I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stepped into Hockley’s Mssng Pieces. Opening with big shoes to fill after taking over from the famed ‘Suede’, a restaurant that led the way with pizza and cocktails in Nottingham. This late night bar seemed to fit into a movement taking place in Hockley; rejecting the continued closure of nightlife venues taking place across the UK by pushing the boundaries of what a bar might be.
Opened late last year, promising a different bar experience, a ‘listening bar’. A concept popping up all across the UK as it focuses on high end speaker systems. Defined by smooth records played by a rotating crew of DJs situated behind beautiful presented stacks of records. Low warm lighting encouraging deeper moment of listening, paired with alcohol to loosen up more closed of customers. Prior to this night I only heard of the concept being created in larger cities such as London and Manchester. The existence of Mssng Pieces is further proof of the impressive nightlife scene that Nottingham boasts.
Inspired by Japanese bars that focus on records playing blues, jazz and classical to create a soothing atmosphere into the early morning for listeners. Nottingham’s version wants to also use this focus on music to encourage a bar where you can come to dance, with R&B, Jazz, blues and other genres. A section in front of the wooden encased DJ booth cleared to give space in the late evening to enable dancing, after you have enjoyed a few of their selection of specialty cocktails or wines. If you come specifically to enjoy the dancing under the glittering disco ball we recommend coming on a Saturday, or one of the specific themed nights that they host, as it is the busiest day to experience. If you arrive in the early evening in order to enjoy their food menu, you can experience the low red lighting, movies projected onto the wall and a more ambient atmosphere.
Mssng Pieces has taken the concept of the listening bar and adapted it. Focusing not just on the music but serving up high quality Italian style cuisines. We managed to sample the Bianca and the Quattro Formaggi pizzas as well as a side of skin on house fries. From the moment I first glanced at the menu the Quattro Formaggi caught my eye as does any food with goat cheese. It did not disappoint, a richness from mozzarella is balanced by the more tangy goats cheese. The Bianca, a pizza done with a white garlic flavoured base, similarly stuck a balance in flavours. The sweetness from the hot honey brings out the sweetness of the red onion and the umami from the garlic sauce.
As the night carried on we tried some of their extensive drink menu. The drinks menu specialises in two types of drinks, wine and cocktails. First we tried a glass of Rosé (Pinot grigio promo soli), although if you’re going for a different type of night you could go for a bottle. It is a northern Italian wine, that they serve quickly cold with a sweat fruity flavours coming through.
Then for cocktails we sampled Japanese Whispers a sweet fruity gin based cocktail, that was unlike anything I had tried prior in an incredibly positive way. The Passion fruit martini had an interesting twist, a sprinkling of cinnamon on top, a beautiful decorative addition.
All of the food and drink were brough out quickly, by lovely servers who attentive throughout the entire night. For students I can recommend their Wednesday deal, Two for One pizza deal. Prefect for a few carbs early in the evening before a bar crawl or a slow late night evening away from the chaos.
