Free Thinkers

How Demographic Change is Reshaping Our Future
2026-01-17 13:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London) | The Hop Merchant, Nottingham, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AG, United Kingdom
This month, Matthew Stanford has kindly agreed to lead the discussion on the topic of demographic changes reshaping our futures.

For the first time in human history, more than half the world’s countries have birth rates below replacement level. Ageing populations will affect pensions, healthcare systems, the economy, and even the existence of entire nations.

Meanwhile, some regions of the world, such as Africa, are booming with young, expanding populations. This demographic divide will reshape the world as we know it. Ageing superpowers will be challenged by youthful nations with new economic and military strength.

In this talk, we will discuss why birth rates are falling, how they affect our future, and if technology or migration can fill the gap. Expect insights, discussion, and a few surprises about the world’s demographic future.

So join us for the first debate/discussion of 2026. Once again, all opinions are welcome, and we only ask that you respect everyone else’s opinions whilst using decorum where necessary.

This event is free under the priviso that everyone buys at least one drink from the bar (non-alcoholic beverages also served).

Look forward to debating with everyone.

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Does Intuition Influence Our Conscious State?
2026-02-28 13:00 - 15:00 | The Hop Merchant, Nottingham, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AG, United Kingdom
This month’s debate/discussion will be hosted by Julie Tasker.

Do you appreciate your own intuitive abilities?How might you develop your intuition to improve your life experiences?

Intuition is the ability to understand or know something instinctively, without conscious reasoning or needing an explanation. What does that mean in everyday life?

Often, intuition is called a “gut feeling”. Most people will know they’ve experienced a “gut feeling” at some time in their life – perhaps you have felt that something was wrong but didn’t know what; and then you heard of something adverse that’s just happened, or someone rings or contacts you in some way that confirms your earlier feelings. These intuitive feelings could also be something positive, though this isn’t generally talked about as often in our society.

Unfortunately, life tends to have closed down your intuition, such as through much of our education system and other life approaches. Thus, the potential considerable benefits of developing your intuition tend not to usually be emphasised in our daily lives.

Yet we can all develop our natural intuitions which is where we are aiming in the presentation which will include some tools to develop intuitions, and also discussion to share people’s previous experiences and during / after the different intuitive exercises.

Please attend with an open mind, and share your thoughts respectfully knowing that everyone has had different experiences and may have different beliefs.

As usual, this event is free of charge, and it will only cost you the price of a drink from the venue (non-alcoholic beverages are available).

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A Healthier Lifestyle or UPFs? An update on the latest nutrition developments
2026-03-28 13:00 - 15:00 | The Hop Merchant, Nottingham, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AG, United Kingdom
Recently, RFK Junior has caused a raucous by turning the food pyramid upside down.

The American Health Department is looking likely to abandon 40 years of research, which has promoted a high carb diet that is rich in seed oils and other nefarious ingredients.

It now seems they will revert to promoting a diet rich in tallow fats and dairy. Are the days of Ultra Processed Foods numbered?

This is a follow-up to our discussion early last year, based on new developments.

So join us for an interesting debate/discussion. All’s we ask is that you respect everyone’s opinions and refrain from using offensive language.

This event is free and will only cost the price of a drink from the bar (non-alcoholic beverages are available).

Look forward to debating with everyone.

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Beauty - Is this the aim of Art or an outdated Idea?
2026-04-25 13:00 - 15:00 | The Hop Merchant, Nottingham, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AG, United Kingdom
This month’s debate/discussion will be hosted by Jo Herlihy.

Think of a piece of art – a painting, a piece of music, or maybe a building – that you love. Would you say that it was beautiful? And if yes, what makes it so?

The introduction for this meeting will offer an overview of the history of beauty in art – how it has been understood, defined, and redefined by key thinkers over time. This should help us think about whether the idea of Beauty is relevant today – for what is produced and valued.

The idea of beauty in art has been, and continues to be, debated. The question is far from settled and has implications for how we think about art (whether as an artist or as a viewer) and for the institutions teaching about it and for those who look after artistic creations.

So join us for another fact-filled, lively discussion/debate. As always, we only ask that you respect everyone’s opinions and be cordial. This event is always free of charge and will only cost you the price of a drink from the bar downstairs (non-alcoholic available).

Before the April MeetUp, we’d love to hear your views on Art and Beauty through a short 2-minute survey. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts, and hopefully, we’ll see you on April 25th.

Art and Beauty – https://forms.office.com/r/aqADcfREQq

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Religion and spirituality in the modern world: Is God still relevant?
2026-05-23 13:00 - 15:00 | The Hop Merchant, Nottingham, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AG, United Kingdom
We literally have over 2,000 different religions being practised all over the world today. However, particularly in western society, the largest growing demographic is those who have rejected any kind of faith or spiritual practise. They prefer a life of secularism, and even atheism.

