THIS is Nottingham's second Korean restaurant in a few months. We are talking South Korea, by the way, not that portion, north of the 38th Parallel, run by the fun dude with the wacky haircut.

Like Pan Asia BBQ in nearby Upper Parliament Street, the selling point is the grill that is sunk into the centre of every table. The idea is that you cook your own luncheon or dinner – but why would I do that? That's what I do at home.

With capable customer-chefs at the table, the gimmick adds to the dining room the exotic aromas of an eastern kitchen. Thanks to the cack-handed customer across the aisle from me, we got the aromas of an incinerator.

I stuck to the set luncheon menu but 40 minutes after placing a pretty straightforward order I began to regret not having brought my own spatula, tongs, fire extinguisher and burns kit.

Eventually the most charming waitress produced the goods with a disarming apology about a problem with the kitchen equipment.

It was eloquently done, which was surprising as earlier she had asked me to give her my order using the code numbers for each dish rather than the names.

I thought about K2, but it was too much of a mountain to climb. So I went for K3 – miso soup and chicken steak bab. That's bab, by the way, not kebab.

When the meal eventually came – both dishes simultaneously, which is how things are done east of the Raj – it was of a perfectly acceptable standard.

Let's be frank, it's hard to have a lot of fun with miso soup. This was about as close as it gets, with the thin, grey daishi broth enlivened by green leaves, spring onions, cubes of tofu and lots of those delicate little enoki mushrooms. Quite refreshing, in an "umami" sort of way.

The bab was basically a flattened chicken breast, breadcrumbed and fried, cut into strips and served on a bed of lettuce with a smear of really lovely dark sauce. It was the same colour and texture as hoisin, but not as sickly.

On the side was a ball of rice. I was working not with western eating irons but chopsticks – and silver ones, at that – so I was happy to discover that the rice was properly sticky. When you've been waiting for 40 minutes, there are not enough hours left in the day to be lifting fluffy rice grains with chopsticks.

I thought £8.50 for the food was exceptional value, although you don't have to slum it at Miss Korea. On the drinks menu I caught sight of Dom Perignon at £199. Next time, perhaps.

ON July 12, the Post published an article under the headline "Riot fears as cuts bite at city prison". The Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Nottingham has asked us to clarify two points about the article.

The board's annual report does not say it found that Muslim inmates' food was contaminated with non-halal or pork products. Rather, it reports on the fears of Muslim prisoners. The IMB says it has no reason to believe that any prisoner's food has been contaminated.

In addition, the report does not say that inmates have been unable to receive their medication due to lockdowns at the prison. Rather, it says that prisoners have been unable to keep medical appointments. We are happy to make these points clear.

THE trust behind a new free school in Nottingham has applied for temporary planning permission ahead of its full opening next month.

Nottingham Free School will open in the Courtaulds Building in Haydn Road, Sherwood, for Year 7 pupils and is part of the Torch Academy Gateway Trust. And now an application for planning permission has been lodged with Nottingham City Council to change the use of the building to a school.

A letter to the council says an application for full planning permission will be made in time for the second year of the school from September 2015.

The Torch trust has confirmed the conversion will take place in two stages. The first, complete in time for the school's opening, will include enough classrooms for the first year, as well as a science lab, hall, dining area and office space. Some playground space will also be provided.

AUDI TT driver Dean Hallcro protested to magistrates that it was "unbelievable" as he was sent to jail – for driving from a beer festival while disqualified.

He was stopped by police in Cotgrave after leaving the Rose and Crown pub, in Main Road, Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard. .

He was asked to provide a breath test after officers smelt alcohol on his breath.

But Hallcro refused to give one and was arrested.

At the Bridewell custody suite, he twice refused to provide a breath test, on the grounds that he had "personal issues" with the arresting officer.

Hallcro was hauled before city magistrates yesterday for failing to provide a breath test for analysis and driving while disqualified and without insurance on June 28.

The court heard he had been making some adjustments to the car because he was going to sell it.

