Treat Yourself this Christmas with 20 of the Best Food and Drink Businesses in Nottingham

It’s time for another list of places in Nottingham offering click & collect or delivery services during this COVID era, but now the countdown to Christmas is on (7 sleeps to go!) which means lots of festive food for you to indulge in.

And before you start fretting about carbs and calories, I ask you this: so what if you’ve gained weight this year? Who hasn’t? Bang a festive jumper on for Christmas Day and no-one will know the difference.

If all else fails, bring back the Myspace selfie – remember that? Phone held high above your head, camera pointing down, giving you the illusion of a long, skinny body (with a disproportionately gigantic head, but hey ho swings and roundabouts).

On a serious note, don’t let weight worries stop you from enjoying Christmas. You can draw a line under any lockdown-induced stress eating on the 31st December and focus on making healthier choices in January.

In the meantime, it’s been a tough year for us all and I firmly believe you have earned the right to enjoy the best burger of your life guilt-free (more details below…)

In this blog you will find a list of 20 Nottingham independents that are still serving food, either via click & collect or delivery. Make sure you check direct with each company before placing an order to confirm their current services. With rules and restrictions changing on an almost weekly basis, website information can quickly become outdated.

Without further ado, here are 20 local food and drink businesses you can support in the lead up to Christmas.

FULL MEALS

Peggy’s Skylight

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Peggy’s Skylight is a jazz club located in Hockley that opened in 2018. If you haven’t been to this hidden gem before, make sure you stop by as soon as restrictions ease because this is a must-visit venue, bringing you performances from some of the most talented local jazz musicians. For now, you can enjoy a taste of their middle eastern inspired menu at home. Peggy’s delicacies can be ordered to takeaway or in a handy make-it-at-home recipe kit.

Fat Hippo

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Is it over-sharing to admit I felt aroused browsing the Fat Hippo Instagram feed? Probably, but eh looks like I went there all the same. Fat Hippo is one of the newest additions to the Nottingham food scene. Having already earned themselves an impressive reputation up north, this burger joint certainly lives up to its hype with a varied menu full of beefy goodness. I enjoyed a dairy-free Swiss Tony a few weeks ago and it was without a doubt the best burger I have had in years. My boyfriend is a diehard Five Guys devotee and even he was forced to admit that Fat Hippo’s burgers were as good, if not better.

Clean Cut Kitchen

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Clean Cut Kitchen is proof that healthy, nutritious food doesn’t have to be plain and boring. This business is a big advocate for clean eating, so you can rely on them to use the freshest ingredients and avoid any unnecessary additives. They offer food for every meal of the day with protein waffles, colourful salads and lean burgers all featuring on the menu.

Pokéwaves

CLICK & COLLECT – No

DELIVERY – Yes

Pokéwaves is Nottingham’s first Poké bar. Originating from Hawaii, Poké is a dish built around diced raw fish. You can try one of the restaurant’s signature flavour combinations or create your own mix. Pokéwaves also sells fresh smoothie bowls that would look amazing on the ‘gram. If you’re a sushi lover or someone looking for a healthier takeaway treat, this is definitely a place to try!

Annie’s Burger Shack

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Annie has been bringing the great taste of traditional American diners to Nottingham since 2009. With more than 30 mouth-watering burgers to choose from, Annie’s Burger Shack is unbeatable when it comes to variety. Even better, every single burger is available as a veggie or vegan option. If you’re looking for a morning treat, Annie’s real American breakfast menu includes a delicious dupe for the McDonald’s breakfast muffin, so why not skip the queue at the drive through and place an order at Annie’s instead?

Prickly Pear

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Prickly Pear is 100% vegan. A well-known refuge for vegans and the lactose intolerant, this café serves up fast food with zero meat or dairy, from breakfast cobs and tacos to mac ‘n’ cheese and kebabs. They have also embraced the festive spirit with some new additions to its menu, including a candy cane milkshake and festive burrito.

No. 58

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

No. 58 is the best place to lunch if you’re out and about in Long Eaton. Now ideally situated in the town centre in the old Wimpy building, this business first opened its doors on Derby Road three years ago and has been growing in popularity ever since. The menu is a good balance between tasty grub and healthy food, in fact No. 58 is one of only two venues in the whole of Nottingham where I, a self-professed carb addict, will enthusiastically order a salad.

The Cumin

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

The tastiest Indian food I have ever had! A family-run business on Maid Marian Way, The Cumin is a good shout if you are looking for quality Indian food that’s full of flavour and a cut above your local takeaway. This high-end restaurant specialises in authentic North Indian and Punjabi cuisine and offers a varied vegan menu alongside their extensive main menu. They always have great delivery discounts available, so check out their website for more details.

Bar Iberico

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Known as the original Nottingham tapas restaurant, Bar Iberico has been running its own delivery service throughout lockdown, aptly named ‘Bar IberiGO’. The whole point of tapas is to share with other people, a concept I am not personally comfortable with (touch my food, feel my fork) but a definite pro to tapas is that you get to sample even more of the menu. As well as tapas, Bar Iberico is currently selling flatbread pizzas, a selection of Spanish meats and cheeses, and (my favourite) churros with hot chocolate sauce.

