For the majority of us, the New Year marks a new start, and January is often the most popular time for people to start reconsidering one or two lifestyle choices after plenty of indulgences over Christmas. So if you’ve swapped sweets for salads and the sofa for swimming this month, we’ve rounded up just a few of the best places to eat, drink and exercise in Nottingham when you’re on a detox!
The Alley Café
A real hidden-gem, the Alley Café is well-known for being one of the best vegan and vegetarian cafes in the city. Tucked away on Cannon Court (just off from Angel Row) this little café bar is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for some nutritious nosh. The folks at the Alley Café take all your favourite comfort foods and put a healthy spin on it, cooked on the hour with fresh ingredients. With dishes such as their ‘Happy Hemp Burger’ and an ‘Alley Style Burrito’ and a cool, relaxed atmosphere with live music and organic booze, healthy eating has never been so fun!
Perfect for: ‘The Ultimate Veggie Breakfast’ Hearty, healthy, but without the guilt!
Homemade Cafe & Bar
Established in 2005, Homemade is the champion of truly delicious homemade food, cooked and prepared fresh right in front of you. This cosy little independent eatery prides itself in supporting local producers and they believe in simple, honest ingredients without all the additives. Their Oven Baked Salmon with Sweet Potato Mash, Green Beans and Homemade Salsa is a healthy favourite, with their Tiger Prawn and Chorizo Salad coming in at a close second, all for under 500 calories. Find this award-winning hub of goodness on Pelham Street, Hockley, or check out their latest opening ‘The Pavilion’ at the Forest Recreation Ground.
Perfect for: Warming up inside with plenty of healthy homemade treats to choose from when the weather is cold!
Sobar – Alternative Bar and Venue
With just under a week to go until the end of ‘Dry January’, we’ve got a great alternative to see you through to the end. Introduced in 2014, Sobar is the first alcohol-free bar, restaurant and venue to open in the East Midlands. Located on Friar Lane (opposite the old Walkabout Bar), you’ll find them whipping up a huge range of smoothies, milkshakes and fruity mocktails, including their ‘Passionfruit Bellini’ and the aptly named ‘Elderflower Shampagne’, all for under £3. So if you’re looking for a good time in a vibrant venue WITHOUT the hangover, make the Sobar your first stop on Saturday night.
Perfect for: Great events and performances from local creatives, with cheap drinks, fresh food and free wifi.
Castle Gym and Castle Gym Nutrition
Founded in 1980, Castle Gym is one of the oldest gyms in the city centre and is often referred to as one of the last real ‘hardcore’ gyms in Nottingham. They boast a huge variety of equipment and free weights, whilst offering a rich training environment with the help of friendly and experienced staff. Choose from their brand new ‘Fitness Room’, a space dedicated purely to cardio workouts complete with benches and resistance equipment, or work on your weight training in their two ‘Hardcore Weight Rooms’, containing Olympic bars and weights ranging from 1kg to 70kg.
You can also become one of those super dedicated gym bunnies and go the whole hog with supplements, ready meals and clothing available at the Castle Gym Nutrition shop. Find them both at 4 Castle Boulevard and get everything you need for a ‘new year, new you’!
Perfect for: Getting fit for less! You can also get 1 free gym session when you sign up with SNIZL!
Don’t forget, SNIZL users have access to exclusive deals and discounts from local bars, restaurants and gyms in Nottingham before anyone else, with offers updated daily and delivered straight to your phone! So if you plan on continuing those New Year’s resolutions into February and beyond (or if you’re more than ready to go back to your old ways), there’s plenty of daily savings to be made with loads of great businesses across the city centre!
Want to get involved? Click here to register and download the app for free at www.snizl.com, available on Android and iOS.