Indian Tapas, Blackjack and a Christmas Tree
Hot Chilly Fish, Gobi Manchurian and Prawn Chilly.
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People often ask about NottsRocks and what we're all about. We cover music, arts, and features from across the country and beyond. They question our name, and we simply respond: because Notts does rock, especially its hospitality scene. We're not Notts-centric with our content – the name just highlights what our region has to offer while we promote arts, music, and culture from everywhere else.
So when I ventured beyond the city boundary to Beeston last night, dear readers, don't be alarmed. We're NottsRocks – we rock up anywhere (we once reviewed an amazing fish restaurant in Torquay). My unexpected trip to Beeston, specifically to an Indian tapas restaurant on Chilwell Road, was to meet a friend who happened to be performing there. Music, food, wine – all the ingredients for both a review and catching up with a mate. That mate being Jimi Strange of Jimi and The Strangers.
I'll admit, it had been months, maybe a year since I'd last walked Beeston's streets, though this visit was more of a direct restaurant dash via Uber. I'd never been to Lagan before, but Indian tapas and Indian cuisine, in general, are close to my heart. When I spotted hot chilli fish on their menu of over 70 dishes (including sides and breads), the clock-watching began. Reservation: 6:30 PM.
Located next to Wetherspoons, Lagan's modern interior gives subtle nods to its heritage, with leather banquettes alongside standard tables and chairs. A cheerful Christmas tree greets you at the entrance, while Afsana Khan's "Titliaan" played softly in the background (thank you, phone app, for that detail). The restaurant was buzzing with Christmas parties, regulaurs, and probably a few first-timers like myself – though I'd actually booked this time, no daring walk-ins.
When the waiter approached for drinks, I opted for a Cabernet Sauvignon since Pinot Noir wasn't available. "Two glasses?" he asked, just as Jimi walked in. I offered to share, but Jimi stuck to beer.
A quick word about Jimi Strange: frontman of Jimi and The Strangers, currently on hiatus, and a solo artist in his own right. The band emerged over beers in Dubrovnik in 2016 (I know because I was there). Think of them as local raconteurs, featuring artists from 94 Gunships, Dusty 4 Track, Esther Van Leuven, Alex Hawksworth, Royston Duxford, Kaben (Ben and Kat) – they even had Katie Dawson from Girlband play flute on "Broken Fields." Their sound? Poetic alt-rock with folk and country influences. They've had their moments, including headlining Contemporary's 10th birthday bash.
My carefully planned feast included:
Hot Chilly Fish (tapas) £7.95: Cod loin in a piquant chilli sauce
Prawn Chilly (tapas) £7.95: Prawns with onions & peppers in chilli sauce
Gobi Manchurian (tapas) £6.95: Crispy battered cauliflower in chilli sauce
Chicken Jalfrezi £14.95
Keema nan £4.95
A side of fries (yes, I'd starved myself in preparation)
The Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (£22.95) proved a worthy companion.
As Jimi and his co-performer Harley (stage name Skell0) set up, the tapas arrived. Skell0 opened with Sekou's "Better Man" while I dove into my feast. Skell0, a singer/songwriter from Notts, won track of the week on BBC introducing with his track “Privacy”, a mix of pop punk, pop rap and acoustic music, definitely one to watch. Back to the food. The hot chilli fish rivalled Anoki's version on Barkergate – crisp exterior, tender fish that melted away, with that perfect piquant sauce. The prawns were succulent, while the Gobi Manchurian delighted with firm cauliflower complemented by tamarind and mint sauce.
Between sets, my dining companions (the two other amigos I usually review with) messaged, questioning the concept of live music in an Indian restaurant. I sent them a quick video of nodding diners enjoying their Malai Tikka and Paneer Ka Sholay – trust me, it works.
Jimi's set included the crowd-pleasing "Blackjack" and the unreleased "Cold Stone Streets" (full disclosure: I wrote that one). The Jalfrezi arrived mid-performance – a proper spice-laden dish with satisfying heat. As I finished, Jimi treated us to a special guitar version of the 6-minute opus "Looking Back," followed by "White Collar Zoo" – a fitting escape from the rat race, if only for an evening.
If you're in Beeston, Lagan deserves your attention. The combination of excellent Indian tapas and occasional live music creates an unexpectedly perfect evening out. And if you catch Jimi there again, request "Rockball" – seeing that performed on acoustic would be something special (hahahahahha he’ll love that, he’ll need plasters for his fingers afterwards).
Lagan Indian Tapas Restaurant
6A Chilwell Road, Beeston
Nottingham NG9 1AA
Tel: 0115 967 7288
