The Affinity Summer Series: Nottingham’s Most Social Season Yet
Summer in Nottingham is something special. The city comes alive – outdoor seating fills up, the canalside bars buzz with conversation, and there’s a real sense that the long evenings are meant to be enjoyed with great company. At Affinity, we’ve put together a summer series that makes the most of all of it.
Whether you’re looking for something lively or something laid-back, familiar or completely new, the Affinity Summer Series has a mix of social events in Nottingham to suit you. Four events, four different settings, all centred around the same thing: meeting real people and making genuine connections.
If you’ve been wondering what’s on in Nottingham this summer – here’s your answer.
Summer Evening by the River – Friday, 3rd July
📍 The Waterside, West Bridgford → The Parlour, West Bridgford | 7:30pm
We’re kicking off the series in style at The Waterside in West Bridgford – a brilliant riverside spot with plenty of outdoor space and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for a Friday evening.
Set just across Trent Bridge and easily reachable from the city centre by multiple bus routes (the 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 all stop nearby), The Waterside is one of those venues that genuinely earns its reputation. Cold drink in hand, sun going down, good people around you – it doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.
We’ll start the evening here and then move across to The Parlour in West Bridgford, where a resident DJ keeps the energy going and we’ll have our own area reserved at the bar for the group.
Whether you stay for one drink or dance until last orders, you’re very welcome. Friendly hosts will be there to greet you from the off, and if you’re joining on your own – many people do, so you won’t be the only one.
Ibiza Summer Party – Saturday, 18th July
📍 Nottingham Secret Garden | 2:00pm
This one is a little different – and a lot of fun. We’re heading to the Nottingham Secret Garden for an Ibiza-inspired summer party with DJs, an open-air garden, and a soundtrack built for the dancefloor.
Think house, Ibiza classics and feel-good anthems from afternoon into evening. The Secret Garden is a genuinely stunning outdoor venue – the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re somewhere far more glamorous than a Saturday in Nottingham (no offence, Nottingham).
Tickets are available directly through the venue, and if you’re coming as a group of five or more, message us first – there’s a group discount available. Make sure you add your name to the event on the Affinity website too, so we know to look out for you.
This is the summer event to bring friends to – or to use as the reason to make some new ones.
Free LFM Social – Summer Hawaiian Surf Party – Friday, 31st July
📍 The Embankment, Nottingham | 7:00pm
Our Last Friday of the Month social is one of the most popular events in the Affinity calendar – and this July, it’s going tropical.
We’re joining The Embankment’s Hawaiian Surf Party for what promises to be a brilliant evening of live music, tropical cocktails, party games and a genuinely lively crowd. The Embankment is a Castle Rock pub right on the riverside – a fantastic setting for a summer night out.
The best part? This event is completely free. No paid membership required – just register on the Affinity website, reserve your place, and turn up.
Feel free to go all-out on the tropical dress code (bright colours, floral shirts, the full works), or simply come as you are and let the atmosphere do the rest. Either way, you’ll be made to feel very welcome.
If you’ve been curious about Affinity but not quite ready to commit, this is the perfect event to try us out. No pressure, no tickets, just a great night out with great people.
Canalside Summer Bar Hop – Saturday, 1st August
📍 Starting at Cured, Nottingham | 6:00pm
We’re closing out the summer series with an evening that takes in some of the best bars Nottingham has to offer – starting canalside and ending up by the castle.
The itinerary runs like this:
- 6:00pm – Cured, 97 Carrington Street, NG1 7FE – a relaxed wine and small plates bar close to the train station, perfect for settling in
- 7:15pm – The Navigation Inn, 6 Wilford Street, NG2 1AA – a proper canalside pub with bags of atmosphere
- 8:30pm – Fothergills, 5–7 Castle Road, NG1 6AA – a stylish bar heading up towards the castle
- 9:45pm – The Castle, 1 Castle Road, NG1 6AA – the perfect place to round off the evening
You don’t need to stay for the whole route – join us wherever works for you and we’ll be glad to have you. But if you do make it from Cured to The Castle, you’ll have had a genuinely great evening across some of Nottingham’s most enjoyable venues.
Three hosts will be with the group all evening, so you’ll never be left wondering where we are or who to talk to.
Why Social Events in Nottingham Are Worth Your Time
Nottingham has a lot going on – always has. But finding your way into it, especially if you’re new to the city, have moved jobs, or simply feel like you’ve lost touch with a social side of life you used to enjoy, can be harder than it looks.
That’s exactly why Affinity exists. We’re a social club for adults in Nottingham who want more from their social lives – more variety, more connection, and a community that feels genuinely welcoming rather than transactional.
Since launching earlier this year, we’ve had over 200 members join us for everything from restaurant dinners and board game nights to vinyl evenings, theatre trips and walks in the countryside. The summer series is the next chapter – and we think it’s our best line-up yet.
Want to know more about how Affinity works and why people join?
- Why We Set Up Affinity – A blog from Claire
- Things to Do in Nottingham This Weekend
- Fun Things to Do in Nottingham for Adults
Join Us This Summer
The Affinity Summer Series runs across July and August 2026. Whether you join us for one event or all four, you’ll find the same thing at each one: a friendly, welcoming group, carefully chosen venues, and a genuinely good time in some of Nottingham’s best spots.
You don’t need to already know people. You don’t need to come with anyone. You just need to show up.