Ten things you didn't know about Nottingham

1. Nottingham is home to some of the UK's most famous companies including Raleigh and Jesse Boot - who became the founder of Boots The Chemist. Also from Nottinghamshire is the Bramley apple, HP Sauce, Ibuprofen, shin guards and MRI scanning. 2. With more than 300 places to eat and drink in Nottingham city centre alone, there's enough to satisfy any appetite. In fact the city has the highest concentration of international restaurants in the UK. It's also home to the Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains which has been named AA Restaurant of the Year for England. 3. Every year Nottingham attracts over 25 million shoppers to the designer stores, high street chains and one off boutiques. It is also home to the internationally-renowned designer Paul Smith. He opened his flagship store in the city in 2004, but the new site is a world away from the shabby Nottingham back alley that saw Paul open his first store in 1970. 4. Nottingham Arena is the region's biggest entertainment venue and is welcoming the likes of Diana Ross, Beyonce and Lionel Richie in 2007. Last year was a record year for the venue with 746,241 visitors passing through its doors, representing an increase of 21% in comparison to 2005. 5. Notts County is the oldest professional football club in history and was founded in 1862. Nottingham is also the smallest city ever to boast a European Cup winning team in Nottingham Forest. 6. It doesn’t get any more authentic than Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem - reputed to be the world’s oldest inn and carved into the rock beneath Nottingham Castle. 7. Olympic ice skating champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are local heroes, taking their first steps onto the ice in the old Ice Stadium. They'll be making a triumphant return to the city in April 2007 where they'll take part in the Dancing On Ice tour at the National Ice Centre. 8. The gigantic Major Oak tree stands proud in Sherwood Forest, the legendary hideout of Robin Hood and his merry men. 9. Nottingham Arena is based in the heart of the action in the city centre and attracts some of the biggest tours and artists. Simply Red were the first band to perform at the venue in April 2000 and Westlife have taken to the stage more times than any other act, including a date in 2007. 10. The £43 million National Ice Centre attracts hundreds of skaters everyday from some of Britain's best elite skaters to those looking for a bit of family fun on the ice. The Centre is also home to ice hockey team the Nottingham Panthers. At an average home game around 1200 pints are drunk and it would take approx 88,000 pints to create the ice pad they play on with a thickness of 1.5 inches. (Related areas of interest see "Nottingham Venues":http://www.venues.org.uk/venues/searches/nottingham also "Conference Venue Nottingham":http://www.venues.org.uk/venues/searches/nottingham/meeting_rooms.)