.... 23 Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 Apologies if this has been discussed before but I was just interested to hear people's opinions about our new 'Slab Square'. It's easy to see the practical advantages, the biggest one being that the former Processional Way curtailed many of it's possibilites as a venue. I was happy to hear that in a few weeks time an articial ice rink is to be constucted for a few winter weeks. They do this very well in places like Edinburgh and York to name two. That's a very personalised view though as I'm a skater and yet I do think it will provide some amount of carnage as it as such things tend to in this country! On the minus side I find it drab and featureless looking - like a larger version of that sea of drabness outside the NIC known as 'Bolero Square'. (How come that never looked like the artist's fanciful impressions?) Is the idea to promote outdoor cafe life in the centre of Nottingham? Perhaps a laudible attempt if so. I do however doubt if the right kinds of business are positioned around the square, Wetherspoons? The Bank? There is a danger that it could be a free-for-all come a Friday/Saturday evening too. What do people think about the water features? I'm just not sure one way or another about those. They're pretty clever but every time I pass there some juvenile delinquents seem to be walking through them fully-dressed! I used to love the old fountains, missused as they were at times by jolly student japes with Fairy Liquid. I think the lack of public toilets in the area and in Nottingham generally upon their creation is an issue too. I really wanted to like this new apparition of the Square. I used to love the old one, warts and all. It was always what I thought of when away from Nottingham, an identifying image that every person from Nottingham holds. The work seemed to last forever, to produce what to my mind is a quite disappointing final job. Hopefully I've provided a reasonably balanced view but on the whole it's a thumbs down from me I'm afraid. Thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bip 88 Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 As you eloquently put it Stu drab and featureless which springs to my mind too. I too walk through there on the odd occasion and three times out of ten the water feature has broken or it’s been switch off for whatever reason by the council. Maybe the idea was to bring the square back to it’s original state by having it flat like it was back in the late thirties early forties when my mum and dad use to meet under the statue of Queen Victoria at the bottom of Market street. The statue is now in the Memorial gardens on the Embankment,[see picture attached] my mum under same statue 60 years later. Sadly my mum passed away last August at the ripe old age of 86. My bug bare is the seating, cold granite slabs which don’t do a lot for peoples piles also the amount of litter there seems to be in and around the fountain area also around the council house too. But apart from those points I reckon it’s right for it’s purpose, fun fairs, foreign markets, meetings between local skate board gangs and the odd march past. Bip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 Superb flat and user friendly, regards “outdoor café life” the 2 pubs you mention both are not licensed for outdoor consumption, I am more than sure Nottingham Licensing would ever permit this idea. Here's one fully clothed juvenile delinquent !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bip 88 Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 I feel sorry for the dog he's dragging with him. Bip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted October 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 Superb flat and user friendly, regards “outdoor café life” the 2 pubs you mention both are not licensed for outdoor consumption, I am more than sure Nottingham Licensing would ever permit this idea.Here's one fully clothed juvenile delinquent !! Is that an aqua Saddam Hussein? ;-) I do see the point of making it more practical. I'm sure with events up and running in the square it will look much different. Without it looks like an empty canvas. Apart from the aforementioned and absolutely agreed practical purpose of it, can I ask with respect what's 'superb' about it mate? I really don't see that. This was part of the original question I guess, does anyone find it attractive? I personally find it dull and underwhelming. Respect your opinion though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bip 88 Posted October 28, 2007 Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 Walked through there last night while killing time, was very surprised to see the fountains working and the litter problem solved, mind you there were several large green bins doing their best to make the square unsightly, maybe those bins were cleared out of sight later, I didn’t notice them when I walked back through anon that evening. One thing I did notice though, the mess, which was left by an Italian style market that must have been on that day. As I walked through earlier that evening they were clearing away and I thought to myself then that there was rather a mess, empty cardboard boxes everywhere. Naively I thought at the time they would take their rubbish away with them back to Italy but no, it was still there as I walked back later and by this time it was soggy cardboard which looked like some inebriated person or persons had great fun with. PS. there wasn’t any dog mess about. Bip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted October 28, 2007 Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 I think more people make the effort to walk though the new flatter square now , where they may not have done before ? Those boxes where stacked up beside the left lion when i passed , would have been ideal for your bonfire Den ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Barnze 27 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Superb flat and user friendly, regards “outdoor café life” the 2 pubs you mention both are not licensed for outdoor consumption, I am more than sure Nottingham Licensing would ever permit this idea.Here's one fully clothed juvenile delinquent !! Brill picture..Can i grab a copy??