On the day of the offences, he went for a test drive to meet a friend at the pub's beer and cider festival.

He later claimed to officers that he had just one bottle of lager in the afternoon.

The 37-year-old, of Cooper Close, Cropwell Bishop, protested as he was led away to serve a 12-week sentence.

Magistrates also banned him from driving for four years.

David Gittins, in mitigation, said his client had made admissions in interview and entered guilty pleas at court.

He said Hallcro had been mending the car and had to sell it and "stupidly" took it for a test drive.

After going to the pub, he was on his way to see his partner, who was staying with her mum and having problems with her child.

"There is no suggestion of poor driving or a chase with police," said Mr Gittins.

"He knows personally the officer who stopped him.

"His ex-partner is close friends with the officer in the case and his wife and there are issues on a personal level.

"He was being belligerent because it was that gentleman. It was purely out of personal distrust of him."

He said Hallcro was a joiner and team leader and his employer was aware of the court proceedings.

"I accept he had no one to blame but himself."

Magistrates said the offences aggravated each other and his previous record for driving was appalling.

THE county's mental health trust has launched a consultation over plans to close four hospital wards and a residential rehabilitation unit.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare wants to reduce the number of inpatient beds for mental health sufferers in the county from 80 to 40, switching to community-based services.

The trust has officially launched a six-week engagement, asking patients, carers and families for their views.

The Post has previously reported that the Daybrook and Bestwood wards at the City Hospital could close.

The plans would also mean two other mental health wards – A42 and A43 – at the Queen's Medical Centre closing, along with the Enright Close adult residential rehabilitation unit in Newark.

SOLICITORS' clerk Leon Angel-Robinson has been jailed for 19 years after he led a secret life as the guardian over a £1.2m plot to supply cocaine.

Angel-Robinson worked in the courts, helping lawyers and criminals appearing before magistrates. But the 30-year-old had turned rogue – and was no better than the defendants he was supporting.

He governed the drugs conspiracy between criminal groups in Nottingham and Grantham. Police said he headed a network of Nottingham-based couriers who supplied about 45kg of cocaine to a trio of drug dealers from the Lincolnshire town between May 2012 and March 2013.

Angel-Robinson, 30, of Glamis Road, Basford, was sentenced following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

He was among seven defendants found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs after an investigation by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.

Junior Mason, 29, of Nansen Gardens, Top Valley, and Martin Cooper, also 29, of Calder Close, Grantham, were each jailed for 15 years, while 12-year sentences were given to:

Nathan Stock, 29, of Mapperley Hall Drive, Mapperley.

30-year-old Greg Tulley, of Brendan Road, Wollaton.

Marc Fardell, 27, of Ambergate Walk, Grantham.

Jas O'Connor, 28, of Walton Gardens, Grantham.

Reuben Patterson, 29, of Noel Street, Forest Fields, the owner of a car used to deliver drugs to Adam Walker-Brown on the day of his arrest, was given a three-year sentence.

Walker-Brown, 29, of Stirling Grove, Clifton, and 26-year-old Desmond Buchanan, of Penlech Walk, Top Valley, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. They were sentenced on August 4 to eight-and-a-half years and six years respectively.

Aaron Simpson pleaded guilty to his part before trial on July 31. Simpson, 29, of Nidderdale, Nottingham, was sentenced to eight years.

Lee McNeill, 28, Wistow Close, Whitemoor, Jermaine Oram, 29, of Gawthorne Street, Basford, and Shirlon Ankle initially denied their part in the conspiracy. However, they all changed their pleas to guilty on Wednesday and all were sentenced yesterday.

McNeill received five-and-a-half years in prison and Oram got four. Ankle, 31, of Duchess Street, Bulwell, was jailed for 11 years.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Hough, head of the special operations unit, said: "Given that someone employed as a solicitors' clerk orchestrated this conspiracy shows a stunning disregard for the law.

