A Gedling pub is again promoting an offer that gained national attention when it spectacularly backfired.
The Gedling Inn on Main Road has announced it will again be offering a free pint every time Forest score tomorrow when the Reds face Brighton away in the quarter final of the FA Cup at 17.15pm.
Football fans were in seventh heaven last time the Reds faced The Seagulls after the pub delivered on its promise to offer a free pint for every Forest goal – which they won 7-0.
Punters made the most of the offer as Forest won 7-0 against Brighton (PHOTO:Gedling Inn/Facebook)
The light-hearted offer was launched back in February by the pub to celebrate the arrival of the TNT Sports channel – but the seven goal blitz meant punters kept their wallets firmly shut as they queued up for their free beer.
300 pints of Foster’s and Strongbow were handed out during the game and also free soft drinks.
The latest offer has been announced as the pub celebrates the launch of a new menu with lots of new items and a buy one get one free deal.
The previous stunt was estimated to have cost the boozer around £1,500 – but landlady Beccy Webster said ‘it had been worth it’.
At the time she told Gedling Eye: “We gave away a few hundred on the day and the atmosphere was buzzing.
“As a Forest fan it was all worth giving away the free beer to see that huge victory – plus it’s nice to give back to loyal customers too.”
Major £1.7m pedestrian and cycling enhancements have been completed on a Mapperley road.
Nottingham City Council were awarded cash from the Active Travel Fund to create a modern pedestrian and cycling-friendly scheme on Porchester Road, with clear segregation from traffic.
For phase one of the project, the council has completed a segregated, two-way cycle path that begins on Burgass Road and finishes at Cherrywood Gardens.
For phase one of the project, the council has completed a segregated, two-way cycle path that begins on Burgass Road and finishes at Cherrywood Gardens.The graphic shows all the planned improvements to Porchester Road for cyclists and pedestrians
The scheme connects into recent improvements on Carlton Road
Phase two of the programme starts soon and includes the introduction of a segregated two-way cycle path from Cherrywood Gardens north to Kenrick Avenue and a one-way cycle path for northbound and southbound users from Kenrick Road to Emmanuel Avenue.
Funding for phase two has come from Central Government via the newly formed East Midlands Combined County Authority.
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan said:“By creating safer spaces for walking and cycling on Porchester Road, we’re giving people real alternatives to car travel, reducing congestion, improving air quality, and making our streets safer for everyone.
“This is about building a healthier, greener Nottingham, where sustainable travel is the easy choice. Every step we take towards better infrastructure moves us closer to our ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2028, and I’m proud to see this vision coming to life.”
At 28, Cllr Sam Smith is one of the youngest council leaders in the country. He was elected as Leader at the Full Council meeting on December 5, following the departure of former leader Ben Bradley.
It’s been an incredible start, and I’m so proud of what has already been achieved by my administration. We’re delivering on the priorities that matter most to residents—fixing roads, improving public transport, investing in education, and strengthening local services. There’s still plenty to do, but we’re making real progress.
One of the biggest issues facing residents has been the state of Nottinghamshire’s roads and I have overseen a £3.3 million boost for highways repairs, which is already being put into action. Major resurfacing, drainage, and pavement improvements are planned over the next year, targeting key routes across the county.
On top of that, the council has secured additional funding through the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), bringing the total Highways Capital Programme to £72 million this year. This extra funding means more resurfacing, pothole repairs, drainage improvements, and better footpaths.
“Fixing our roads is a top priority. We’ve listened to residents, secured extra funding, and are now delivering long-term improvements. People will start seeing the difference across Nottinghamshire in the coming months.”
Fixing our roads is a top priority. We’ve listened to residents, secured extra funding, and are now delivering long-term improvements. People will start seeing the difference across Nottinghamshire in the coming months.
Bus services play a vital role in keeping communities connected. Under Cllr Smith’s leadership, the council has allocated £9 million to support and improve local bus routes, ensuring services remain reliable, particularly in rural areas.
I have visited transport hubs across the county, including Sutton, Newark, Beeston, Bestwood, and Bassetlaw, to see first-hand how this investment is making a difference.
We know how important public transport is to people’s everyday lives—getting to work, school, or appointments. That’s why we’re investing to keep vital bus routes running and make sure services meet the needs of our communities.
Providing high-quality education and support for young people has been another key focus. We have invested £30 million to expand SEND school places, including the soon-to-be-completed Horizons Academy in Mansfield, which will accommodate 160 pupils.
We have also launched 10 new Family Hubs, with more on the way, to support families from pregnancy through to a child’s 18th birthday.
Hundreds of new childcare places have also been created, helping working parents access flexible, affordable childcare.
During Children’s Mental Health Week I attended the NottAlone LIVE event, where hundreds of young people gathered to discuss mental health and well-being.
