New openings

Chilled new brunch spot Poms has just opened in the heart of Ashbourne. The John Street venue is all exposed brickwork, stripped wood walls and colourful, relaxed seating. And the menu? Mouth-watering. The usual faves like avo on toast (with spicy chickpeas) and a full English are there, but I’m eyeing up the Ham Hock and Roasted Squash Hash. With two other restaurants (Lichfield and Barton Marina), these guys seem to have found their groove.

Another new indie foodie find has just opened this month in Nottingham to rave reviews. Piccalilli in Cannon Court is dishing up British and European small plates with a home-spun twist. Billing itself as ‘neighbourhood dining’ it aims to serve food that feels familiar but tastes extraordinary.

Check out the hard-to-find and hard-to-leave new Chesterfield Lounge upstairs at The Angel Microbrewery in Hockley. Cosy, warm and welcoming, the walls are plastered with 20th century newspaper pages and the leather armchairs tempt you to spend the whole evening playing board games with friends or bedding in early ahead of a night of live music. Super chill.

Book ahead

Ooh, some exciting hot tickets for 2025 announced this month. First up, Nottingham’s favourite festival has announced it is making a comeback in 2025. Splendour will return to Wollaton Park on 19 & 20 July, after a year off this year. Notts residents can bag a 10 per cent discount.

Wordsmiths celebrate! Cult legend and poetry phenomenon John Cooper Clarke is headed to Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall on Fri 21 March. If you’ve never seen his hilarious ponderings on modern life, good honest gags, riffs and chat, book it up. Should be a blast.

Musical afficionados should get in line for tickets to the award-winning Book of Morman, coming to Nottingham Theatre Royal next June. Also just announced, Broadway hit musical Hairspray is coming to Buxton Opera House next March.

The Heights takes gold

Quite the accolade for Matlock Bath tourist attraction the Heights of Abraham which has just scooped a coveted gold award for excellence by VisitEngland. The mystery judges singled out the way the team make every visitor feel special. Never been? Read Muddy’s review here. After Halloween half term shenanigans, the Heights re-opens on 22 Nov for its new Lights of Abraham winter lights trail.