Over the past week or so, I’ve been on a mini tour of the newly opened La Casa Del Habano cigar shops and sampling lounges across the country. My first stop was the official opening of La Casa Del Habano Sheffield — which you can read all about here, along with a bit more background on what La Casa Del Habano is all about. Next up I headed to Nottingham — or more accurately, to a small town just outside the city called Long Eaton (about a 23 min drive from Nottingham) — and what an incredible experience it turned out to be!
It’s so refreshing to see cigar culture thriving beyond London. But before I dive into the details of the shop, the sampling lounge, and their opening event, let’s take a look at the history behind this remarkable store.
Background
Nottingham, and particularly Long Eaton, has a rich heritage tied to tobacco and cigars through Josiah Brown Tobacconist, a business that once ran several shops across Nottinghamshire — and even ran a tobacco factory on West Gate, Long Eaton, established in 1871.
They appear to have imported authentic Cuban cigars, including the Pedro Murias brand — though it seems that name has since faded into history, as it no longer appears among the 27 Cuban cigar brands currently available in the UK.
The enterprise spanned multiple generations. By the 1920s, Josiah’s son, Ernest Vincent Brown, had taken over the business, continuing the family’s tradition of producing premium tobacco products and selling them across the county. Their flagship stores were located on Market Street in Nottingham and High Street in Long Eaton.
In 2006, after more than a century of trade, the Long Eaton shop — the final branch to bear the Josiah Brown name — closed its doors for the last time. Yet rather than an ending, this moment marked a new beginning.
That very day, Sonny Samra took over the business, moving it lock, stock, and barrel to new premises at 7 Derby Road, where he continued the area’s proud cigar tradition under the Holmes Tobacconist name. The shop later relocated to 61 Market Place, before finally finding its home at 57 Market Place — now the distinguished La Casa Del Habano Nottingham / House of Holmes, one of around 170 exclusive Habanos S.A. franchises worldwide.
Today in 2025, the store is run by the Samra family — Sonny, Maninder, and their son Joshua — truly one of the friendliest families you could hope to meet.
Nottingham’s cigar heritage continues to flourish not only through La Casa Del Habano Nottingham but also through Gauntleys of Nottingham, another long-established city centre tobacconist renowned for its exceptional cigars, whiskies, and wines. Not a bad place at all to be a cigar smoker!
My experience
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Sonny and Joshua a few times over the past year at various cigar events and was fortunate enough to be invited to their official launch event. I joined the fantastic team from Hunters & Frankau — Sean Croley, José Antonio Cejas Díaz, Tim Owen, and several others. What an incredible group of people! I’d actually been tagging along unofficially with them since the Sheffield trip, even staying at the same hotel in Sheffield the night before – purely by accident. Dinner, breakfast, cigars — the full experience! Their knowledge is remarkable, and I love hearing their stories about Hunters & Frankau. The impact they’ve had in shaping the cigar scene across the UK is unreal.
Getting there wasn’t too tricky. I was lucky enough to catch a lift from my fellow brother of the leaf Ryan, from Nottingham city centre — about a 25-minute drive. We parked at Lawrence Street Car Park, just a few yards from the shop.
If you’re travelling by train, La Casa Del Habano Nottingham is roughly a 30-minute walk from Long Eaton station, but there are plenty of Uber’s around, so it’s worth hopping in one if you’re not driving. For reference, my Uber back to Nottingham (where I stayed overnight) cost around £19.75.
From the outside, the venue looks like just another shop on the High Street – well minus the Rolls Royce 😄.
You’d never guess what’s waiting for you inside. When you first walk through the doors, you see a well stocked humidor and cigars on display.
Then, the real magic happens!
Through a discreet door at the back lies the walk-in humidor, packed wall to wall with Cuban treasures, including rare finds like El Rey Del Mundo “Exclusivo Gran Bretaña”
and vintage Romeo y Julieta Half Coronas.
You could spend hours just in this part, just wish I had enough cash for them all!
And straight ahead — the lounge.
I actually gasped when I saw it. It’s special. The walls are finished in a cave-like texture inspired by the historic Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem pub, and they’ve even managed to incorporate actual sandstone from there into the design. It feels like you’re sitting in a genuine cigar cave. The perfect place to relax and sample a cigar (in this case a Bolivar cigar) 👌.
Apparently, Nottingham has 544 caves — who knew? (Maybe one for another blog!) But this cigar cave, the 545th one is my favourite!
What truly makes this place special is the family behind it — Joshua, his father Sonny, and Joshua’s wife Maninder. They’ve elevated everything to a whole new level. Their warmth and hospitality shine through in every detail, and they’re genuinely committed to making your visit memorable. As Sonny likes to say, “This isn’t just my home, it’s your home.”
The Nottingham Casa feels completely different from the Sheffield one I’d visited the day before — each reflects its city’s personality somehow. This one is effortlessly cool, with a stylish yet relaxed vibe. Joshua, who’s only 28, handled most of the interior design himself, and he absolutely nailed it. It’s inspiring to see young talent like him shaking up the UK cigar scene with fresh ideas — much like James from Mitchell’s Wines or Raj and Nav from City of London Cigars.
And the surprises kept coming! At one point, the music shifted from chill beats to orchestral covers of modern hits — and then a cellist called Bethany Morris started playing in the humidor. It was a lovely, unexpected moment.
Then, out of nowhere, a man walked in… with an eagle! Yes, a real eagle, there to celebrate the launch of La Casa del Habano Nottingham. You honestly couldn’t make this up—definitely not something you see at just any cigar shop. I’m not sure I’ll ever experience that again! 😄
The evening was wrapped up with speeches from Sonny, Joshua, Hunters & Frankua and more drinks and cigars were sampled.
They’ve even got a kitchen, and just a week before opening, they hosted a food and cigar event featuring local celebrities — including ITV Gladiators’ Giant our UK equivalent of a modern day Arnold Schwarzenegger and fellow Gladiator Hammer!
Nottingham, you’re in for a treat! La Casa del Habano Nottingham is undoubtedly one of the most exciting new cigar shops and lounges outside of London. With exciting collaborations on the horizon, events throughout the year, and a family passionate about what they do, it’s a must-visit destination. A huge shoutout to Sonny, Maninda, and Joshua—what a family, what a venue, and what an unforgettable night! They’re dedicated to giving you an experience you won’t forget—and that promise holds true for anyone who becomes a member.
You can book a visit to their cigar sampling lounge and become a member via the links below.
Visit them:
57 Market Place, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 1JQ
Telephone: 01159 726 783 or 07877 303 512
Website: houseofholmes.co.uk and tobaccouk.com
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