Is Nottingham in the North or the South? The definitive answer

People have longed asked whether Nottingham is in the North or the South - and it's time we put the debate to bed once and for all

Being from Nottingham can be a puzzling affair, particularly when discussions about significant UK topics such as the North/South divide and the Northern Powerhouse arise. Where does Nottingham stand in terms of its Northern-ness or Southern-ness?

It's clear that Nottingham is neither in The North nor The South - it's situated in the English Midlands. However, it doesn't quite fit into that category either, as most people associate "The Midlands" with Birmingham or Wolverhampton. The East Midlands is its own entity, and frankly, it lacks a strong identity.

Unlike terms like The North and The South, which evoke immediate affiliations, loyalties, and a certain mindset. This might explain why people often ponder whether Nottingham leans more towards the "Northern" or "Southern" side.

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Let's examine the evidence: Accent: Southerners hearing a Nottingham accent might immediately think: "A-ha, a Northerner."

The way we pronounce words like bath, nuts, and dance differs significantly from how someone from London would say them. But wait, what about words like cold and road?

A Northerner would typically pronounce these words as "called" and "rawed." To someone from Leeds, a Nottingham resident's pronunciation - "code" and "rode" - might sound rather Southern.

Conclusion: The jury's still out.

The Evening Meal: In the South, the evening meal is typically referred to as dinner or even "supper." However, in Nottingham and much of the North, this meal is commonly known as tea. Dinner is often reserved for meals at restaurants, while supper is a light snack before bed.

This suggests that Nottingham leans more towards Northern traditions. .

Nottingham's industrial history aligns more with the North's gritty sectors like coal mining, textiles, and manufacturing, rather than the South's focus on media, arts, and banking. However, the city has evolved since the industrial revolution, with pharmaceutical/health and beauty retailer Boots leading the Top 200 Companies in Nottinghamshire.

The top of the list also included decidedly "ungritty" names such as designer Paul Smith, luxury holiday company Center Parcs, board game creators Games Workshop and credit checking firm Experian. This suggests that Nottingham is becoming more Southern in character.

Nottingham is famous for its world-renowned authors like DH Lawrence and Alan Sillitoe, who set their groundbreaking novels in straightforward, Northern-style communities. Tony Warren, the creator of the iconic Northern institution Coronation Street, was originally inspired by Sillitoe's seminal "kitchen sink" novel and film Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, set here in Nottingham.

It's a well-known fact that beer isn't brewed properly in The South, with the locals often referred to as "lager drinking softies." In contrast, here in Nottingham, we have followed the fine traditions of The North and now produce some of the best ales in the country, thanks to local heroes like Castle Rock Brewery and Nottingham Brewery. Plus, our pubs are top-notch.

This indicates that Nottingham retains its Northern roots.

Scientists, with apparently too much time on their hands, have frequently attempted to draw maps indicating exactly where The North of England officially begins and where The South ends, or vice versa.

Over the years, various maps have amusingly suggested that 'The North' begins anywhere above Watford Gap, Scotch Corner or Grimsby. One of the most recent maps, produced by the University of Sheffield this year, categorised Nottingham, along with Birmingham, Coventry and Worcester, as part of 'The North'.

However, a later map by Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones at Newcastle University placed Nottingham in 'The South', alongside Leeds and Sheffield. His criteria was based on ease of access to London.

In terms of music preferences, some argue that your favourite 1990s Britpop band can determine whether you're from the North or South. If you're a fan of Manchester's Oasis, you're considered Northern, while Blur fans (formed by Essex boys who met at Goldsmith's College in London) are deemed Southern.

Interestingly, Nottingham's own Jake Bugg once supported ex-Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher on a world tour. .

Finally, the debate over whether to pour gravy on chips could be the ultimate test of whether Nottingham is spiritually aligned with the North or South. If we do, we are Northern. If we think such an idea is an abomination, we are Southern.

When researching this article, we naturally went out to try and find a chippie where we could purchase gravy with our meal. And our trip was successful.

Conclusion: Nottingham is definitely Northern.

And there you have it, the definitive answer at last. Nottingham is officially more in The North than The South, according to our researchers.

But what do you think? Do you want to be a Northerner, or would you prefer to be a Southerner?

Or, is it about time The East Midlands developed its own sense of identity, and maybe employed a PR guru or something to make the UK as a whole more aware of our unique qualities which are neither fully Northern nor fully Southern?

Let us know your views in the comments below.