Every child deserves the best start in life. That means great schools, strong family support, and better mental health services. We’re investing in all these areas to make sure young people in Nottinghamshire can reach their full potential.
While much has been achieved in the first 100 days, there is still more to do. We’ve made great progress, but this is just the start. Over the next year, my Conservative Councillor colleagues and I will keep working hard to improve our roads, invest in communities, and make Nottinghamshire an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.
The name WH Smith is set to disappear from the High Street after the iconic retailer agreed a deal agreed to sell its shops to Hobbycraft-owner Modella Capital.
The new owner has announced it will rebrand the High Street outlets as TGJones, marking an end for WH Smith which set up its first shop in London in 1792.
The sale does not include the WH Smith brand, its travel shops at airports and railway stations or its outlets in hospitals.
Modella Capital will take over 480 stores in retail parks, shopping centres and on High Streets including 5,000 staff.
The private equity firm specialises in retail and consumer businesses and, as well as buying Hobbycraft, has also invested in Crafters’ Companion and The Original Factory Shop.
It said the TGJones brand carried “the same sense of family” as WH Smiths, which it described as an “iconic” retail business.
WH Smith’s sells papers and magazines, alongside books, sweets and snacks and art supplies.
The travel division operates more than 1,200 stores in 32 countries.
Enjoy an evening of music, dancing, and fun – all in support of a great cause!
From 5 PM to 9 PM, you’ll be taken on a nostalgic journey through the soulful sounds of the 70s and 80s, featuring the very best of Soul, Motown, and Northern Soul. Whether you’re a seasoned soul fan or just love a good groove, this is your chance to hit the dancefloor and relive the golden era of music.
Tickets are just £9, and every penny raised goes directly towards supporting the work of Phenomenal Futures, a local community organisation dedicated to making a difference.
Enjoy a night of live music with singer Eba Sallah as he performs reggae, ska, dancehall and motown hits from yesteryear at the Eagle’s Corner pub in Arnold.
Enjoy two hours of crafting, cream tea’ing and self caring. You will be first handed all ingredients for to create your bath bombs and then head into the restaurant for a traditional cream tea for 30 minutes. The event finishes with a stroll around the woods for a Mothers Trail, dedicated to all the great women of our times
Tickets £22.33
Event Cinema: Billy Elliot The Musical Live(20th Anniversary)
Billy Elliot the Musical won the hearts of millions since it opened in London’s West End in 2005. Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever. The original creative team behind the film, including writer Lee Hall (book & lyrics), director Stephen Daldry, and choreographer, Peter Darling, is joined by music legend Elton John (music) to produce a funny, uplifting and spectacular theatrical experience that will stay with you forever.
2hrs 43 mins including an interval
Let us know if you have an event going on that you want plugging in our weekly weekend guide by emailing news@gedlingeye.co.uk
A man has been arrested after a cannabis grow was uncovered in the loft of a home in Woodthorpe.
Police discovered the plants after a group of men were seen loitering outside the property.
Officers were called to Plains Road around 7.55pm on Wednesday (26 March) by a passer-by who had spotted the men showing an interest in a house.
When police arrived at the scene and gained entry to the property they found a grow of around 30 plants in the loft.
There were also around 20 vacuum-packed bags filled with cannabis which had already been cropped.
Fans and other equipment used to power the grow were found throughout the house.
A 23-year-old man, who was inside the address, has been arrested on suspicion of cultivation of a Class B drug.
The plants and crop will now be destroyed and the equipment will be dismantled.
Inspector Paul Whitehead, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We are grateful to the member of the public for reporting this incident.
“Their alertness has allowed us to uncover this cannabis grow, which would have made the criminals behind it a considerable amount of money.
“Grows like this bring nothing but problems for communities and can act as a magnet to other criminals who try to break in and steal the crop.
“Inquiries will continue into the incident. We will not hesitate to take action against any landlord who allows their property to be turned into a cannabis factory.”
Anyone with any information should call police on 101, quoting incident 777 of 26 March 2025, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A much-loved Nottingham city farm has received a cash boost from a Colwick firm following sharp rises in its operating costs.
Stonebridge City Farm in St Ann’s was named as the recipient of March’s charity donation by The Wilkins Group in its ‘year of giving’ campaign.
The packaging firm’s 12-month campaign is championing a different Nottinghamshire charity each month during 2025 and making donations to lessen the impact of the current challenging economic climate.
This week, Stonebridge City Farm received a cheque for £1,000, after staff at The Wilkins Group heard its plea for help.
Stonebridge City Farm was established in 1980 as an urban farm dedicated to offering training, education and diverse volunteering opportunities particularly for individuals facing mental health challenges or learning disabilities.
Justin Wilkins, joint managing director at The Wilkins Group, which makes food packaging for many of the UK’s leading brands, said: “We know times are hard for so many people and organisations across the country at the moment.