Chef Louisa Ellis

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Chef Louisa Ellis has been preparing and delivering restaurant quality food throughout the pandemic. Each week she shares a new set menu featuring fresh produce from local suppliers for you to heat and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. As a finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals, Louisa never disappoints with her first-class food and treating yourself to one of her luxury meals is the perfect way to make another boring weekend stuck at home feel that little bit more special.

Oscar & Rosie’s

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

This Hockley hideout is situated on Stoney Street and happens to be one of my favourite places to eat with a group of friends. Oscar & Rosie’s use restaurant-grade ingredients and locally sourced produce to create incredible tasting pizzas. They are currently offering a scheme called Pizza by Post, a.k.a ‘the future of pizza’, which is a monthly variety box containing different flavoured pizzas that are ready to eat after a quick heat in the oven.

SWEET TREATS & SNACKS

The Bakehouse

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Located a little further out from the city centre in the suburb of Sherwood, The Bakehouse is worth the extra bus ride to get there. An award-winning artisan bakery and café, The Bakehouse’s freshly baked goods have made it a hit with locals. Homemade bread and melt-in-your-mouth pastries await, as well as some limited edition festive treats. They are currently selling a range of Christmas-inspired pies, including Festive Spice Pulled Pork and Cranberry & Cider.

Pudding Pantry

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

One of the best brunch spots in Nottingham if you have an insatiable sweet tooth like I do. Most of the cakes and bakes on their menu are available for click & collect and delivery, including my favourite Dark Chocolate and Raspberry American pancakes. Pudding Pantry is also selling ‘make your own’ pancake kits if you were looking for an extra tasty excuse to spend some quality time in the kitchen with the kids. They recently launched a festive Afternoon Tea box, which can be made veggie or vegan friendly on request.

Crimson Tree

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Crimson Tree Kitchen & Larder is another treasure in the heart of Sherwood. With its trademark yellow door, this eatery is hard to miss and even harder to resist. I included Crimson Tree under my ‘Sweet Treats & Snacks’ category because it is their delicious cake slices that have had me hooked ever since my first visit, but they also offer a full daytime menu as well as evening and tapas menus. Crimson Tree has also opened a pop-up deli shop for the festive period where you can browse some great last-minute stocking fillers.

Homemade Café

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Currently operating from the Lodge Coffee Kiosk, next to the Forest Recreation Ground, Homemade’s festive hot chocolates and made-to-order cakes are guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit. They are also selling boxes of four scrumptious cake slices for under £10 (as if you needed a reason to buy more than one) and recently added a delightful Seasonal Afternoon Tea picnic box to their menu. The gingerbread layer cake with fig and toffee sauce tastes incredible and there’s still time to order one for pre-Christmas delivery!

Doughnotts

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – No (closed for Christmas)

The best and worst thing about Doughnotts is that they change up their menu on a weekly basis – great for business I’m sure, but not so good for my waistline or bank balance! Doughnotts may be slightly pricier than other doughnut providers in Nottingham, but the size, quality and unique flavour combinations make their doughnuts worth the price. In fact, one time I was eating a Doughnotts doughnut on the bus and a complete stranger turned to me and said, “Wow, that doughnut is almost as big as your face!” There you have it – proof of their size from an unbiased source. What more do you need?

Big Mike’s Fat Kitchen

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – No

Big Mike opened his cheesecake shop in Carlton just last month and completely sold out on opening weekend. This shop is the perfect choice for cheesecake addicts and chocoholics with flavours such as Oreo and Terry’s Chocolate Orange appearing on its creative menu. Starting your own business and opening your first store is challenging at the best of times, let alone in the midst of a global pandemic, so show Mike some support and treat yourself to the ultimate cheesecake.

Studio Chocolate

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Studio Chocolate products are best described as edible masterpieces. From hand-painted chocolate bon bons in an array of colours to the fudgiest of brownies, Studio Chocolate is my go to place for chocolate that tastes too good to gift. Order one of their bakery boxes to sample some of their best-selling chocolate creations. And if you can trust yourself to part with your purchases, their luxury fairy-tale chocolate bar collection would make a magical present for any Disney fan.

BEVERAGES

Totally Tapped

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – Yes

Micropub Totally Tapped is here to provide you with the best in local craft beer. I will not embarrass myself by pretending to be a beer connoisseur, but their 5 litre mini kegs look tempting and would make a great addition to this year’s Christmas Day dinner or Boxing Day buffet. As well as being able to buy each beer as a single can, six pack or twelve pack, you can order a variety pack containing several different flavours. Ready, steady, CHUG!

Six Barrel Hockley

CLICK & COLLECT – Yes

DELIVERY – No

Six Barrel Drafthouse is another local brewery. It has two shops in Nottingham, one on Carlton Street in Hockley and another on Mansfield Road. During lockdown, Six Barrel hooked up their kegs and continued serving their best-selling brews as takeaway pints. Earlier this month they were also offering mulled wine and mulled cider for £2.50 per half pint.

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Go on then – who have I missed? Nottingham is full to the brim with brilliant food and drink businesses, so it’s inevitable that a few of your favourites may not have made this list. Remember to share your personal recommendations with other Nottingham foodies in the comments below.