"Even the arrests of his couriers did not deter or concern him, and he simply turned to others to deliver the drugs on his behalf. It is fitting, therefore, that he should be handed such a significant prison sentence for his role."

Giltbrook: A television, laptop, jewellery box and cash have been stolen from a house in Tyrian Street. The burglary took place ovenight between Saturday, August 2, and 7am on Sunday, August 3.

Giltbrook: An attempted burglary took place in Tyrian Street between 12.30pm on Friday, August 8 and 2.30pm on Monday, August 11. The raiders entered the back garden and attempted to force open patio doors but were unsuccessful.

Wollaton: Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault which left a pub worker with a facial injury.

The attack took place at the Wheelhouse pub in Wollaton Road, on July 9.

A large white man with short grey hair, believed to be in his forties, is wanted by Notts Police.

He was wearing a light blue polo shirt, blue jeans and white trainers.

Arnold: A man is wanted in connection with six thefts from cars in two Arnold streets.

He was described as white, slim and around 5ft 10in tall, with short cropped hair and was said to be wearing a light-coloured tracksuit.

The thefts took place between Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20, on Lynemouth Court and Pegswood Drive.

Long Eaton: Two iPods were stolen from an unsecured vehicle parked on Carlton Avenue overnight between Monday and Tuesday.

Clifton: Residents have been warned to check their windows are locked after another burglary in the area.

The theft happened between 2pm and 8.10pm on Fridayon Woodsford Grove.

The burglar got into the house through an insecure window at the back and stole a blue Acer laptop and a green laptop (make and model unknown), along with a Motorola mobile phone and eight packs of Parliament cigarettes.

Notts Police ask anyone with information about any of these incidents to call 101.

ALEX Cronin started his A-level results day unlike no other student – working on the tram extension in Clifton.

He was at work for 6am, left in time to get to Trinity School in Aspley to pick up his papers at 8am, then headed straight back to his job.

And it was worth the trip, as Alex gained A grades in maths, chemistry and product design to seal his place at the University of Nottingham to study chemical engineering.

He said: "I was a little nervous but I think going to work first thing helped. I'm very happy with how I have done."

Alex has been working with civil engineering firm McCann, which is helping build the new lines. He arrived at the school in a company truck, driven by a colleague.

Dressed in his work overalls, the 18-year-old from Aspley was one of 117 students picking up their grades at the school, many of them leaving delighted.

He said: "I am really pleased with how I got on. I've been doing some work on the tram but I wanted to go to university and I have got my place.

"It's a pretty exciting but I have to go back to work so I can't go and celebrate yet."

While Alex had been up at work early, other students from Trinity headed straight to the school to collect their results.

For two of them, exam success was reason for a double celebration. Megan Hickman turned 18 yesterday while her friend Holly Bonfield reached the milestone age 24 hours earlier. Both got three A*s.

"This is the best birthday present I could have asked for," said Megan.

The former Top Valley Academy pupil gained the top grades in biology, chemistry and maths. She will now study pharmacy at the University of Nottingham.

"I was very nervous when I got up," she added. "It's my 18th birthday but all I could think about was how I got on. It is an amazing feeling that I have done well."

Holly picked up her A*s in maths, chemistry and biology. She will do chemistry at York.

She said: "I think this is my best present. I was so nervous yesterday so couldn't enjoy my birthday as much. I will enjoy today, though."

Jessica Witts, 18, of Aspley, was also celebrating, gaining an A* in biology and As in maths and geography.

She said: "I'm going to do biology at the University of Nottingham. I can't wait for that. I was very nervous about getting my results but I am pleased with how I've done."

West Bridgford: Dean Wood, 51, of Pierrepont Road, is accused of using threatening behaviour towards two people on August 5. He has been bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court on August 28.

Bulwell: George Augustus, 58, of Highbury Road, was found guilty of assaulting a male in West Bridgford on January 25. He was granted bail and the case was adjourned for sentencing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on September 17.

