Most bars and clubs are located in the city centre and stay open until midnight or much later in some cases. The 4 main areas for nightlife in Nottingham include Hockley, The Old Market Square and the Lace Market with a choice of trendy independent bars along its cobbled streets.  Castle Wharf is a new development that regenerated the canal side and old warehouses have been transformed into modern bars and restaurants with smart waterside terraces.

You will find all the big chain pubs and late-night party bars at The Old Market Square, and Forman Street and The Cornerhouse are for the truly stylish with pavement cafes, bars and restaurants.For genuine authentic experiences, the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem claims to be the world’s oldest inn. The atmosphere is unlike anything else you are likely to see as the bar is actually carved out of the rock with Nottingham Castle towering above it. The Bell Inn dates back to 1437 and definitely the most famous pub in the city and a traditional Victorian alehouse, The Cock and Hoop in Lace Market has been fully restored and decorated with elegant antiques and artwork providing first-rate ales and wines.

Nottingham has a well-earned status for its clubbing scene. Oceana is a club with luxurious themed rooms and heaps of style; Media is a striking transformed theatre with tiered dance floors, whilst the trendy Market Bar offers plush furnishings and late grooves. Gatecrasher has 4 levels consisting of 2 separate clubs and 4 bars and plays R&B music and some ‘70s tracks. If your music tastes are more underground, The Bomb and Stealth play the latest electronic music. Indie fans, however, should make tracks to The Rig for the latest hits and favourite classics.

Rock City plays host to live music, it has 2 stages featuring international and local bands. The venue turns into a club on some nights and it's very popular amongst students every Thursday nights. Junktion 7 is a pub with open mic nights every week and local DJs at weekends. The upstairs room is also a venue with a capacity of 200 people which hosts local and national bands.

Like most cities in the UK, Nottingham has a profusion of young gay people and to accommodate them there is a particular area with gay bars, gay friendly bars and nightclubs. On the first Wednesday of the month at the Oceana nightclub it’s gay night, and there’s even a gay friendly Cinema, The Broadway, an independent cinema with four screens showing mainly non-mainstream and foreign films.

Nottingham has 4 casinos in the city centre for a night of entertainment and fun. Alea Casino Bar and Restaurant is Nottingham's newest casino located in the heart of the city centre. Circus Casino, opposite the Theatre Royal, offers its visitors free membership, a private bar area, access to the 110 restaurant and a great gaming floor. Gala operates two casinos in Nottingham city centre, Gala’s Bridlesmith Gate Casino is the smallest of the two with two bars and a gaming area, whilst Gala Casino Maid Marian Way is located opposite Nottingham Castle and has a char grill restaurant and fully licensed private bar as well as a huge choice of games on the gaming floor.

There are plenty of other things to keep you entertained during the evening in Nottingham. The National Ice Arena for instance is where the Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Team play and is a popular and fun night out for locals and visitors. Cabaret and Jongleurs host contemporary comedy and The Approach is a pub and kitchen organising comedy club events and live music.