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Right click on the image and follow your nose Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Superb flat and user friendly, regards “outdoor café life” the 2 pubs you mention both are not licensed for outdoor consumption, I am more than sure Nottingham Licensing would ever permit this idea.Here's one fully clothed juvenile delinquent !! Brill picture..Can i grab a copy??? Sure promote FUN IN THE SQUARE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 "Here's one fully clothed juvenile delinquent !!..." Picture actually taken in Sheffield and features Blunkett's dog leading him in a chase of some woman... Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bip 88 Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 I know by now you are probably getting a little fed up with this but as I walked through the square last Saturday evening the litter was back, looked as if someone had emptied a bin. I checked to see if one had but no bins had so I surmise from that that the general public had left it behind. It’s hard to think that any responsible adult would litter their own city square but it dose happen I suppose, I reckon it’s more likely to be the younger generation those younger people who while much younger never was told by their parents to pick up what they had discarded. Anyroadup it didn’t affect the Japanese party from taking a photo of themselves using the Council House as a background, lets hope though that whoever it was behind the camera managed not to get the litter in shot. Bip Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pemberton 15 Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Looks a bit like 'Paddy Tipping' to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 City Pulse Music Festival City Pulse brings you a host of FREE performances from a selection of popular artisits in Nottingham's famous Old Market Square. We kick off in energetic style with music from new bands until 10pm on Saturday before experiencing the magic of Motown on a soulful Sunday. The weekend is then topped off with a great Bank Holiday Monday celebration. The Festival is completely FREE so you can make a special day trip or just take a break from your shopping to enjoy the sounds. Saturday 24th May 2008 Old Market Square Nottingham Athlete Ben's Brother Censored Elliot Minor Envy and other Sins Nephu Huzzband Red The 7.21'S THE Displacements The Favours Sunday 25th May 2008 Old Market Square Nottingham Blue Jaks The Motown Show Geno Washingham & the Ram Jam Band Gabriella Cilmi Monday 26th May 2008 Old Market Square Nottingham The Blockheads The Beat The Bikini Beach Band Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank 13 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Think I'll give it a miss. Geno Washington - OK - but the others??? Not my type of music I'm afraid - can't even say I've heard of most of 'em Now, if you had Frank Sinartra, Dean and Kenny Rodgers and maybe Kenny G !jumping! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 386 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 City Pulse brings you a host of FREE performances from a selection of popular artisits in Nottingham's famous Old Market Square. FREE, Red? I think not! Be interesting to find out though just how much it cost and where the money has come from. I too agree with Frank ,the bands are obscure and probably appeal to a tiny cross section of the public. Could be an attempt to deflect attention away from the disaster of the recent elections by your noble labour council? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sussexred 25 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 City Pulse brings you a host of FREE performances from a selection of popular artisits in Nottingham's famous Old Market Square. FREE, Red? I think not! Be interesting to find out though just how much it cost and where the money has come from. I too agree with Frank ,the bands are obscure and probably appeal to a tiny cross section of the public. Could be an attempt to deflect attention away from the disaster of the recent elections by your noble labour council? On the other hand it's probably just what is billed. Even the Beatles were obscure once. Did you never listen to music you haven't heard of before? And as if there was time to organise such an event in the last 5 days in response to the polls. I think not. Seems to me there's far too many cynics around now. Get real! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 The Blockheads were Ian Drurys backing group and are great live, and if it is the original line up of the Beat (Great British ska band from the late 70's early 80's (Mirror in the bathroom etc) I for one am looking forward to coming over. P.S. The Beat split to form Fine Young Caniballs/ General Public in about 83 ( I used to love them and was quite miffed when they split up at the top of the game as it were) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 386 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 There is still the cost involved in organising this event which would be CONSIDERABLE. Maybe the event was organised to celebrate the intended enormous countrywide labour victories? Or possibly to do as the Romans with `circuses and bread` to appease the mobs! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 You'll probably find the bands will be doing it for free and the costs are recouperated from the franchising and merchandising. That was how the "Nott'm Festival usedto be funded (Or so I am led to believe) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stan 386 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 The Blockheads were Ian Drurys backing group and are great live, and if it is the original line up of the Beat (Great British ska band from the late 70's early 80's (Mirror in the bathroom etc) I for one am looking forward to coming over.P.S. The Beat split to form Fine Young Caniballs/ General Public in about 83 ( I used to love them and was quite miffed when they split up at the top of the game as it were) Ah Geriatrics ,then! Maybe we could sign up `The Zimmers`? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 I would imagine (as Red said) that they are themed days (Never heard of any of the first days acts!!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zab 47 Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Athlete are pretty good, they did have a number 1 album a couple of years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 Nottingham on sea the beach is back! No skinny dipping allowed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.