Basford: Christopher Russell, 20, of Bulwell Lane, denied assaulting a male in Bulwell on April 5. After he was bailed by magistrates in Nottingham, he was ordered to return to court on September 9.

The Meadows: Charles Adewumi, 24, of Ryehill Close,was found guilty of assaulting a policeman in The Meadows on December 11 last year. Magistrates in Nottingham gave him a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He will be supervised by the probation service. Adewumi was ordered him to pay also £200 compensation and a victim surcharge of £80.

Aspley: Shakeel Amin, 22, of Aspley Park Drive, was sent to prison for ten weeks by Nottingham magistrates for a series of motoring offences. He admitted driving a Kia Rio when disqualified and without the consent of the owner, drink-driving and having no insurance on June 22. He had 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35. Amin was banned from driving for 20 months.

Bingham: Phillip Blagdon, 46, of Carnarvon Close, admitted stealing a purse from a female in Arnold on March 5. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was given a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He will be supervised by the probation service and must pay £38 compensation, a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £85.

Carlton: Justin Davis, 20, of Carlton Hill, has been fined £100 after admitting using threatening behaviour in the town on June 11. Magistrates in Nottingham ordered him to pay £50 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

BEHIND the padlocked doors of most garden sheds are lawnmowers, plant pots and cobwebs.

But this 11.5m x 3m wooden shed in Burton Joyce is crammed to the rafters with 10,000 books.

Bookseller Gillian James, of Main Street, buys and sells from her back garden.

She keeps 10,000 children's books in one shed and a further 5,000 fiction and non-fiction titles for adults in a second. "People love the idea of the book shed," said Gillian, 54, who has operated from home for 13 years.

"I get collectors and people who really love their books who have a great time rummaging around."

Gillian specialises in children's books and her collection ranges from classic versions by iconic authors such as Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl to Ladybird books.

"I get them from all sorts of places," she said. "Obviously, you have the internet, then there are jumble sales, car boots and house clearances.

"I had to take my address off the website. People used to just turn up to have a browse and I would literally be in my pyjamas."

To keep the books dry and free from dust, Gillian has a waterproof double-lined shed with full insulation.

Her first shed was converted from a greenhouse made for her by her dad, Larry Robinson, who lived next door. "He was a joiner, so it was in great condition," she said. "It was a fabulous wooden greenhouse and he converted it."

Sadly, her father, who helped inspire Gillian's love of reading by taking her to Burton Joyce Library as a child, died in 2008.

"He used to take me down all the time," said Gillian, who confessed to having 110 books on her bedside table.

"That's where I got my great love of reading. I used to rearrange the books there too – when I was four."

Husband Mike, 63, has been ushered in to help run the Book Shed.

He said: "Living with all the books has never been an issue. It develops around you and has grown from a dozen to thousands."

More of a music man, Mike owns between 250 and 300 CDs ranging from Led Zeppelin to Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

"It's a drop in the ocean compared to the books," he said. "But it's my passion."

Gillian is hoping the book trade is making a resurgence despite the rise in reading tablets like Kindles.

"Books are so much more personal," she said. "They are treasured, which is why the industry has survived. When I take books from house clearances, there are some single ladies who didn't have any family.

"I take great comfort from knowing messages about them written into their books will pass on so they're never forgotten."

Earlier this week, the Post told the story of 62-year-old John Siggins, who has recreated the dining room of the Titanic in his garden shed in Ripley.

STUART Pearce today revealed Nottingham Forest have upped the ante in their efforts to keep Henri Lansbury, by putting together a new, improved contract offer for him.

The Reds have been attempting to tie the midfielder to a new deal since January, when a first round of discussions took place.

Premier League Burnley having made an offer of £3.5m for the former Arsenal man – which is believed to still be on the table.

And Pearce says Forest have responded by improving their contract offer for the 23-year-old, who has two years left to run on his current agreement.

"We have formulated a contract extension offer for him and we put that to him on Wednesday," said Pearce.

"We are hoping that he will extend his contract at this club.

