After years of rumours, nostalgia posts and endless calls for its return, Nottingham’s legendary Emett Clock is finally coming home.
Victoria Centre has confirmed the much-loved clock will be heading back to South Square, returning to the spot outside John Lewis where generations of Nottingham shoppers remember meeting up beneath it.
And honestly? It’s about time.
For decades, the quirky kinetic clock wasn’t just a way to tell the time. It was the meeting point. Whether you were waiting for your mates, meeting your mum after school shopping, or getting lost in Victoria Centre as a kid, chances are the Emett Clock featured somewhere in the memory.
Now, after an extensive restoration project and years of people asking for it to be put back where it belongs, the famous landmark is set for a long-awaited homecoming this winter.
Victoria Centre director Nigel Wheatley said: “It’s the news we know so many people across Nottingham and the wider region have been waiting to hear: The Emett Clock is coming home.
“We know just how much this clock means to the city and how strongly people feel about seeing it back in South Square. It’s part of the fabric of Victoria Centre and holds so many memories for generations of our visitors.
“To finally be able to say it’s returning to where so many people believe it belongs is incredibly exciting. We can’t wait to see it take pride of place at the heart of Victoria Centre once again.”
The clock was created by renowned British artist and inventor Rowland Emett and has been part of Victoria Centre since 1973. Over the years, it’s become one of Nottingham’s most recognisable landmarks, with plenty of locals still referring to it whenever arranging to meet in town.
Work is already underway to prepare South Square for the clock’s return, with the big comeback expected later this year.
And because Nottingham absolutely loves the clock, Victoria Centre is also asking people to share their favourite memories and old photos.
So whether you’ve got a grainy picture from a 90s shopping trip, memories of waiting under the clock before heading to the cinema, or stories of meeting friends there every weekend, now’s the time to dig them out.
Victoria Centre says more details about the clock’s return and any celebrations will be announced in the coming weeks. Hurrah!
