There is something about a good wine bar that a busy pub can never quite match. The lighting is softer, the room is quieter, and the person behind the bar actually wants to talk to you about what is in your glass. It is the sort of place where a quick drink turns into three hours, where you meet someone new, and where you leave already planning to come back.

Nottingham has quietly built up a lovely collection of independent wine bars, run by people who genuinely care about what they pour. No chains, no corporate wine lists, just small rooms with big personalities. Here are the ones worth knowing about.

Another? Wine Bar, Trinity Square

If you have ever felt a bit intimidated by a wine list, Another? is the cure. It is Nottingham’s first self-service wine bar, so you are handed a card, you help yourself from more than thirty bottles on the wall, and you pour exactly as much or as little as you fancy. Want a tiny taste of something expensive before you commit? Go for it. Fancy working your way slowly through half a dozen reds over an evening? Nobody is watching the clock.

It is brilliant for a group, because everyone can follow their own nose rather than settling on one bottle for the table. Expect a relaxed, buzzy room right in the middle of town, and expect to discover something you would never have ordered otherwise.

Nine Six Two, Mapperley

Worth the short trip out to Mapperley, Nine Six Two on Woodborough Road is a neighbourhood gem that pairs a carefully curated wine selection with bold, beautifully cooked small plates and sharing dishes. It is exactly the combination you want when a catch up drifts happily into dinner, with staff who know their stuff and are happy to steer you, whether you know your Rioja from your Barolo or you are simply after “something red and easy”.

The upstairs dining area and outdoor balcony make it a lovely setting for a group, and their regular live music and themed nights mean there is often a bit of atmosphere to go with your glass. Smart without being stuffy, it suits both a first date and a long lunch with friends.

Brigitte Bordeaux, Sherwood

Head a little out of the centre to Sherwood and you will find Brigitte Bordeaux, an intimate neighbourhood spot with a lovely garden and a genuinely warm feel. This is the kind of place that reminds you a wine bar can be a local, somewhere you become a regular rather than just a visitor.

The list is thoughtful and fairly priced, the staff are knowledgeable without ever being snooty, and you can buy bottles to take home as well. If your idea of a perfect evening is an unhurried glass in good company, with no music thumping over your conversation, this is the one.

Weavers of Nottingham, Castle Gate

Weavers has been an independent wine and spirit merchant in Nottingham since 1844, which makes it older than most of the buildings around it. It is a merchant first, so this is the place to go when you want to drink far better than the supermarket shelf allows and to learn a little as you do.

Their tasting experiences are the real draw for a night out. Booking onto one is a wonderful way to spend an evening, especially with a group, because you get the wine, the stories behind it, and someone genuinely enthusiastic guiding you through. There is a real sense of history here, and a real love of the craft.

Delilah, Victoria Street

Housed in a former Victorian banking hall on Victoria Street, Delilah is one of the most characterful spots in the city. It is an award winning independent deli, cafe and wine bar all in one, so you can browse artisan food, settle in with a glass under those grand high ceilings, and lose an afternoon happily. The mezzanine is a lovely perch for a catch up, and their regular wine events are well worth booking onto if you like to taste with a bit of guidance. It manages to feel elegant and relaxed at the same time, which is not an easy trick to pull off.

Cured, Carrington Street

Not a wine bar in the strictest sense, but any list about drinking well in Nottingham should make room for Cured. Tucked into a converted bicycle shop beside the canal near the station, it pairs charcuterie boards with a proper drink in a warm, easygoing setting. Grab a spot on the canalside terrace on a sunny evening, order a board to share and a glass to go with it, and you have the makings of a very good night. Charcuterie and wine were made for each other, and Cured knows it.

Turn a wine bar into a night out

Here is the thing about wine bars. They are at their best when you are not on your own. A great bottle is lovely, but a great bottle shared with good people, with a bit of laughter and a proper conversation, is what you actually remember.

That is the whole idea behind our Vinyl and Vino nights at Affinity Club. We take everything we love about a good wine bar, the relaxed atmosphere, the discovery, the chance to meet someone new, and we add great music and a room full of genuinely warm, interesting people. No awkward small talk, no standing in a corner wondering who to speak to. Just good wine, good company, and an evening that feels effortless.

So next time you fancy a glass, try one of these Nottingham gems. And if you are after more ideas for a good evening out, have a look at our guides to fun things to do in Nottingham for adults and things to do in Nottingham this weekend. When you would like the wine to come with ready made company and a bit of a soundtrack, come and join us.

Take a look at what is coming up and find your next night out at affinity-club.co.uk/events.