Business Networking in Nottingham

Social Media Content Walks & Connections

I don’t know about you, but I really hate traditional networking.

Maybe it’s a millennial thing, maybe it’s a neurodivergent thing. Maybe it’s just the strange experience of getting dressed up to stand in a room full of people who all secretly hope you become their client while you secretly hope they become yours.

Whatever it is, it fills me with a kind of dread I can’t really describe.

There’s this pressure underneath traditional networking that nobody talks about. Yes, you’re there to “build relationships”, but there’s often an expectation of an ROI or a pressure to act a certain way underneath it all.

And when you’re a solo business owner, the alternative is often isolation.

You work alone and sit behind the same desk every single day, you create alone. Market alone. Maybe you join online networking events and connect through a screen, but it never quite feels the same as actually being around people.

At the same time, most small business owners are now expected to constantly create content and stay visible online. Social media is no longer optional for a lot of us. But instead of making us feel connected, it can actually make us feel even more disconnected.

Especially when you’re creating the same kinds of posts over and over again.

There are only so many times you can film yourself making a coffee in your kitchen before you start feeling bored of your own content, never mind expecting other people to stay excited about it.

That’s why I created Meet Me at the Left Lion.

Not just as a networking event in Nottingham, but as a different way for business owners, creatives and content creators to experience visibility, community and content creation together.

A space where people could get out from behind their desks, spend time in the city, explore Nottingham differently, create content that feels alive again, and connect with other people who understand what it’s like to build a business online.

And importantly, a space that didn’t cost anything to attend.

Because I know what it feels like to pay for the privilege of sitting through networking events that never really lead anywhere meaningful.

Meet Me at the Left Lion is different.

It’s networking with movement as part of the process, content creation with community to stop it feeling oh so gross, and a way to practice feeling visible without feeling quite so vulnerable.

What Is Meet Me at the Left Lion?

Meet Me at the Left Lion is a Nottingham content walk and creative networking community for business owners, freelancers, creatives and people who use social media to market what they do.

We meet outside the Left Lion in Nottingham Market Square and head out together on a planned walking route around the city.

Each walk includes:

• opportunities to create content

• conversation and connection

• planned visual stops around Nottingham

• coffee shop chats

• fresh air and movement

• and space to experiment creatively without pressure

Some people come primarily for the networking, some come for the content and there are definitely some who come because they’ve spent too long working alone and simply want to be around people who get it.

The best part is that nobody is expected to do anything except show up.

You do not need to be confident on camera. You do not need to be “good at content.” You do not need to arrive with a strategy, a tripod or even any idea of what you would film if you feel brave enough to have a go

You can simply come as you are.

Sometimes people film loads, sometimes people don’t film at all. Some people spend the first half hour nervous and the second half asking someone else to film a reel for them.

One of my favourite moments so far was a photographer who spent most of their life behind the camera finally allowing themselves to be filmed while working. Instead of forcing them into uncomfortable visibility, we found a way to make them feel like it was a normal day and simply captured the moment for them. It was pretty darn cool if I do say so myself.

Why Content Feels Easier in Community

One of the biggest things I’ve noticed as The Saboteur Strategist is that content is rarely just a strategy or an ideas problem.

Most people already know they “should” post more consistently (if you know me, you’ll know I have a real issue with the word should)

What they’re actually struggling with is:

• fear of judgement

• perfectionism

• overthinking

• embarrassment

• visibility

• repetition

• and the emotional vulnerability of putting themselves online

Have you ever tried filming yourself in public having a coffee and suddenly become hyper-aware that strangers might be watching, worried someone might judge you? Or even thinking ‘but someone might steal my phone!?’

When we are in a community, it’s way easier to get past those thoughts, because you’re literally protected by the very community you’re a part of.

Over the two hours we spend together, I watch people visibly relax. They smile more and get more playful, having a go at new things and even experimenting with each other. People who arrived saying, “I’m just here for the community” suddenly start trying content ideas they would never have attempted alone.

It’s really blooming exciting to see, and it works because when we see other people taking creative risks, it becomes easier for us to take our own.

Movement helps too.

There’s something very different about walking side-by-side with people instead of sitting opposite each other in a rigid networking environment. Conversations flow differently, it’s real connection instead of this forced need to say the ‘right thing’.