Stonebridge CEO Peter Armitage (holding cheque) with (l-r) Jolanta Meikle, Simon Lowis and Justin Wilkins from the Wilkins Group
“Stonebridge City Farm gives so much joy to visitors but its financial struggles due to the sharp rise in costs is heartbreaking.
“We hope that our donation will help support the farm and its 200 plus volunteers so that it can continue to bring a little piece of the countryside to city residents.”
The Wilkins Group announced its ‘year of giving’ campaign in December. It kick-started the initiative with an innovative calendar and desk tidy that was sent to its customers.
Each month, the calendar highlights a different Nottinghamshire charity, outlining its work and why The Wilkins Group would be donating towards each cause. Charities that have already benefited from support include Green’s Windmill, in Sneinton, and Papplewick Pumping Station, in Ravenshead.
Justin said: “The idea of our ‘year of giving’ calendar and campaign has been a huge success. Our clients have loved it. While we may be a global brand, we are immensely proud of our Nottingham roots and want to support local attractions and charities to grow and flourish.
Peter Armitage, CEO of Stonebridge City Farm, said: “It is amazing to see a successful Nottingham based business supporting our cause.
“I would like to express a huge thank you to The Wilkins Group. Donations like this one help us going forward at a time when it is so hard to raise money and much-needed funds.”
The not-for-profit organisation launched a JustGiving Winter Appeal with a target of £30,000 to help with rising costs and maintenance.
While 2024 was a record year for the centre, with around 100,000 visitors and the support of 300 volunteers, it was also a record year for rising costs.
Justin said: “The work being done by Stonebridge City Farm and its volunteers is simply inspiring. To be able to support such a fabulous facility in our hometown, one that has been enjoyed by many of our team and their children and grandchildren, has been tremendous.
“The farm is just 10-minutes’ drive away from our Colwick headquarters. It is a fantastic use of green space in the city as well as a tremendously diverse education and volunteering space.”
The Wilkins Group is dedicated to improving its local community spaces and mitigating the environmental impact of industry. Creating packaging designs and innovations that aim to reduce and ultimately eradicate single-use plastics within the industry, it is already leading the way in alternatives including board trays for food packaging, including the use of compostable materials, and 100 per cent plastic-free hangers.
The Wilkins Group is a family run firm that produces food packaging for the likes of Pukka, Pizza Express, Harrods and Cadbury.
It also is credited with producing bespoke and award-winning items such as eco-friendly coat hangers and the iconic M&S light-up glitter gin bottles.
Gedling borough’s restaurants, cafes and businesses all get ranked on their food hygiene standards and practices.
Inspectors from Gedling Borough Council rank the establishments on their hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and food safety management, to determine how safe and clean they are.
Eateries are then given ratings for their standards, ranging from a 5 (Very Good) to 0 (Urgent Improvement Necessary).
Here are the results of the most recent inspections:
Our readers from across the borough give their weekly take on the biggest issues impacting Gedling and beyond.
Join the debate by sending your letter to letters@gedlingeye.co.uk . Please put ‘Letters’ in the subject line. You can also submit a letter by filling in the simple form below, and it may appear online.
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Names and addresses will be withheld by request but must be included in the email.We reserve the right to edit letters.Letters published do not reflect the views of Gedling Eye
‘I would be great leader of new town board‘
Sir,
I see that a job is available for the chair of this new Carlton Town Board and I’d like to let you know: I would be the ideal candidate.
Rather than get some overpriced contractor or ‘consultant’ in, let me do it for free.
I know the area and I would keep the money away from Arnold, that’s for sure – as I have said previously you can’t polish a…
Sir John Peace this week left his role as chair of Greater Carlton’s Town Board
Carlton and Netherfield could be a proper borough capital if the money was spent appropriately there. The transport links are so much better than Arnold as you can get from City to Netherfield and Carlton in under five minutes via train. I can not imagine a business executive wanting to take a 25 minute ride to Arnold for a meeting.
£20m is a lot of money and could make a huge difference to these towns but my fear is we would get some ‘consultant’ in who would be swayed by local politicians and MPs who want to spend more cash in Arnold, despite their high street dying quicker than a Puriri moth
I await the phone call.
Ron Lim, Carlton
MP ‘causing chaos’
Sir,
Michael Payne MP for Gedling is causing chaos and spreading misinformation amongst Gedling residents.
He had informed residents about option 4 and residents are now thinking there is a chance that Gedling Borough Council can stay as it is despite the Local Government Review.
He has totally got this wrong and by not correcting his constituents and stating an option 4 he is using smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that 1 of the 3 options is Gedling being merged into the City Boundary.
I expect better from our MP and feel this is very disingenuous of him to basically lie and try to pull the wool over residents eyes.
