The little-known but historic Nottingham spot that has been returned to its former glory

The War Memorial at Victoria Embankment in Nottingham.
-Credit: (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)


Over the last few years a historic but sometimes overlooked feature of one of Nottingham's most popular waterside attractions has been brought back to life. While the city's Victoria Embankment is a pleasant place for a walk or a relaxing picnic, it also has a lot of intriguing historical details that are worth mulling over.

While most of the attention may be paid to the Embankment's poignant Memorial Gardens, which act as a reminder of the lives lost in both World Wars and hosts an imposing statue of Queen Victoria, another smaller but interesting structure nearby is often overlooked. Built in 1937 on land given to the local community by magnate Jesse Boot, the Art Deco bandstand was used and celebrated by the local people of Nottingham for eight decades until a fire tore through it in March 2017.

Nottingham City Council would later demolish and rebuild parts of the Grade II listed bandstand and refurbish the rest of the building, with its changing rooms and stage saved after suffering severe damage in the blaze. This work was finished in 2019, with bands rushing to get back on the storied stage.

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The enthusiasm for preserving the bandstand was partially down to its special heritage status, with Historic England describing the Moderne style outdoor stage as "particularly unusual and progressive" in its design. History experts added that other bandstands from the same time period were usually mass-produced and less eye-catching.

Picture of the bandstand at Victoria Embankment
The bandstand's design has been described as 'particularly unusual and progressive' for its time -Credit:Nonsuch Studios

On Saturday, September 14, Nonsuch Studios hosted a free music and arts event - Party at The Bandstand - at the Nottingham Victoria Embankment bandstand to celebrate more than 80 years of local history. A mix of local bands and performance groups who each chart different sections of the bandstand's varied and exciting history took to the stage during the event.

Ahead of the event, Edward Boott, chief executive and artist director, said: “We’re thrilled to be returning to the Victoria Embankment Bandstand to host an amazing day of fun, music, art and history. As one of the only chances to see bands live on the Bandstand this summer, we can’t wait to welcome audiences for a free day of something special.”

Nonsuch first worked at the Victoria Embankment Bandstand in 2021 presenting the Nonsuch on Trent Festival that took place across two weeks in August. Bringing live performance, theatre, comedy and music to the bandstand in Covid-safe conditions with social distancing in place alongside local street food.

Funding for the Party at The Bandstand and At The Bandstand came from Historic England's Everyday Heritage grant scheme.