's Winter Wonderland returning and the re-opening of one of the city's most historical sites.
We also have thirteen of the finest restaurants, as businesses across Nottinghamshire are awarded AA rosettes. Plus, we have a restaurant recommendation for the weekend and an answer to the mysterious inflatable monsters popping up across the city centre.
Winter wonderland returns
Set for a spectacular comeback, the Winter Wonderland on Market Square returns in 2022. The popular ice rink was missing from last year's scaled back event, but organisers have certainly made up for it with a rink that allows skaters to whizz above the market.
The festive celebration, from November 15 until December 31, will be back with a bang, bringing the Sky Skate ice path to the city for the first time. Festive fun seekers will be able to skate for 400m around Slab Square. It sits metres above the crowds exploring the 60-stall Christmas market, offering everything from hand-made gifts to delicious food and mulled wine, from local and international traders.
And when skaters feel thirsty, they can stop off along the way at the new Skate-Through bar. If heights are not your thing, don't worry, as there will be an ice rink at ground level where you will also find the not-to-be-missed Ice Bar with a temperature of minus 10 degrees. Also back for 2022 is Sur La Piste and Altitude ski chalet bars that are also the perfect cosy spot for friends and family to get together to enjoy a drink or two. Read more on the plans here.
Reopening
After years of restoration work, one of Nottingham's oldest historical sites is set to reopen to the public. Mortimer's Hole at Nottingham Castle will open tomorrow, ahead of half term. The £30 million restoration work at Nottingham Castle restored many of its cave tunnels.
The manmade tunnel features more than 127 steps and runs from Brewhouse Yard through the sandstone of Castle Rock and up to the Castle terrace. The tunnel was used by King Edward III to capture Mortimer and Isabella. Now, it has been remade into a historical tour experience that includes the fascinating story of Sir Rodger Mortimer and Queen Isabella of France as well as the reigns of King Richard and King John along with Nottingham's role in the Civil war and World War II.
The new experience will take about 45 minutes for visitors to complete and will include a guided walk or lift back up the hill by land train. Tour guide, Kevin Walker, said: "I'm very excited to not only show people around Mortimer's Hole but pass on the history too. It's exciting for us as staff and we get asked all the time about when we are due to open and now we actually are.
"It's a key part of the history of the castle story and it's a very well-known one for people in Nottingham. I visited the castle when I was a child and did the tour so it's strange to now be delivering them myself." Read more on what to expect and future Nottingham Castle plans here.
Weather and trivia
Weather: Early showers, some heavy, soon clearing on Saturday. Becoming drier and brighter for a time. Further bands of showers will move eastwards in the afternoon. Windy, sometimes gusty at times. Maximum temperature 16 °C.
UV: Low
Further reading: 200 Degrees owner opens up on cost of living challenge as brand marks 10 years
Trivia question: The first telephone call without an operator was made in 1962 from Nottingham Council House to where?
The answer to today’s trivia question is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Recommendation
Name: Rakki Rakkas
Address: 575a Mansfield Rd, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2JN
Cuisine: Turkish restaurant
If you fancy a taste of Turkish cuisine this weekend then this Sherwood restaurant is the one to try. Rakki Rakkas on Mansfield Road is in a great location and is always popular. The menu is wide ranging from lamb salads to shish kebabs and chargrilled fish. All food is cooked fresh on flame grills at the front of the restaurant, giving an inviting aroma as you enter.
Vegetarians and children are well catered for and there is plenty of choice for meat eaters. If you are struggling to decide what to choose, Rakki Rakkas have a special which can be ordered for two, four or six people. The special comes as a large sharing platter which includes lamb shish, chicken shish, adana kebab and mixed doner served on a bed of rice and sides of bread and salad.
The restaurant setting is welcoming and staff are friendly. Rakki Rakkas has picked up a reputation locally but also sees people travel to Sherwood to dine there. If you would rather eat at home, they provide a takeaway service as well. Most weekends you will see queues out the door of people collecting their food or waiting for a table. There is a reason it is so popular, so why not give it a try?
Finest selection
The finest restaurants in Nottinghamshire have been named as the county's best in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It's a lucky 13, with more than ever featured in what is hailed the perfect guide to the UK’s top dining destinations, highlighting more than 1,400 restaurants across the country. Newcomers include the Old Vol, in Caythorpe, Taylor's Fine Dining in Newark and the Red Lion at Thurgarton.
They have been awarded rosettes for culinary excellence by the AA’s professional inspectors. Restaurants are awarded between one and five rosettes. One rosette denotes restaurants achieving standards that stand out in their local area, featuring food prepared with care, understanding and skill, and good quality ingredients. Byron's Brasserie at Colwick Hall Hotel, Colwick, picked up this award.
Ten Nottinghamshire restaurants were awarded two rosettes, which rewards the best local restaurants who aim for and achieve higher standards, better consistency, greater precision apparent in the cooking and obvious attention to the selection of quality ingredients. Restaurant Sat Bains on Lenton Lane was given five rosettes, which is described as the pinnacle, where the cooking compares with the best in the world. Read the full list of restaurants here.
Monster takeover
If you've been out and about in the city this week, you may have spotted some rather strange creatures popping up. The monsters, which have stopped people in their tracks and prompted plenty of interest on social media, are part of a Halloween Festival organised by Nottingham's Business Improvement District.
The friendly invasion has seen a massive inflatable purple monster appear on the rooftop at the Royal Centre and tentacles can be seen draped over Council House in Old Market Square. Others will be descending on Bravissimo in Bridlesmith Gate and at Victoria Centre's main entrance.
Andrew Napier, the BID's marketing and communications manager, said: "From the moment the first one went up it was stopping people in their tracks. It's really got people talking. It's been great. Kids won't be frightened, they're fun and friendly and brightly coloured. They are quite cute in a way." The monsters, which are part of a series of half-term activities for families, will be sticking around until November 13, except for the Council House monster which will be taken down before Remembrance Day.
That’s all for this week
Thank you for joining me for today's edition of The Nottinghamian. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did why not sign up to receive it directly in your inbox every weekday by clicking here.
The answer to today’s trivia question, the first telephone call without an operator was made in 1962 from Nottingham Council House to where, is Belfast.
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