November 30, 2015, by Sunita Tailor
Places in Nottingham to make you feel all literary
This blog post was written by final year English student, Katie Randall from the School of English.
Perhaps because I am an English student I’m more of a dreamer than your average student and sometimes when I’ve finished reading a book, I’m just not quite ready to let it go. Luckily for me, in Nottingham there are plenty of places that allow me to temporarily forget about the real world and immerse myself in settings akin to some favourite literary classics. Hopefully you can see why!
Embrace your inner James Bond (or equivalent spy character) at the Boilermaker – that’s if you can find it in the first place! An inconspicuous shop front window, a very official sounding doorman, secret entrance and lots of dry ice makes you feel as though you have been transported out of Nottingham into a far more glamorous location.
- Thea Caffea
Enjoy your own Mad Hatter’s tea party at Thea Caffea, a traditional English Tea Room tucked away in Enfield Chambers. The black and white checkered floor and extensive selection of tea and cakes could have you imagining yourself in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, although you might get some funny looks if you turn up wearing a top hat and holding your pet rabbit under your arm…
Just off of Market Square, the Malt Cross is an old Victorian music hall that’s been converted into a pub. The domed ceilings and upper level seating overlooking the bottom floor is quite unlike anything else I’ve managed to find in town. I’m not sure I can give you a specific tale that the Malt Cross actually reminds me of, maybe J.B Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls studied for my English GCSE, but I’m pretty sure the Victorian vibe counts for something – any literary recollections of your own, perhaps?
Situated in Lenton, Warsaw Diner is the perfect place for you to live your own American Dream with bacon and maple syrup pancakes and eggs cooked however you like. Again, maybe this isn’t reminiscent of a specific book but I can guarantee it will make you feel like you’re in any 50’s American diner and thus could be in a short story of Raymond Carver, Steinbeck novel or the like.
Edin’s is the perfect little place for a romantic meal, with coffee, candles, classic dishes and, of course, wine you could be sitting in a quaint café on the streets of any European city. Think Ernst Hemingway, or the more recent One Day by David Nicholls.
[Featured images from:
http://www.autumnedginton.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/boilerroom-outside1.jpg
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNOjlWLmitA/U4X-9dOg33I/AAAAAAAABuA/efnpS2PhqyE/s1600/thea-caffea-nottingham6.jpg
http://blog.mailtravel.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Malt-Cross-3.jpg
https://thenottinghambucketlist.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/photo-14-04-2015-09-12-29.jpg?w=768&h=768
http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2015-05/26/17/enhanced/webdr08/enhanced-28289-1432677215-7.jpg]
The Malt Cross always makes me think of Sarah Waters novels, particularly Tipping the Velvet.