Rough Trade Nottingham

Rough Trade Nottingham is much more than a conventional record store: housed in a three-storey Victorian building in Hockley, it combines a music shop with a dedicated space for concerts and cultural events. The record store occupies the ground floor, while the bar and live room are located on the first floor. The venue has a capacity of approximately 180 guests, creating an intimate setting for live performances, album launches and artist appearances.

Inside, the venue retains the distinctive character of an independent record shop, with a broad selection of vinyl, music releases, books and merchandise. The live room features a stage and professional equipment, while its compact scale brings audiences unusually close to the performers. A bar alongside the event space completes the experience, allowing record shopping, socialising and live music to come together under one roof.

Address: 5 Broad St, Hockley, NG1 3AJ, Nottingham, United Kingdom. The entrance is directly on Broad Street in the pedestrian-friendly Hockley area. Lace Market tram stop on Fletcher Gate is the closest tram option and is followed by a short walk to the venue, while Lace Market Car Park is one of the convenient nearby choices for drivers. For broader information about getting around Nottingham and connections across the city, see the transport guide further down the page.

Nottingham, a city of the Robin Hood legend and one of the liveliest urban stages in the East Midlands, is a natural destination for sport and concerts. The big-city buzz here isn’t created only in stadiums and arenas, but also in streets filled with pubs, restaurants, and music venues. Thanks to a compact city centre and a strong mix of things to do, it’s easy to plan an evening that starts with enjoying the city and continues after the event in a great nightlife rhythm.

When it comes to arriving and getting around, Nottingham is known for practical solutions: the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) tram network and Nottingham City Transport bus routes link key city spots with neighbourhoods and approach areas, making arena and stadium trips simple and stress-free. If you arrive by train, Nottingham Station is the central hub where it’s quick to switch to tram or bus, and for air travel the most common choice is East Midlands Airport (EMA), with connections into the city via public transport and road links. In practice, that means places like Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, City Ground and Trent Bridge are easy to reach even for first-time visitors.

Once you’ve got your tickets, Nottingham also gives you a “tourist bonus” that perfectly fills the hours before or after an event: take a stroll across Old Market Square and continue into the creative Lace Market and Hockley, where historic architecture meets modern bars and galleries. For a classic city viewpoint, head to Nottingham Castle, and if you want a breather by the water and riverside paths, River Trent is a great choice. For a calmer part of the day, there’s also Wollaton Hall with its spacious park, ideal for an easy walk before a big night out.