Nottingham Hackspace gives makers and tinkerers a place to build together

If you have ever wanted to try laser cutting, weld a piece of metal or build a robot, Nottingham Hackspace might be the place for you. Known as Nottinghack, it is a Nottingham-based group for hackers, makers and crafty creatives, and since its founding in March 2010 it has grown into one of the largest hackspaces in the UK.

Hacking here has nothing to do with computer crime. As the group explains, hardware hacking is a creative, educational hobby, and members share knowledge of everything from electronics, robotics and 3D printing to photography, film making, animation and crafts.

The space is in Roden House, at the junction of Alfred Street South and Ashley Street, a few minutes' walk from the National Ice Centre. It offers 4,300 square feet of room to work, chat and have a coffee.

The tool list is impressive. There is a woodworking area with a table saw and band saws, a metalworking area with lathes and MIG and TIG welders, an A0 laser cutter, a CNC router and lathe, and a craft area with a computer-aided embroidery machine and sewing machines, plus a well-equipped electronics bench.

What makes it work is the community. Nottinghack is completely member owned and run, with volunteers organised into teams for each area, such as the Laser Team that looks after the laser cutter. Trustees are elected by members, and the space is funded by membership fees, donations and workshop charges.

Membership is based on a pay what you think is right system with a small minimum, so people can decide what the space is worth to them.

Members have plenty of fun projects to show for it. At the Electromagnetic Field hacker camp in 2026, the Hackspace ran its own village and created the ROBODROME, an arcade-style game where players battled small remote-controlled robots in an arena with a lowering pit and an LED matrix screen.

Anyone interested in joining starts with a free tour, held every Wednesday at 7pm and booked online, and full details are on the Nottingham Hackspace website.