And the content that comes from that place usually feels far more human anyway.

Places We Visit During the Nottingham Content Walks

Every Meet Me at the Left Lion walk is different.

Some routes explore hidden corners of Nottingham city centre. Others focus on visually interesting locations, greenery, architecture or independent businesses, the first walk we literally visited as many symmetrical places I could find in the City Centre. It gave us some cracking content.

Previous and upcoming stops include:

• Nottingham Arboretum

• Nottingham Contemporary

• local coffee shops

• the library

• hidden architectural spots around the city

• colourful interiors like the upstairs changing rooms in White Stuff

• and open green spaces that make content feel less staged and more natural

In summer, we’re planning shorter content walks that end with picnics in the Arboretum so people can stay, chat and continue building connections afterwards.

Long term, I’d love these to expand beyond Nottingham city centre too. Imagine content days at National Trust locations, walks around local parks, or even hiking content days where business owners get outdoors and create something more adventurous together.

Nottingham is honestly perfect for creative networking.

The city is full of independent businesses, interesting backdrops, creative energy and places most people walk past without even noticing. Every walk becomes an opportunity to experience the city differently while also supporting local businesses along the way.

And usually, by the end of it all, we end up in a coffee shop somewhere talking content strategy, visibility, social media and business growth and any other random topics that have come up along the way.

Upcoming Meet Me at the Left Lion Dates

The next Meet Me at the Left Lion content walk takes place on:

📍 Thursday 21st May at 10am

Meeting point: Left Lion, Nottingham Market Square

We currently alternate between:

• midweek content walks

• and weekend walks

The next planned weekend walk will take place on:

📍 Sunday 28th June at 10am

We’re hoping to turn this one into a picnic edition at Nottingham Arboretum if the weather behaves itself.

New dates are released quarterly.

The best way to stay updated is by joining the Meet Me at the Left Lion community, where local East Midlands business owners can:

• connect with each other

• share their work

• ask for feedback

• hear about upcoming walks first

• and become part of the wider community beyond the events themselves

Who These Networking Walks Are For

You do not need to be good at content to come.

In fact, a lot of people join precisely because they feel a bit ‘deer in the headlights’ with content.

These walks are for:

• business owners who are tired of working alone

• people who hate traditional networking events

• creatives who want more inspiration

• social media users who feel bored by their own content

• introverts who still want community

• people rebuilding confidence in visibility

• perfectionists who overthink posting

• and anyone who wants business networking in Nottingham to feel more human

We’ve had photographers, strategists, coaches, travel agents, dating event owners, creatives and small business owners attend already.

So whatever your business, if you’re after connection and a bit of a helping hand with content creation - this is the place for you.

FAQs

Do I need to be confident on camera?

Absolutely not. There’s no pressure to film or post anything. This is an opportunity to explore content creation, not a demand to become a reels expert.

What if I come alone?

Most people do. Even if you are alone and feel a bit awks, walking makes conversation feel much more natural than standing awkwardly in a room trying to network.

Is this only for influencers?

Not at all. This is for business owners, creatives and people using social media to market what they do.

What kind of businesses attend?

So far we’ve had photographers, strategists, coaches, travel agents, creatives, event hosts and service providers from across Nottingham and the East Midlands.

Do I have to film content?

No. You can participate however feels comfortable to you.

Are beginners welcome?

Absolutely.

Is this networking or content creation?

Both. That’s the whole point.

What should I bring?

A charged phone, weather-appropriate clothes, and yourself. If you have a tripod, bring it, but I’ll usually have one too.

How do I join the community?

You can join the Meet Me at the Left Lion community here: Meet Me at the Left Lion

A Different Way to Network in Nottingham

If traditional networking has always felt slightly off to you, you’re DEFINITELY not alone. We are giving ourselves a break from the expected and trying something new each month.

Meet Me at the Left Lion is about creativity, visibility, movement, conversation and community. It’s about helping business owners feel less isolated while creating content that reflects the real humans behind the business we love so much.

Or more accurately:
it’s a different route through Nottingham.

You can join the Meet Me at the Left Lion community here: Meet Me at the Left Lion

And hopefully, I’ll see you at the next content walk.