The best places to shop
Atomic Gifts / Exchange Arcade
Refined and designed. The bright little boutique in the Exchange Arcade has a very original range of design-led gifts and accessories, and some nicely quirky greetings cards. There's also an Atomic furniture and lighting showroom in Plumptre square. The Atomic interior design style is imprinted all over Nottingham ( just have a drink at Cast to get a flavour). Phone 0115 941 5577
Creation Flowers / Derby Road 
Heath Reid's choice for flowers is Creation on Derby Road (not far from the mysterious Danish furniture store). Creation supplies flowers for some of the smartest lobbies in the city; and bouquets that have saved my bacon at least once. Phone 0115 9585960.
HR card welcome at Creation
General Store / Sherwood
A lovely tea & coffee shop: that’s what you’ll see if you pop in briefly. Linger long enough for a cuppa however and a whole secret world opens up; one with different laws of time and new priorities. Graham Knight selects his coffee beans like fine wines and will guide you along rows of large glass jars to demonstrate the fruity aroma of this variety or the nutty quality of that, before sitting you down to discuss the nuances of infusion over a cup of nectar that anticipation has charged with real magic. Phone 0115 9692300.
HR card welcome at General Store
James Bell / Pelham Street
Nottingham’s leading independent men’s clothing store has been going since 1894 and last year completed a substantial refit and expansion of the historic Pelham Street premises. It’s an institution that prevails in the chain store era, thanks to the winning formula of unmatched expertise, commitment to reputed labels and quality of individual service. Very good, Sir. Phone 0115 9501498.
HR card welcome at James Bell
Jass Interiors / Middle Pavement
No cramped, crammed showroom here. Instead, three floors of designer interiors with room to let you appreciate their huge range of bedroom, kitchen and living-room pieces. If you’re not quite sure what would work then you can pick the brains of a professional design service. And if it’s all too much? Chill out and have a cup of coffee in the (impeccably-styled) ground floor café. Phone 0115 9500333
Middleton Butchers
Middletons promise high quality, fresh meat delivered to your door at less than supermarket prices. Why would anyone do otherwise? For the same reason kids prefer turkey twizzlers I’m afraid. Break the habit therefore, give Paul a call and he’ll be pleased to meet you (with meat to please you). Phone free on 0808 8081188.
HR card welcome at Middletons
Molton Brown / 21 St Peter's Gate
Molton Brown describes its approach to life thus: ‘take exceptional plant and marine elements, combine with natural science; produce therapies to enhance the health of your body and allow you to take control of every day.’ Anyway, a Molton Brown bottle or two will always look great in the bathroom. Phone 0115 9581752.
Mufti Costumes / Wollaton Street
Not your average costume shop: a bright white interior created by nightclub designers, bristling with a huge range of (clean) costumes and buzzing with the combined creative genius of Jools & team, who will conjure you an outfit to astound the most flamboyant party crowd. Phone 0115 9414455.
HR card welcome at Mufti
Selectadisc / Market Hill
iTunes is so impersonal - all bits, bytes, noughts & ones. Selectadisc by contrast is a local, independent shop for music. Music. You get to rummage about on three different floors in two different stores. You’re served - in person - by enthusiasts who spend idle moments adding labels with comments to the sleeves to help guide you through the selection. The prices are very competitive, there are second hand items and there’s also an unrivalled selection of precious precious vinyl. Phone 0115 9475420.
Stephen Donald Eyewear / King's Walk
We’re pleased to refer the serious business of choosing spectacles to Stephen Donald. The Kings Walk showroom sets the standard for designer spectacles in Nottingham, with names that include Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Paul Smith, DKNY, Gucci, Air Titanium and L.A. Eyeworks. You can go for single vision lenses or high index lenses from Kodak, Nikon, Zeiss and Hoya, which means an extra thin lens for even the highest short-sight prescription. This is also the place to come for sunglasses, with Oakley and Rayban to add to the name-call. Phone 0115 9582888.
HR card welcome at Stephen Donald
Stuart Thexton Jewellery / Exchange Arcade
Jewellery for the rare moments of a lifetime. Stuart Thexton's serene new showroom on Exchange Arcade offers total assurance for your big decisions and personal service to match the quality of his range. Phone 0115 9881821.
HR card welcome at Stuart Thexton Jewellery
TM Lewin / St. Peter's Gate
'The size of the cuff should always be in proportion to the size of one’s hand’ says a 1905 catalogue for the Jermyn Street shirtmakers TM Lewin. A century of progress has not diminished TM Lewin’s commitment to quality without compromise and now they’ve come to Nottingham; to save us from the wrongs of the extortionately priced distressed T-shirt. Phone 0115 9482583.
HR card welcome at TM Lewin
Tokenhouse / Bridlesmith Gate
A gift shop with a bit of depth. The Tokenhouse is one of England’s few remaining privately-owned gift shops, which means the range is a lot subtler and more original than you’ll find in just another branch of Clinton cards. In fact, It was recently voted the best of its kind in the country. And with 36 years of Nottingham trading, there’s a huge depth of experience there too. Call 0115 9502121.
Weavers Wine / Castle Gate
If you really care about your wine then don’t be fooled by supermarket price games. This is one of the oldest independent businesses trading in Nottingham; still run by the same family, at the site where it was founded in 1844. We can vouch for Weavers expertise, fierce commitment to quality and traditional standards of service. Weavers’ deep knowledge of wine is always well demonstrated at the ever-popular Heath Reid wine-tasting evenings. Phone 0115 9580922.
HR card welcome at Weavers