Religion has been practised (mostly polytheism) since around 10,000 years ago, when the very first communities began to form. Every culture in existense has performed various rituals and practises, in order to honour a higher power.

In the UK today less than 6% of the population attend regular church services. We have also become multitheistic, witnessing other faiths besides Christianity becoming more widespread.

What is the future of faith in our society? Why has the spread of atheism become so prominent?

I have also set a multiple choice question for everyone to answer if they could please. This will give us some kind of an idea as to the make-up of our members who are attending this event.

Looking forward to debating with everyone. As always, we are a friendly group that encourages free speech and we also respect all opinions, within reason. This event is free of charge and all that we ask is that you honour our friends in the pub by buying at least one beverage from the bar downstairs (non-alcoholic alternatives are available).

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Education in the 2020s: How we learn in the age of A.I.
2026-06-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Forest Recreational Ground Cafe, The Homemade Cafe, Nottingham, NG7 6QH, United Kingdom
As a change to our usual schedule, we will be doing el fresco meetups throughout the summer months, before resuming our usual pub meetups in the autumn.

This month’s theme has been suggested by Julie Tasker, who has worked in the education sector, and is becoming increasingly concerned about the way in which children are being taught.

Do we need to concentrate on more practical subjects for certain students? Is university necessarily the go-to option for 50% of the population?

Is it time that the National Cirriculum and the entire examination system was revamped? Why are there so many S.E.N.D. schools now?

Is Artificial Intelligence actually the answer? Will traditional learning techniques eventually be superseded by technology?

Join us for a relaxed debate, and also a nice drink and snack on a summer’s day in the open air (weather permitting, we do have a backup plan just in case).

As always, we encourage all opinions and respect everyone’s views. Please refrain from any offensive terminology though.

America at 250. Is the Dream of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness Over?
2026-07-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Forest Recreational Ground Cafe, The Homemade Cafe, Nottingham, NG7 6QH, United Kingdom
The United States of America celebrates its 250th birthday on this very day. This is the day that the Declaration of Independence was drafted by the founding fathers in 1776.

Even the biggest critic has to agree that America has had an extraordinary two and a half centuries. Progressing from a backwater, primarily agricultural outpost of the British Empire, to an industrial and military giant.

The nation’s leaders have sold the notion of ‘Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ to millions of immigrants who have flocked there from places as far afield as Ireland and Russia throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The great 1849 gold rush saw a vast expansion westwards and many Native Americans lost their lands and their culture during the relentless profiteering of this era.

America twice came to Europe’s aid during both World Wars. Uncle Sam then became Europe’s protector during the Cold War.

Since then the nation has become the world’s principal economic and military superpower. It has dominated the global geopolitical scene being the principal funder of the World Bank, the UN, NATO and many other NGOs.

American popular culture has also been dominant through the media of music, films and television. Then we have the F.A.N.G.S. which have hegemony of the internet, all listed on NASDAQ and developed from start-ups in Silicon Valley

However, recently the American Dream and the perception of ‘Land of the Free’ has sunk to new depths of despair. The re-election of Donald J. Trump as president, as well as the increasing multipolar political sabre-rattling has seen America lose a lot of respect.

This month we will debate this issue. So please join us and all’s we ask is that you are respectful of other people’s views, whilst refraining from abusive language.

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Sebastian Moore - SDP Candidate in Gorton & Denton By-election
2026-08-15 13:00 - 15:00 | The Hop Merchant, Nottingham, 64-68 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AG, United Kingdom
‘The Crisis is Coming. The Only Solution is Nationbuilding.’

Across the political spectrum, there is broad agreement that Britain is in trouble. The NHS is barely functioning. Small boat crossings remain high. Businesses are struggling with rising costs. Theft and petty crime has become commonplace. Over a million young people aren’t in work or education, and key institutions appear incapable of performing their purpose.

Is this a series of individual policy issues or is there something more going on?

Beneath the headlines, lies a deeper issue: the gradual erosion of the nation itself. As our shared identity weakens, politics becomes more divisive. Compromise is replaced by moral condemnation, and fellow citizens begin to be viewed as enemies rather than neighbours. Common institutions lose credibility, separate communities arise, and governments become more inclined to use censorship and force over consent.

If Britain is to recover, addressing individual policy failures will not be enough. But how do we find a shared sense of purpose that would allow us to restore the social bonds and political culture that make a functioning democracy possible?

Sebastian Moore argues that the challenge facing Britain is not just one of economics or culture, but of nationhood. To navigate the coming crisis, we must reinvent the nation.
