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Here is the Nottinghamian from Wednesday, January 11.
Hello,
Today's edition of the Nottinghamian takes a look at an award-winning jazz cafe's future as the property could be sold.
We will also take a look at the ambulance staff who walked out from their jobs this morning to join picket lines. Plus we have an update on the future of Nottingham Street Food Club and hear your thoughts on the hot topic of the day.
Fighting
The couple behind Nottingham's popular jazz club Peggy's Skylight is fighting to save the venue after it was revealed the property could be sold. Rachel Foster and Paul Deats opened the intimate club in 2018 in George Street, Hockley, and have gone on to achieve great acclaim, winning Jazz Venue of the Year in 2021.
Last November they learnt that owners Nottingham City Council were putting the building up for sale but declined to speak out at the time for fear it could damage the business. But now they've gone public, with a petition calling on the local authority to delay the proposed auction on February 23 to give them chance to raise the funds to buy the three-storey site.
Despite having a 10-year lease, Ms Foster and Mr Deats say there's no certainty on what a new landlord might mean for Peggy's future. Paul said: "It's really stressful and worrying and we are trying to get over feelings of anger and channeling that energy into doing everything to fight it. If we could own the building we would be in a great position. We're trying to view it as an opportunity brought about by crisis."
A petition has been started by well-wisher Belinda Harris, who described Peggy's as "an important cultural and community asset to the city". Read more here.
Walking out
Nottinghamshire ambulance staff are "leaving in droves", according to workers on the picket line in the latest NHS strike. Thousands of ambulance service workers across the region have gone out on strike today as a national pay dispute with the Government goes on.
Many staff at East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) are members of the GMB trade union, which received enough votes to have a mandate to strike. Nine picket lines were set up across Nottinghamshire, including in Beechdale, Hucknall, Mansfield and Newark.
Lance Allen, an ambulance technician stood at the Beechdale picket line, said: "We are losing staff because of the conditions of the NHS at the moment." Read more on the strikes here.
Weather and trivia
Weather: Mostly cloudy with isolated drizzly outbreaks to start on Thursday, bands of rain and strong winds expected in the afternoon. Clearer conditions developing in the evening but remaining windy. Maximum temperature 12 °C.
UV: Low
Further reading: Notts lingerie fitters go viral on Tik Tok after showing how to put bra the correct way
Trivia question: What is unique about St Ann's allotments?
The answer to today's trivia question is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Notts says
No matter where you go this week, there has been plenty of talk about the latest Royal family drama. We asked the people of Nottingham: "What do you make of Prince Harry's new book?"
Maureen Walsh, 71, from Mapperley, said: "Oh it's crazy! I have seen so many things about it. I won't be reading it but I don't think it makes him look good. I don't really know what he was thinking."
Jack Burton, 29, from Sherwood, added: "Everyone is allowed to say what they feel and to share their story. I think in some ways he has said too much, too publicly. I don't know how he will be accepted again.
Millie Jackson, 19, from Wollaton said: "I was very surprised at some of the things he has said. I have always supported Harry and Meghan but I think maybe they're going too far. Some things don't need to be said for us all to hear. Now he has let it all out, he just needs to leave it."
Leaving
Nottingham Street Food Club has announced it won't be renewing its lease at Victoria Centre due to rising costs. The venue, on the upper floor, opened five years ago and has helped put many local street food traders on the map.
The industrial setting has been home to scores of vendors selling all kinds of cuisine from Indian to Mexican, and burgers to healthy options. Homeboys, Clean Cut Kitchen, Dosa Love, and 13th Element have all had a stint there.
They said: "The rising costs across so many elements means it is no longer sustainable to continue at this location. This past year everyone has seen a sizable increase in energy bills and ours quadrupled. Unlike most businesses, we have had to power four kitchens and we wouldn’t be sticking to our values if we had passed these costs straight on to the independent food traders we work with.
"We’re proud that our decision to absorb this increase has given these independent businesses the best opportunity to continue to grow." Read more here.
That's all for today
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, what is unique about St Ann's allotments, is it is one of the oldest and largest collections of Victorian detached town gardens in the UK.
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