Maybe you’ve heard the rumours? Maybe you’ve seen a TikTok video or two? However you’ve made it here, the secret bars in Nottingham are a seriously cool part of this underrated city in the East Midlands!
From speakeasies to converted churches, there are so many cool bars in Nottingham and hidden cocktail spots in the city, so here’s our quick lowdown of the best secret bars Nottingham has to offer.
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Secret Bars in Nottingham you need to visit
Whether you’re a local, a student or visiting Nottingham for the weekend, here are the cool bars in Nottingham that you need to check out.
Lost Property
If you’re a local then you already know that a lot of the trendy bars in Nottingham tend to be Hockley bars. Nottingham has a thriving creative and cultural scene in Hockley and the lace market area, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a Nottingham secret bar in this area!
Lost Property can be found tucked down an alleyway on Carlton Street; the main road running through Hockley. You might think that makes it easy to find, but you’ll pass by this unremarkable alleyway several times before you realise it’s here!
Look for the alleyway next to the Bonzai Japanese restaurant. You should see a painting of the Mona Lisa at the bottom – if you do – this is where you need to go.
Follow the alleyway and look for the secret door.
Lost Property is a low-lit speakeasy cocktail bar and they do great 2-4-1 deals.
The Hockley Arts Club
Another one of the quirky bars in Nottingham that’s easy to miss unless you know where you’re looking.
The Hockley Arts Club is also located on Carlton Street, opposite the turn for George Street.
Again it’s just a small alleyway but at night you’ll see a neon sign (and possibly a bouncer outside!) to guide the way.
You’ll be amazed by the size once you get there, with 3 floors or speakeasy cocktail bars, a themed Japanese sakura bar and a club-bar venue downstairs if you fancy a dance.
The Hockley Arts Club has been on the scene for a good few years now and it’s one of the top bars in Nottingham for a reason!
Boilermaker
Sadly the Boilermaker bar isn’t as secret as it used to be – an unassuming white room with boilers on the wall and a man behind a desk. When there’s a table available he’d gesture for you to push one of the boilers on the wall and you’d find yourself in a broom closet. Then find the other secret door in the closet and you’d be in the bar.
Also located on Carlton street, because of the challenges of the last few years, they’ve now converted the front into a coffee shop so they could still generate revenue from takeaway during the restrictions.
You can now enter the unassuming Boilermaker coffee shop and make your way through to the speakeasy cocktail bar in the back.
Make sure to try the ‘Run QMC’ cocktail – named after the Nottingham QMC hospital and it arrives in a biohazard waste bin!
The Magic Garden
You’ll find the Magic Garden off Low Pavement, next to the Paul Smith shop.
You might find some flowers out the front that give the location away, but otherwise this bar is hidden in what looks like an unassuming residential building.
But inside you’ll find a magical and vibrant bar with a stunning outdoor garden area that’s a really hidden oasis in the city centre.
With colourful drinks, colourful food and colourful festival vibes in the garden, this is the perfect secret garden bar in Nottingham to enjoy on a summer’s day.
The Curious Tavern
The Curious Tavern isn’t hidden specifically, but you’ll probably walk past this pub tavern several times without giving it a second glance.
On the corner of George Street, just around the corner from Lost Property (it’s sister venue), the Curious Tavern is dark and antiqued with a focus on craft beers which rotate every week.
The dark and mysterious vibes add to the curious theme and with live music every weekend, the Curious Tavern is a great place to take beer lovers for something a bit different from the standard English pubs in Nottingham.
Pepper Rocks
One of the cocktail bars in Nottingham that’s perfect for pre-drinks before a night out.
Tucked down the dead-end Pepper Street off of Bridlesmith Gate, Pepper Rocks looks tiny from the outside but it opens up into three floors and a terrace area of cosy sofas, tropical boho vibes, great cocktails and music to get the night started.
While the terrace could technically be classed as one of the rooftop bars in Nottingham, it’s a very cosy space so you’ll want to arrive early if you don’t want to queue outside.
Plus turning up early means you can enjoy their generous happy hour which runs every day from opening until 10pm!
House of Coco Tang
One of the best secret bars in Nottingham, marked only by a single, red Chinese lantern hanging above a dark doorway on Bridlesmith Gate.
The theme of Coco Tang is an old-style Hong Kong alleyway. Through the single door, you’ll take the stairs down underground and find yourself in a rabbit warren.
The bar doubles as a club and you’ll often find people here at the end of a night out, with the bar open until 1-2am on Tuesday-Saturday.
With club music and low lighting, the vibe here is speakeasy club but with a touch of style, as the booths have buttons to press if you want to order a drink.
The Walrus
Located on King Street a few steps behind the Alchemist Bar, the Walrus was previously called Bunker, now you’ll just see a single neon sign that marks the doorway to The Walrus between two shopfronts.
This is a real fun bar for a night out with friends, with a great cocktail and food menu which plays up to an American influence – burgers, chicken wings and fries.
The American theme continues with full size American beer pong tables. They run happy hour cocktails Thursday-Saturday – 2 for £10.
Pitcher & Piano
Although this isn’t a secret bar in Nottingham by any means, it’s definitely one of the coolest bars in Nottingham thanks to its location in a church and without extensive signage means people often walk by, just assuming it’s a regular church and not a huge converted bar.
Pitcher & Piano is part of a chain, so while it’s the only non-independent location on this list, it’s a fun one to visit purely for the wow factor when you walk in the entrance.
With a range of standard food, drinks, cocktails and draughts, this is a popular spot for after work drinks and pre-drinks for the weekend – especially for large groups as there’s so much space inside.
400 Rabbits
Tucked down Hurts Yard, a small alleyway that links the Nottingham Square with Upper Parliament Street, most people don’t know this alleyway is there.
400 Rabbits claims to be Nottingham’s first and only dedicated Mezcaleria, Tequila and cocktail den.
If you’re a fan of Mezcal and tequila, this is the stop for you. With all cocktails £6 until 8pm every night, this is a popular spot for the start of a cheap night out in Nottingham!
Summary: Best secret bars Nottingham, UK
There’s new bars and restaurants popping up all the time in Nottingham, and being a university city, there’s always something quirky or cool on offer.
Nottingham is a real underrated gem of a city in the UK and the secret bar scene is a part of that. Hopefully this gives you some inspiration for your next night out in Nottingham.
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