A history of Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter
How Nottingham's LGBTQ+ scene grew into the Rainbow Quarter, told through dated, sourced milestones.
Timeline
- 1938The New Foresters begins serving Nottingham's LGBTQ+ community (venue's own claim); later called a safe space for at least 30 years before decriminalisation.
- 1960sThe Flying Horse Inn is the city's main gay bar.
- 1972Mushroom Bookshop opens on Broad Street, selling gay and lesbian literature (closed 2000).
- 1973La Chic opens, described as the UK's first club licensed solely for gay and lesbian patrons (closed 1977).
- 1975Notts LGBT+ Network begins supporting LGBT people in Nottinghamshire.
- 1970sThe Lord Roberts on Broad Street becomes queer-friendly.
- 1980sLGBTQ+ community life shifts from the Lace Market to Broad Street, Hockley.
- 1990Broadway Media Centre (cinema) opens on Broad Street.
- Early 1990sThe Health Shop opens on Broad Street to give sexual health advice to gay men; it still operates as an NHS service at 12 Broad Street.
- 1994Sir Ian McKellen launches the GAi Project, a gay and bisexual men's HIV prevention initiative, at Broadway (some reports say c.1993).
- 1997Nottingham's first Pride, 'Pink Lace', is held on Broad Street outside Broadway.
- 2009Propaganda LGBTQ+ nightclub opens in the Lace Market (closed 2020).
- 2014-2023Notts Pride events held in the Hockley area.
- 201916 July: council opens the Rainbow Road - rainbow crossings on Broad Street - which became the end point of the Pride march.
- 202117 September: Nottingham's first Pink Plaque unveiled at the New Foresters.
- 2024Notts Pride moves its main site to Sneinton Market; Hockley rainbow crossings repainted for their fifth anniversary.
- 202526 July: Rainbow Quarter announced at Notts Pride by Nottingham Pastel Project.
- 202617 June: Nottingham Rainbow Quarter officially launched in Hockley.
- 202731 July: Notts Pride marks 30 years of Pride in Nottingham.
Venues we remember
- La Chic: Two-storey disco with upstairs restaurant in the Broadmarsh/Canal Street area; described as the UK's first club licensed solely for gay and lesbian patrons.. 1977 (opened 1973)
- Mushroom Bookshop: Bookshop on Broad Street, one of few in Nottingham openly selling gay and lesbian literature and papers such as Gay Times.. 2000 (operated from 1972)
- Flying Horse Inn (now 200 Degrees): The city's main gay bar in the 1960s.. No longer a pub; site now 200 Degrees (date not stated)
- Mick's bar (later Steve's bar): Lesbian hangout in the Lace Market with pool tables.. Early 1990s (late 1980s to early 1990s)
- Love Zoo / Lost Weekend: Mixed dance-music club on Huntingdon Street with many queer staff and trans regulars.. 2000s (operated late 1990s to early 2000s)
- George's wine bar: Popular Broad Street wine bar with the LGBTQ+ crowd, opened early 2000s.. Closed (date not stated)
- New Carrington Inn (as a queer pub): Mansfield Road pub briefly run as a queer pub; some Pride committee meetings held there.. 2010 (brief)
- Propaganda: Chain LGBTQ+ nightclub in the Birkin building, Lace Market, employing local drag acts; rival to NG1.. 2020 (opened 2009)
- Fuel and Foundation: Bars beside Propaganda in the Lace Market, connected by internal doors.. Closed in under a year (2010s)
- Downtown 64: Queer club opened 2016 in the Irish Centre, later at Saltbox; described as the last queer club in the Canal/Broadmarsh area.. Not stated
- NG1 (now NG-One): Long-running gay club at 76-80 Lower Parliament Street (pre-drinks crowd went there from Huntingdon Street pubs).. Still operating as NG-One but reported to have dropped its 'gay club' branding (Midlands Zone headline; article could not be read, date unverified). Do not list as a gay club.