Pink Lace - How Nottingham pride began

Nottinghamshire pride began with very humble, but passionate, beginings. In 1997 a festival took over Nottingham's Broad street for the first ever "Pink Lace". Stalls from various LGBT groups and organisations set up with live bands playing on the steps of Broadway cinema. Many predicted troublemakers, but fears proved groundless. In fact this was to be the start of something much bigger!

One year later, the second "Pink Lace" moved from Broad street and took up residence at Nottingham Castle. The event, just as the first had been, was created by volunteers who gave their time generously to expand on the previous years festival. The were more stalls, more music and more people. It was a huge success.

1999 was to be the last "Pink Lace" festival. Again, based within the castle gounds, the event grew in size once more. Sadly the oganising exhausted the festival committee so they decided to bow out with their heads up high.

In 2000 the baton was passed to the official "Nottinghamshire Pride" and that's how it's been recognised for over a decade. So take a while to remember the humble beginings and those people who work tirelessly against the odds to start such an important event. Raise a glass to "Pink Lace".

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