Drag queens Marilyn Sane and Nana Arthole said they 'felt elated' at the official launch of Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter(Image: Joseph Raynor/Reach PLC)

'A momentous occasion' for Nottingham as city's Rainbow Quarter LGBTQ+ district unveiled

by · NottinghamshireLive

'I feel absolutely elated - I think by the end of this afternoon I will have cried'

A part of Nottingham has officially become the city's 'Rainbow Quarter' after decades of proudly supporting LGBTQ+ rights - in a day described as a "momentous occasion".

On Wednesday (June 17), crowds gathered for the launch of the city's new LGBTQ+ district in Hockley, which has a long history of gay activism dating back to the 1990s.

The newly-unveiled Rainbow Quarter, which covers Broad Street, Carlton Street, and Heathcote Street, means the area is now a recognised LGBTQ+ district, in a style similar to the popular Gay Villages in Manchester and Birmingham.

Campaigners, business experts and politicians have argued the plans - which were exclusively revealed to the Nottingham Post in July 2025 - would bring new visitors and investment into the city.

The Pastel Project charity, which has spearheaded the project, says Hockley's proud LGBTQ+ history will be recognised as part of the new development in the form of plaques and murals.

Speaking at the vibrant ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the project's official unveiling, the organisation's director Sam Harvey said the occasion "feels absolutely amazing".

"I think it comes at such an important time because, as we've seen in the news, Pride events across the country are losing funding and being closed down," he said.

"This is a statement to essentially say Nottingham isn't like that and that we're doing something different and we will not go away. We will be visible and proud."

Hockley's LGBTQ+ history dates back to the early 1990s, when The Health Shop, a centre which offered sexual health advice to gay men, opened.

Three years later, Sir Ian McKellen visited Broadway Cinema to launch The GAI Project, a gay and bisexual men’s HIV prevention initiative in Nottingham.

Broad Street was also home to the Mushroom Bookshop, which at the time was only one of a handful in Nottingham that openly sold gay and lesbian literature and newspapers, including the Gay Times.

Up until 2024, Hockley also hosted the annual Notts Pride event until it was moved due to concerns around overcrowding.

By becoming the city's LGBTQ+ district, the area could see new road signs, maps updated to reflect the district's new title, colourful murals and a collective image for businesses.

Wednesday's ceremony was opened by drag queens Marilyn Sane and Nana Arthole, who host the popular Gladrags LGBTQ+ club night.

Nana said: "I feel absolutely elated and it's a bit of an out of body experience - I think by the end of this afternoon I will have cried.

"I think it's really important that we don't take it for granted that people think society is so integrated now. There's still every reason to want to give queer people a dedicated space, especially in a city like Nottingham.

"It has got such a vibrant queer scene, but has been a little bit more underground recently and a lot of the venues and spaces have closed, so to put a stamp in the centre of the city in beautiful Hockley, I think that's really important."

Marilyn added: "Hockley's already been such an epicentre for creativity and queer nightlife, and it just makes so much sense to have it here, have it now, and just be ourselves in public."

Carl Austin-Behan, Manchester's first openly gay mayor and a key architect of the city's popular gay village, previously explained how the Rainbow Quarter will make Nottingham even more of a "destination".

Nottingham City Council - which is backing the project along with It's In Nottingham and other local businesses and organisations - described the Rainbow Quarter's unveiling as a "fantastic moment for our city".

Cllr Matt Shannon, whose brief at the authority covers neighbourhoods and equalities, said: "It is right that we recognise the important contribution that LGBTQ+ people have made, and continue to make, to making Nottingham, Nottingham.

"At a time when too many seek to divide us, and when we particularly see increased targeting of our trans neighbours, we are sending a signal that Nottingham is proud of everyone who calls our city home."

The chief exec of It's In Nottingham, Alex Flint, added: "This exciting project really celebrates Nottingham's important role in LGBTQ+ history and showcases our creative, innovative spirit, as a city which provides community and a place where everyone can feel at home."

Check out more photos below from the opening of Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter:

Marilyn Sane, Emma Duncan, David Edgley, Liv, Jess Hunt, Nana Arthole cut the ribbon to officially mark the launch of Nottingham's Rainbow Quarter(Image: Joseph Raynor/Reach PLC)
Sam Harvey, the director of the Pastel Project Charity, said the occasion 'feels absolutely amazing'(Image: Joseph Raynor/Reach PLC)
Crowds gathered to attend the 'momentous occasion'(Image: Joseph Raynor/Reach PLC)
Sam first revealed plans for the LGBTQ+ district to the Nottingham Post in July 2025(Image: Joseph Raynor/Reach PLC)
Drag queens Marilyn Sane and Nana Arthole opened the ceremony(Image: Joseph Raynor/Reach PLC)
The Pastel Project charity has spearheaded the project with the backing of other organisations(Image: Joseph Raynor/Reach PLC)