The first full week of 2026 is now underway, which is always a bit of a come-down after the Christmas and New Year festivities.
January and February are difficult months to get through for many different sectors, but it’s fair to say that those in hospitality feel the new year dip in trade more than most.
A notoriously quiet period for pubs and restaurants, all of us should be doing our bit to support local businesses this winter.
Even trying a different restaurant once a month can make all the difference to independent restaurants.
Knowing where to eat out can be a tricky task, particularly if you’re new to Nottinghamshire or don’t go to restaurants very often.
Thankfully, online booking service OpenTable has created a handy tool which allows customers to find out the busiest restaurants in a particular area.
Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 500,000 new global diner reviews from the past month to produce a guide to the most-booked restaurants in a certain town, city or region.
The most recent guide was published on January 5, providing diners with a snapshot into the most-booked Nottinghamshire restaurants as we start 2026.
Explore them in the gallery below:
5. Piccolino, Nottingham
Piccolino, an authentic Italian Restaurant, is a proud fixture of the Nottingham dining scene Photo: Google
6. Griffins Head, Papplewick
The Griffins Head is believed to be over 300-years-old and is a listed building in the conservation area of Papplewick, which in medieval times was the southern gateway to Sherwood Forest. Photo: Google
7. Côte Brasserie, West Bridgford
Côte in West Bridgford is inspired by the brasseries of Paris, serving authentic French dishes all day Photo: Google
8. Four Bells Inn, Woodborough
The Four Bells Inn on Main Street in Woodborough is a Tudor-style pub which offers a warm, cosy escape with a roaring log fire | Google Photo: Google