The provided source material details several events in Nottingham, UK, organised by the University of Nottingham Students' Union (UoNSU) and a private event company, Fatsoma, specifically for the freshers period and post-freshers phase. These events are positioned as opportunities for students and local residents to access freebies, product samples, tasters, and exclusive discounts from a range of local businesses and brands. The information is drawn from official university promotional pages and a dedicated event registration page.
Event Overview and Key Dates
Multiple distinct fairs are scheduled for September and October 2025, each with a specific focus and set of offerings. The primary events include the UoNSU Fresher's Fair, the Discover Nottingham Fair, the Re-Charge Fair, and the Get Settled Fair, alongside a large-scale private event called the Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025.
The UoNSU Fresher's Fair is a two-day event held on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th September 2025 from 10:00 to 16:00. It takes place at the Trent Car Park, located between the Portland Building and the Trent Building on the university campus. This event is described as a comprehensive introduction to university life, featuring over 50 independent Nottingham businesses offering freebies, tasters, giveaways, and student deals. Categories mentioned include cosy cafés, quirky shops, cool bars, stylish boutiques, and museums.
The Discover Nottingham Fair is listed for the same dates and location as the Fresher's Fair, suggesting it may be a concurrent or integrated part of the larger event. The description for this fair emphasises uncovering the city's "best-kept secrets" and hidden gems, again highlighting freebies, tasters, giveaways, and exclusive student deals from local independent businesses.
Following the initial freshers week, the UoNSU is hosting a Re-Charge Fair on Wednesday 1st October 2025 from 11:00 to 16:00 in the Portland Building, C Floor. This event is themed around post-freshers wellbeing, offering "freebies, wellbeing advice and resources" to help students recharge their mind, body, and academics. A subsequent Get Settled Fair is scheduled for Friday 3rd October 2025 from 10:00 to 14:00, also in the Portland Building, C Floor. This fair aims to help students settle into Nottingham after freshers week, providing information about the university and Students' Union, with an additional promise of "freebies of course!"
Separately, a private event company, Fatsoma, is promoting the "Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025" on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th September 2025 from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM. This event is held at a different venue: Liquid Library, NG1 5JT. It is explicitly open to all individuals over 18 years old, including students and young professionals. The event promises "freebies & giveaways from top lifestyle, food & drink brands," "delicious food & drink tasters," and "exclusive discounts & promo codes available only for registered guests." It also features live music, an open bar with student-friendly deals, and competitions with prizes.
Access, Eligibility, and Registration Requirements
Access to these events varies, with specific eligibility and registration rules outlined in the source material.
The UoNSU Fresher's Fair, Discover Nottingham Fair, Re-Charge Fair, and Get Settled Fair are all organised by the university's Students' Union. While the source material does not explicitly state that these are restricted to students, they are part of the official university freshers' programme. The descriptions focus heavily on student integration, university resources, and student deals. The Get Settled Fair description explicitly states its purpose is to help students "get settled into Nottingham." Therefore, while not explicitly restricted, the primary target audience appears to be new and existing university students. The source does not provide details on registration for these specific UoNSU events; it only lists dates, times, and locations.
In contrast, the private Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025 has clear and strict registration requirements. Entry is free but requires advance registration. The event is "OPEN TO EVERYONE" aged 18 and over, including students and young professionals. The source material repeatedly emphasises that "spots will go fast" and "limited capacity" exists, advising that "advance registration strongly advised" and that "walk-ins may close if capacity is reached." Registration is described as "FREE but essential." The event page states that securing a ticket allows guests to "unlock exclusive discounts & promos from exhibitors" and be "first in line for freebies, drinks & prize draws."
Offerings and Types of Freebies
The freebies and offers available at these events fall into several categories, as described in the source material.
Product Samples and Tasters: The UoNSU Fresher's Fair and Discover Nottingham Fair promise "tasters" from local independent businesses, which likely include food and beverage samples. The private Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025 explicitly lists "delicious food & drink tasters" as a key offering. The Re-Charge Fair mentions "freebies" in the context of wellbeing resources, though the specific type of product is not detailed.
Branded Giveaways and Lifestyle Products: The private Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025 specifies "freebies & giveaways from top lifestyle, food & drink brands." This indicates that attendees can expect physical promotional items or samples from recognised brands, not just local independent businesses. The UoNSU fairs focus on "freebies" from "50+ of Nottingham’s finest independent businesses," which may include handmade goods, vouchers, or small product samples from local shops and cafes.
Discounts and Promo Codes: A significant offering at the private fair is "exclusive discounts & promo codes available only for registered guests." This suggests that some exhibitors will provide special offers that require event registration to access. The UoNSU fairs also mention "exclusive student deals" from local businesses.
Competitions and Raffles: The Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025 includes "competitions & raffles with epic prizes." The source material does not specify what constitutes an "epic prize," but this is a clear form of promotional giveaway available to registered attendees.
Wellbeing and Information Resources: The Re-Charge Fair and Get Settled Fair offer a different type of "freebie": advice, resources, and information. The Re-Charge Fair provides "wellbeing advice and resources," while the Get Settled Fair offers guidance on the university and Students' Union, including how to access support from course reps, wellbeing teams, and academic teams. These are non-material freebies aimed at student integration and support.
Location and Venue Details
The events are spread across different locations in Nottingham, primarily on the university campus and in the city centre.
The University of Nottingham Students' Union events (Fresher's Fair, Discover Nottingham Fair, Re-Charge Fair, Get Settled Fair) are all held in university buildings. The Fresher's Fair and Discover Nottingham Fair use the Trent Car Park, a large outdoor space between the Portland and Trent Buildings, which is a standard location for large student events on campus. The Re-Charge and Get Settled Fairs are held indoors in the Portland Building, on the C Floor.
The private Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025 is located at "Liquid Library, NG1 5JT." This is a city-centre venue, not on the university campus. The postcode NG1 5JT corresponds to a location in the Lace Market area of Nottingham, known for its nightlife and entertainment venues. This different location may attract a broader audience beyond the immediate student population.
Practical Considerations for Attendees
Based solely on the provided source material, several practical points are relevant for anyone considering attending these events.
For the UoNSU fairs, the primary consideration is timing. They are scheduled during the core freshers week (25-26 September) and the immediate post-freshers period (1-3 October). Attendees should be prepared for potentially busy environments, especially at the Trent Car Park events, which are described as "buzzing." The source does not mention capacity limits for these university-run events, but they are large-scale fairs.
For the private Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025, the key practical advice is to register early. The source material uses urgent language ("Don’t leave it last minute — spots will go fast!", "Limited capacity — advance registration strongly advised") and states that "walk-ins may close if capacity is reached." Therefore, securing a free ticket in advance is crucial to guarantee entry. The event runs for two full days, offering flexibility for attendees. The inclusion of an "open bar" implies that alcohol will be served, and while "student-friendly deals" are mentioned, the event is open to all over 18s.
Conclusion
The provided source material outlines a series of promotional events in Nottingham during September and October 2025, offering significant opportunities to access free products, samples, and deals. These events are primarily aimed at the student population during the freshers period but also extend to a broader audience. The UoNSU fairs focus on integrating new students into university life and the local community, offering freebies from independent businesses and wellbeing resources. The private Nottingham Freshers Fair 2025 offers a more commercial experience with branded freebies, food and drink tasters, exclusive discounts, and competitions, requiring advance online registration due to limited capacity. For consumers seeking free samples and promotional offers, these events represent a concentrated period of activity where multiple brands and businesses showcase their products directly to the public.