'live' Lounge
The perfect way to start your weekend, doors open at 6:30pm, when you can enjoy tasty, home-made food and even tastier freshly made cocktails!
7:30pm is kick off for our ‘live’ lounge, with musicians playing jazz, blues, funk and more, to create a laid back, lounge vibe until around 9:45pm
We recommend you book a table to secure your spot.
Please note, doors will open at 5:00pm once we move to The Ossington → in mid January 2024…
Sunday 'live'
Our alternative to Sunday Lunch, Sunday ‘live’ offers a very relaxed afternoon of great live music accompanied by our daytime menu and of course, cocktails, beers and the rest! Usually taking place in our covered courtyard, it’s a really nice way to round off your weekend. We open at 10:00am on Sundays and music is on from 12:30pm.
We definitely recommend booking a table if you want to watch the artists perform. If not, the gig can be heard throughout the store.

This superlative example of the jazz trio, sees Dan Johnson on guitar, with Mat Short on bass and Neil Adam Richards on stix...
Find out more »Pianist/Vocalist Wendy Kirkland and guitarist Pat Sprakes were the very first jazz gig at Stray's back in 2007. Some 16 years later, they're still doing it and are joined by Stray's co-owner Mat Short on bass for this Christmas Jazz special!
Find out more »This superlative example of the jazz trio, sees Dan Johnson on guitar, with Mat Short on bass and Si Potts on drums - This is the last ever Friday Jazz, at our current venue - don't miss it!
Find out more »Our FINAL GIG EVER!
Well, at our current venue anyway - this date marks the end of the 2023, plus the end of jazz at our Middlegate venue, after more than 16 years of live music...
Local jazz hero Nathan Bray takes us on a musical journey through his 30 years as a professional jazz musician, playing not only jazz, but also touring with Paloma Faith, Jimmy Somerville and more...
Find out more »Drinks Menu
P.R.S. is Simon Potts (drums), Steve Rodda (guitar) and Stray’s own Mat Short (bass). Mat & Steve originally played on Sundays at the Newark store as part of a guitar trio. Mat met Si as part of playing with the superb Groove Merchants, led by our good friend departed, guitarist Chris Green.
Si Potts joined Mat & Steve for a date back in 2017 and the three of them haven’t looked back!

P.R.S. gig every Friday at Stray’s, supporting the headline acts at each venue, but you can see them as a trio at various venues across the Midlands, including regular slots at The Pelican in Nottingham, The Bees Knees in Laneham and with various artists at the Mason’s Arms in Louth, to name a few.