If one of the other bridges is out of action the roads turn into chaos. Lady Bay Bridge was closed (someone trying to commit suicide) and I had to leave my work in West Bridgford and go home to Gedling via Radcliffe on Trent, Shelford, Gunthorpe Bridge, Lowdham and Burton Joyce. It took me over an hour-and-a-half, as lots of traffic were also heading to their homes too.
Joan North Gedling
Tram would bring extra jobs to area
Sir,
Following on from L Sanders letter regarding the tram (Tram to Gedling ‘much needed’ – Letters 20/03/25), the benefit would be better access to jobs and leisure activities through a quicker connection than buses.
It does not need to be profitable as the return on the investment is that it is an enabler for growth of the economy through taxes generated by the jobs. It is a proven fact that good transport networks attract new employers to an area.
Tram networks are only fully successful when they cover their urban area comprehensively which the present Nottingham network does not. The trams attract more travellers. The Phoenix Park park and ride site operated for a few years before the tram network opened, using buses. When the network opened the car park was doubled in size and I believe has been enlarged again since.
The fastest route from Netherfield to the QMC is by train and tram. The integrated ticket is provided by the Robin Hood card. There are two major problems for this quickest route. One is that the senior bus pass is not valid on the train. In London the over-60s can use their free pass on all forms of public transport in the London area. Why are we 2nd class citizens in this respect?
The other is the inadequate frequency of trains stopping at Carlton. There are two per hour pass through but only 1 per hour stops. For an urban area and compared to Beeston this is unacceptable. I suspect the train operator (micro managed by the Department of Transport) persists with this because there is no pressure from local politicians or Gedling Council to do anything about it fearing this might compromise the signing off of the tram extension. This is a misplaced concern if it exists. Beeston has a much more frequent train service which serves a different part of the area and a different market and still has a tram. Netherfield, Carlton, Gedling would be ditto.
A major change is coming to the train timetables in December with the Newark trains extending to Lincoln. Local politicians should be pushing for all trains to stop.
Geoff Jackson, via email
Why not try fracking?
Sir,
With energy costs rising by the day, why don’t those opposed to “fracking” take a deep breath put ideology to one side and in the interest of the majority support a trial drill in Notts just to see if success can be achieved without damage to either residents or the environment?
In response to Mrs. Brenda Holdforth who was looking for information on her birthplace in Calverton (Trying to trace birthplace’ – Letters 20/03/25).
The ‘Bottom Buildings’ she may be referring to might actually be Bottom Farm where a family of Knights lived – or Windle Square, near the Gleaners Inn at the bottom of the Village.
Hope this info can help you.
Alun Tuck, Arnold
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A cluttered workspace often translates into a cluttered mind—this, we all know. But what you might not realise is how simple organisational tweaks can dramatically enhance productivity. A clear, well-organised desk not only promotes efficiency but also contributes positively to mental clarity. It’s about finding a balance between practicality and comfort. Positioning your desk to face the door, using a minimal number of necessary objects, and ensuring your chair supports your back correctly can surprisingly transform your working day.
The Magic of Colour Coding
Colour coding is far more than a primary school trick; it’s an underrated gem in the corporate environment. Implementing a simple colour system for your documents and files not only streamlines workflow but significantly cuts down time spent searching. Surprisingly, even small items like your packs of printer paper can be colour coded by purpose. For instance, reserve a specific shelf or drawer labelled clearly with a distinct colour for your printer paper stock, ensuring you always know your exact inventory levels. It sounds overly simple—until you try it and see the immediate benefits.
Optimising Your Supplies Cabinet
It’s not glamorous, but someone has to say it: office supply cabinets are the unsung heroes of productivity. Imagine the frustration of running out of essentials in the middle of an important printing job—every business knows this scenario all too well. Maintaining a clearly structured supplies cabinet with labels indicating reorder points is crucial. For instance, create dedicated spaces for your HP ink cartridges, clearly marking minimum stock levels. That way, you never face the dreaded scenario of running dry right before a crucial meeting.
Break Area Rejuvenation: Not Just for Coffee
An often overlooked yet highly beneficial practice is making your office break area truly restful. More than a space to gulp coffee, this area should offer genuine relaxation. Comfortable seating, plants, natural light, and perhaps even subtle background music can significantly boost team morale and productivity. When your team has an appealing space for brief mental breaks, their overall work quality and creativity will naturally improve. It may seem indirect, but productivity improvements from well-utilised breaks can be astonishingly substantial.
Small Changes, Big Differences
It’s easy to underestimate the power of practical adjustments around the office. By reconsidering organisation, from your printer paper stash to your HP ink cartridges, and transforming overlooked spaces, you foster an environment primed for efficiency and positivity. Start small, observe the benefits, and soon you’ll realise these minor tweaks can indeed have major impacts.