"He has two years left to run, so we are in no manic pressure to offer him a new deal. But we feel it is right and proper that we do offer him a contract.

"He had negotiations back in January, with regard to a contract.

"I spoke to the chairman and he is quite happy for us to offer a new contract to Henri and his agent. We have done so and I hope Henri will turn around now and say 'do you know what, I like this manager and I am going to stay here'."

Burnley boss Sean Dyche yesterday refused to discuss their interest in Lansbury, who cost Forest £1m when he arrived in 2012.

But Pearce was less shy about praising the midfielder's qualities.

"We hope that he will agree to extend his deal, because we look a better squad with him in it. He is one of the better players in the Championship," said Pearce.

Boss Stuart Pearce has also moved to sign a new defensive midfielder, after German Robert Tesche signed a one year deal yesterday evening.

The Reds boss eluded to the fact he was after a defensive midfielder when speaking to the media hours earlier.

"The only position we feel we need to strengthen at his moment in time is in the centre of midfield," he had said.

"We would like another player in that area of the pitch, to bolster the squad just a little bit more. It is defensive midfield we are looking at.

"We have options in that area, and we feel that, for the balance of the squad, going forward, we could just about manage. Chris Cohen has done it for us and Michael Mancienne has.

"But when you look at the whole season, you have to make sure you have enough options.

"We feel that, when it comes to that defensive shield, it is an area that we could so with a specialist player."

And Tesche is clearly the man he was talking about.

BOSSES at a city primary school have "responded quickly" after it was given a damning inspection report.

Brocklewood Primary and Nursery was rated "inadequate" by watchdog Ofsted earlier this year.

A monitoring inspection was made before the summer break and inspectors were pleased with the improvements.

In a letter to the school, inspector Jan Connor said that work had been done to improve teaching quality.

She said: "The impact of this can already be seen in some aspects of the school's work. The school action plan clearly focuses on improving outcomes for pupils.

"The plan demonstrates the urgency required in order to close gaps in pupils' learning.

"The head and deputy head are determined to improve the quality of teaching quickly."

JUST nine police officers from Nottinghamshire failed fitness tests, figures have shown.

Between March and May, more than 350 officers took part in the tests, which involve running repeatedly between two points in what is commonly known as a bleep test.

Nottinghamshire Police's pass rate was 97.5 per cent, which is the same as the national average.

If an officer is not able to pass the fitness test at the first attempt, forces are advised to provide support and allow at least two retakes. Anyone who fails three times can be disciplined.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: "The results reflect the importance we place on our officers maintaining a high level of physical fitness."

A FORMER factory is to be demolished.

The building, in Glaisdale Drive West, Bilborough was constructed in the 1960s.

Nottingham City Council said it appeared to have undergone no improvement works in the past 15-20 years and had remained vacant for the past four years.

A council report said: "In its current state the building is not suitable for either modern industrial or operational uses.

"Demolition of the premises will limit liabilities/costs to the council and any risks of vandalism to the premises. It will also create a cleared site which can be marketed or developed with more modern units."

The plans have been approved by deputy leader Graham Chapman.

ANOTHER date has been added to a vintage double-decker bus tour which will explore the history of Sherwood Forest.

Among the stops on the sight-seeing trip on a 1967 Routemaster London bus, will be the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve and King John's Palace, a 12th-century royal hunting lodge near Clipstone.

The bus has been hired from Nottingham-based Blackmore Commercials. The organisers are Notts archaeological company Mercian Archaeological Services, which has been working on digs across Sherwood Forest. Bosses have added an extra tour date on August 27 after the first date sold out.

The first Sherwood Forest Bus Tour takes place on Thursday, August 21, setting off at 9.30am from Wellington Circus, next to Nottingham Playhouse, and arriving back in the city at 5pm.

SINGLE parent Robert Northridge said he was "disgusted" after the council sent driving fine information to the wrong house for the second time.

The 48-year-old has been locked in a battle with Nottingham City Council after he was caught turning left into Station Street on July 27 last year.

