The city of Nottingham thrives on it’s reputation as being “one of the best cities in the World.” According to whom, we aren’t quite sure… but you can hear it being said by proud local radio DJs and see it in the very manner of some of the local residents of the city, most notably the chavs who seem to feel the wearing of the traditional chav uniform is that little bit more privileged as it may have been bought from one of the ‘many’ trendy shops in this ‘trendy’ city.
Panorama featured the chav-infested city centre in a late night documentary in Autumn 2004. Aloof yobs rule the streets of Nottingham at night and the steps taken to prevent the continued rise of social disorder in the ‘famous old city’ (been listening to those radio DJs again!) include the banning of hen parties and stag dos.
But that only solves part of the problem. The city centre is indeed a dangerous place to be at night but no more pleasant on the eye during the day. The self-importance of some of the locals knows no bounds whatsoever… walk around the fashionable areas of town, that’s what they like to call them, and you are likely to come across a wide range of chavs. From the McDonalds (where else?) in the centre of the city to the two shopping centres, Nottingham’s chav population is on the rise.
It finally dawned on me just how bad the problem was when I was waiting to meet a friend in the Market Square, the biggest in England (the market place that is, not my friend). The sound of skateboards clattering and the gruff tones of the chavs – “wotyer on abahht?” or “ah ain’t got no moneh” made the bus journey out of the place seem more and more appealing.
That was until we arrived at the Bus Station at the arse end of the Victoria Centre. More Burberry than any of the ‘fashion’ outlets in the entire city combined was seen just in the queue for the bus to Sutton(?) alone. Chavs clearing their disgusting, heavily cigarette tarred throats, onto the floor and more foul and offensive language than a night with Wayne Rooney and Bernard Manning in Blackpool was more that we had to endure before we finally took our seats on the bus. As for some of the places we passed on our way out of the place,… I think they have to be seen to be (dis)believed.
I live in Clifton and yes there are a lot chavs but there are also a lot of lovely people too. Most of the chavs in my opinion are harmless a bit rough and ready but not a huge danger! The community in Clifton take care of each other and look out for each other and most of the people are really friendly. I moved here from a middle class area (Bramcote in Nottingham) I have been here 5 years now and yes the chavs are a bit of a pain sometimes (this is the case in 9 out of 10 places unfortunately) but the community spirit is fantastic, the schools are also decent. I thought I would live here a year and then move on, but I am more than happy to stay. The house prices are good, the catholic school my daughter attends is outstanding and the people on the whole are great too! Approach the area with an open mind and dont pre-judge just because someone has a hood up it doesn’t always mean they are a threat! Smile they might smile back!
I live in one of the ‘better’ suburbs of the city, West Bridgford, and my old school playing field was still never without broken bottles and still-smoking cigarette butts littered across it. The walls surrounding it were frequently knocked down at night or across weekends too.
I’m living in Clifton and there has been 5 muggings in and around the mini Tesco and Clifton Village in the past few weeks. The police have been useless and the uni have not even checked on the victims (males and females have been assaulted) to check if they’re ok, the place is an absolute dive. No need to say the attackers have been described as your typical chavs
To Sean 57
You say that being gay has been hell in Clifton.
Do you not think it would be hell anywhere?
It should be,you should seriously consider killing yourself as should all gay perverted filth.
Thats right,i HOPE YOU ALL DIE OF AIDS.
mickthefish
Why do you say such insulting things to a stranger on the internet?
I agree with Sean, whilst Nottingham has its problems the Clifton area has a unique problem which is the culture of thinking it’s cool to be a Chav, drop out of school, and act like a delinquent even though quite often there is nothing to back it up.
Thieving & shopping lifting is seen as an alternative career move that give u kudos on the Clifton streets, as well as mimicking west Indians almost in a patronising way because it sounds as if it’s home grown.
Drug selling,drug taking & alcohol problems are a major problem on this area and unless u have kids before you’re 20 you will be outcasted.
Be warned do not opt to live in Clifton in Nottingham it’s he’ll on earth, trust me I am living in the hell hole now.
I visit Nottingham quite regularly, and I’m not surprised it’s in the top ten Chav Towns list. First impressions could hardly be worse on leaving the station, with the walk into the city centre via Carrington Street being grim and depressing. I’ve heard people talking of Hull as being just as bad or worse, which is laughable. I find Hull to be a warm, friendly place while Nottingham people appear to be unfriendly and distant. Nottingham doesn’t even have a decent covered shopping centre, just seemingly endless branching streets filled with all the usual shops, stores and sandwich bars. Walking from the train station to the City Ground, Meadow Lane or Trent Bridge is by way of the miserable, grey London Road – surely one of the most barren stretches of road in the UK. There is one decent area, and that’s the part of the city around the castle, but even that is only a two minute walk from the noisy and grim Maid Marian Way. The chav factor is high, too, which I suppose is to be expected with the above taken into account.
no covered shopping centres what do you call broad marsh and victoria centres then mirages . in some places you are talking a lot of utter crap Finally i have one word of advice fo you if you do not like it stay away we dont need your negative vibes.and if you vist nottingham you must have your eyes shut not to notice the above mentioned shopping centres . also where you from then
I frequently visit Nottingham as i have friends there, I have to say Radford is one of the worse places i have ever stayed in my life a visit to the shop on hartley road was very intimidating, a crazed indian man shouting in the middle of Alfreton Road at 4 in the morinin was entertaining to say the least, and the fact that the house next door filled with refugees had cockroaches that used to find there way into our bathroom was just not nice.
However in spite of all this I live in Northampton that beats Nottingham on every level. Belive me a trip to Greyfrias bus station will be one you deffinately won’t forget in a hurry !!!!
I live in south nottingham, clifton to be exact and i can only back up what you said. However, chavs aside, i do like my city. its very hard to live happily here tho, because of chavs and “gangstas”. Ridiculous as it is, nottinghams rate of guncrime is the highest in the country (or outside of london) and its not impossible to see how. The meadows , and especially St. Annes areas are known and feared by most nottingham-ers because of the crime in the area. every week there are post offices held up and all sorts.
Anyway, the town i live in (clifton) is full to the brim of chavs. i feel as though i am faced by it more though, because im in the last year of school, and every day chavs will without fail find something to do against me or my friends. we can no longer go out and do (within reason) what we wish without minor incidents, right through to my friend being mugged (2 years ago now) by this s**tty strain of human evolution. Every day i look around me and see nothing but chavs at my school, on my street and even in my house (my sister is slightly chavy, although nothing like a true chav)
i often dream of cementing over the whole city, once my friends and family escape… thx for readin!
I live there, sounds pretty accurate to me.
Problem is every town these days is filled with chav scum, there is just no escaping it, villages and even teeny hamlets contain the underbelly of society. We have to live with them, and making light of it by moaning in a humorous manner is the only way we can cope.
Being a part time resident of Reading I assure you it is a lot worse down South.
I have lived in Clifton (Chavton) for all 40 years of my life, I really want to escape this cesspit of breeding chav haters. They fear anything different to their “NORMS”. It’s now trendy to be a Gangsta, smoke weed and chat inna fake Jamfakian accent innit bredren!!!!! Being GAY in Clifton has been hell hell!!! All the youfs want culling in my opinion to stop further feral breeding…..May Goths Emo’s GAYS and anyone different keep the faith.
Bottom end, top end we hate CHAVSCUM…..