NOT at Bartons Chilwell, Nottingham
METRO - Friday, July 13th 2012
A former bus depot has become the venue for a series of summer festivals.
Bartons in Chilwell, which opened as a bus depot in 1913, is now the largest venue of its kind in the East Midlands, hosting weekly events under the banner of NOT.
The 35,000 sq ft indoor and outdoor space that once played host to a huge fleet of buses, is now hosting weekly event dedicated to music, comedy, film, heritage and culture.
"The old depot space exists as an area where family, friends and neighbours can come together and celebrate all that Nottingham and the East Midlands has to offer," says Simon Barton; the great-grandson of the founder of Bartons Transport.
The managing director came up with the idea to keep the company name alive.
"For many locals Bartons Buses is synonymous with Nottingham just as much as Brian Clough or Robin Hood. I revitalised Bartons at the old bus gar-age to provide a new ex-citing lease of life for the site.
"Thomas Henry Barton started the company in the 1890s and it became an international concern but the government's introduction of national bus deregulation in 1985 persuaded the Barton family to sell its transport operation a few years later.
Events will include live music, comedy and a drive-in cinema. Currently running is NOT the Edinburgh Fringe, a four-day comedy festival, featuring many comedians trying out their new material before heading up to the annual festival.
Award-winning promoter Spiky Mike, of Funhouse Comedy, has booked all the acts, including headliner Rob Rouse a regular at major venues on both the London and national circuit.
He's also appeared in the BBC Three sitcom Grownups and the chat show Guilty Pleaures.
Others include Louis Ramey, Mr Steve N Allenm Ali Cook, Dave Twentyman and Andre King.
The mirth will continue every month from August 9 with the Comedy Club.
NOT the Glastonbury Festival will run over the August bank holiday weekend, 24 to 26 and feature Radio 2 regulars Miss 600 from Derby. Breakfast show presenter Chris Evans said: "These guys are going to be huge."
Other headliners include Nottingham acts Seven Little Sisters, acclaimed beatboxer THePETEBOX and acoustic musician Chris McDonald.
From August 4 there will be the monthly Bartons Unplugged, an acoustic night with a twist - a different musical theme every month, with an accompanying cocktail of the night.
NOT The Camden Market on August 5, from 10am to 4pm, is the monthly event featuring local food and drink, fashion, arts and crafts stalls, plus a public seating area for eating and drinking, live music and children's entertainment.
Stalls are still available from £15.
In September, the space will be turned into a drive-in cinema for NOT the Cannes Film Festival, which will include a screening of Senna, the 2010 documentary about Brazilian motor-racing champion, Ayrton Senna.
Bartons will also be involved in Heritage September, transformed into a major attraction with up to II Halls of Heritage.
Simon Wilson
For full details of all the events at Bartons, visit www.bartonsplc.co.uk, e-mail
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or call 01476 860127.