Our Story

Built as a Victorian music hall in 1877, the Malt Cross has gone through many changes of identity and purpose.

But unlike comparable historic buildings around the country, its original features and structure have never been removed or demolished.

Thanks to the support of Heritage Lottery funding over the years, its original beauty has been restored, enabling the local community to step back in time in our beautiful, culturally rich venue while enjoying live music, eating great food, and having a wonderful time.

The Malt Cross’s charitable status stems from its time as the Potter’s House coffee shop, where people in need could find counselling and support.

The Potter’s House Trust is a Christian charity that secured 1.8-million Heritage Lottery funding in 1997, to be used for restoration of the site, which re-opened in 1998 as a variety venue with live music, comedy, and theatre.

In 2003, a group of city centre churches set the Malt Cross up as a charitable trust, hoping to preserve the building and help the community with outreach work.

Nottingham’s Street Pastors, who can be seen helping inebriated and vulnerable people in Nottingham on a Friday or Saturday night, are based at the Malt Cross.

In 2018, the Malt Cross hit hard times and had to close. It was a difficult, uncertain time, until Nottinghamshire YMCA stepped in to save the venue and charity.

YMCA pledged to keep the soul and legacy of the historical venue alive by featuring all the services the award-winning venue delivered, including the bar and café.

We work closely with YMCA, donating our bar and kitchen operational surplus to the work of YMCA Robin Hood Group, but the Malt Cross Trust remains a separate registered charity with its own focus.

In our Grade II listed, former Victorian music hall, we stay true to the original intention of the music hall era with our diverse programme of live music and entertainment for the people of Nottingham. We are passionate about giving a platform to the current generation of artists and musicians in the city.

We’re incredibly proud of our wonderful space and all it offers. At the Malt Cross, the people of Nottingham can discover talented local musicians and artists, eat great food, enjoy fabulous, historic surroundings, drink award-winning ales and other quality drinks, take part in lively events, and feel safe in a place that exists to serve the local community.

Book for Sunday Dinner

Join us for our famous Sunday lunches and end the weekend in style, as our kitchen team serve up a veritable feast of tapas dishes and Sunday roasts with seasonal accompaniments followed by a selection of proper puddings and desserts.

Our Story

Built as a Victorian music hall in 1877, the Malt Cross has gone through many changes of identity and purpose.

The Malt Cross’s charitable status stems from its time as the Potter’s House coffee shop, where people in need could find counselling and support.

In 2018, the Malt Cross hit hard times and had to close. It was a difficult, uncertain time, until Nottinghamshire YMCA stepped in to save the venue and charity.

Book for Sunday Dinner

Join us for our famous Sunday lunches and end the weekend in style, as our kitchen team serve up a veritable feast of tapas dishes and Sunday roasts with seasonal accompaniments followed by a selection of proper puddings and desserts.

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