Three days after the incident he moved to Arnold and forgot about the ticket – which had been sent to his old address – until bailiffs turned up at his new home last month demanding payment of £428.34.

He paid but appealed against the fine, saying that if he had known about the ticket, he would have paid the £60 charge.

The basis of his appeal was that the information had not reached him.

So, after making sure the council had his correct address he was "frustrated and annoyed" that the new appeal information was again sent to his old address.

The Calverton Road resident said: "I had not heard anything for a while until Thursday when my old landlord tracked me down after reading about my story in the Post last time.

"The council had sent all the information to my old house – I couldn't believe it.

"I am disgusted because this is how the problem started in the first place.

"In one of the letters it highlights my change of address and they still managed to send it to the wrong place.

"It is so frustrating and like being back at square one again. When I called them up to tell them what happened they blamed the computer."

The fine was originally sent to Mr Northridge's old address because he had not updated his information with the DVLA quickly enough.

Because Mr Northridge paid the bailiffs, the council considers the case closed.

Pete Mitchell, head of licensing, permits and regulations, said: "Not realising that the bill with the bailiff had been settled, Mr Northridge was told he could make an Out of Time Statutory Declaration. Correspondence was then sent out in error by the council to Mr Northridge's former address.

"However, as Mr Northridge has already paid the penalty charge, the council has opposed the Statutory Declaration and we consider the case to be closed."

Mr Northridge is considering a last appeal option, in front of a district judge.

KNIFE victim Jason Mills could have died, a judge said, as he sentenced his attacker to six years for stabbing him through his heart.

Mr Mills survived due to the skill of surgeons after John McSalley plunged an eight-inch blade into him.

McSalley pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause serious injury at Nottingham Crown Court.

Judge Gregory Dickinson QC told him yesterday he would serve half his sentence and the remainder on licence.

"You stabbed a man in the chest with a kitchen knife, with a large blade, penetrating his heart, in and out of his heart.

"But for the skill of medical staff, Mr Mills would be dead and you would be facing a murder charge."

Mr Mills, 35, drifted out of consciousness and was slumped on the floor at the scene, the court heard.

He needed a blood transfusion and surgery but has recovered with no ongoing problems.

Mr Mills knew 35-year-old McSalley was living with his (Mr Mills's) ex-partner, with whom he was still in touch, but he had been told by her to stay away.

Mr Mills had previously fractured McSalley's jaw, the court heard.

On the day of the attack, Mr Mills had been trying to contact his former partner, whom he had been with for seven years, but his attempts remained unanswered.

Mr Mills turned up at her home in St Ann's at 10.30pm to give Easter eggs to her children. He passed the eggs to his former partner through a window and climbed in that way himself.

Mr Mills claimed he wanted to use the toilet but in fact was looking for McSalley, 30, of Balmoral Road, Cotgrave, and found him in a children's bedroom.

McSalley, a convicted robber and burglar, delivered one blow with the knife through Mr Mills's rib cage.

Robert Egbuna, in mitigation, said the prosecution accepted McSalley had no intention of killing Mr Mills.

Mr Mills had not had any luck contacting his former partner earlier that day and the incident was partly fuelled by alcohol.

Mr Egbuna said Mr Mills knew McSalley was at the house and it was unlikely they would have a "gentlemanly conversation".

McSalley had armed himself with the knife but there was a lack of premeditation and it was clear that he was trying to hide from Mr Mills, he added.

FLOOD problems in a Gedling street that have persisted for a decade are finally being tackled.

Residents of Waverley Avenue got together to highlight the problem after two recent heavy downpours.

The manhole cover near the junction with Tennyson Avenue spills over during heavy rain, flooding the area.

Gedling borough councillors visited the street on July 25, and the problem has now been raised with the county council's highways department and Severn Trent Water.

A spokeswoman for Severn Trent said: "We have agreed to lead the work to investigate the reasons for the flooding. That work is under way and we expect it to go on for the next few months."