Billy Bootleggers Nottingham (formerly Percy Picklebackers)

You'll find yourself on Weekday Cross in the heart of the city centre, stepping into a bar that doesn't do Instagram aesthetics or fussed-up presentation—just proper drinks made by people who know what they're doing. The bartenders here aren't trying to impress you with smoke and mirrors; they're focused on getting your order right, whether that's a classic cocktail or one of their signature shot selections. It's the kind of place where regulars prop up the bar for a midweek drink after work, and newcomers quickly realise they've stumbled somewhere worth returning to. The atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious, with a real community feel that's rarer than you'd expect in Nottingham's usually glossy bar scene.