This was one heck of a nostalgia trip for myself to write, I can tell you that now.
Having spent some formative years in Nottinghamshire and then attending university in Lincoln, seeing some of the haunts I used to visit close down has left me a little misty eyed as it has done for those in these areas that have lost some beloved watering holes.
From The Falcon Inn transforming from a rock bar to somewhere that serves trebles (for singles) to even spaces in Nottingham such as Revolution, this walk down memory lane regarding 15 venues in the East Midlands hopefully stirs some conversation once again about the dwindling issue the entertainment and hospitality industry are still facing to this day.
Here’s some of our collective picks for venues across the region that were loved, and lost, over the course of time.
13. Revolution Hockley
One of the many Revolution sites that were closed due to Revolution Bars Group revealing in March 2024 plans for emergency fundraising and the closure of a quarter of its venues, which threatens hundreds of jobs, as it seeks a sale amid financial challenges | Google Maps
14. The Black Swan
Once the loca for many in Worksop, The Black Swan was demolished to make way for redevelopment and housing since 2019 | Google
15. The Assembly Rooms
Plans were to renovate the Assembly Rooms after fire led to the closure of the Derby institution in 2014 but as of writing, there are concerns that the demolition of the venue to make way for a "cultural heart" has no set timetable as of September 2024. | John Sutton