Next time you visit Lincoln Theatre Royal you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.
New owner Ian Dickens is in the midst of a £1 million refurbishment of this beloved old theatre and today he invited the press – and LoveLincoln.co.uk – for an exclusive tour of the building.
The poky old box office has been swept away and extended into the foyer which is now a light, spacious and welcoming entrance lobby. The old Eric Sykes Bar has been completely remodelled and now looks like a facility fit for a 21st-century theatre.
(Staff assured me that all the old Eric Sykes memorabilia that adorned the walls has been lovingly stored and may well reappear somewhere else in the theatre.)
The stage has been relaid, new seats are being installed, the dressing rooms have been refitted… in short, the place has been given the comprehensive makeover it has needed for decades.
The Lincoln media obliged with a good turnout: the BBC’s roving radio reporter joined two TV crews, the Lincolnshire Echo and Lincolnshire Life magazine for interviews and a behind-the-scenes preview.
Mr Dickens deserves our praise and congratulations for stumping up his own money and turning what could have been a disaster for live arts in Lincoln – the closure of the theatre – into a new lease of life for the place.
LoveLincoln.co.uk is particularly pleased to hear about plans for a Lincolnshire Repertory Company which will produce in-house a series of high-quality dramas, beginning this season with Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.
We wish Ian Dickens, David Shepherd and all the team the very best of luck and we urge theatre lovers in Lincoln to support this beautiful old theatre.
LoveLincoln.co.uk would like to congratulate eveyone who completed the Lincoln 10k. A record 5,000 people entered the 14th annual road race and the atmosphere was fantastic. Special mention goes to all those who helped to raise thousands of pounds for numerous charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Help for Heroes and Cerebal Palsy Sport. Looking forward to next year’s event already although I’m not sure my legs will have recovered by then! Can’t wait to see the pics. Share your experiences of the 10k by leaving a comment below…
It’s been quite a week for us here at LLHQ. The site is still only a few weeks old – a mere baby! But we are already building up a good following in the city.
The best thing about working on LL is that you get to meet so many people, and discover all these events that are happening in Lincoln that we never knew about. Only yesterday we found out Gorillaz were coming to The Engine Shed which caused quite a stir here ! So keep telling us what’s happening, what you’re doing and what you love about Lincoln!
We are looking to do some more promo nights over the next few weeks so look out for us. Have a great weekend 
FIFA World Cup™ fever will hit Lincoln on 12th March when the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola rolls into town on the evening of Lincoln City Football Club’s home match against Hereford United.
Football’s biggest prize, the one and only real FIFA World Cup™ Trophy, is visiting Sincil Bank as part of an epic 225 day, 86,304 mile global tour that’s taking in 83 countries as it makes its way to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa.
The visit is part of Lincoln City Football Club’s 125th Anniversary celebrations and it’s sure to be a night to remember. 1966 FIFA World Cup™ winner Martin Peters will be the guest of honour and fans will have the chance to get up close to the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy in one of two ways.
All season ticket holders and supporters buying tickets for the game will have a chance to win the unique opportunity to have their photograph taken with the real FIFA World Cup™ Trophy.
Competition winners will be invited for their photo opportunity at an exclusive event prior to kick off. A small number of additional winners will then be plucked from the stands at half time to win the chance to join FIFA World Cup™ legend Martin Peters and the trophy on the pitch for a photograph.
Look out for competition details on redimps.com over the next couple of days and who knows? You may be lucky enough to get up close to a 1966 FIFA World Cup™ legend and the most iconic trophy in world football!
Lincoln as we all know is a beautiful and historic city, with a stunning cathedral and castle to rival most British cities. This weekend is the perfect opportunity to get out and about in the city and marvel at the culture and heritage right on our doorstep thanks to the Discover Lincolnshire Weekend (13th & 14th March 2010) – a FREE extravaganza where many of the local tourist attractions throw open their doors for nothing!.
Take advantage of a free entry to Lincoln Cathedral (Saturday only) and marvel at the beautiful architecture throughout the Gothic building. Free guided tours will show visitors the skilled craftsmanship which keeps the historic building alive and point out objects not usually seen by visitors. The cathedral’s Library and never seen before Romanesque sculptures removed from the West Front will also be on show and open to visitors free of charge.
Or get involved in 15th century re-enactments – see a live long bow archery demonstration or explore a Victorian prison with free entry to Lincoln Castle. Let the family roam the castle turrets and take in sweeping views of the city and beyond from the high castle wall walks.
Get a free walking tour around the city from a Blue Badge Guide; look behind the buildings you walk past every day and hear stories of Lincoln’s vibrant past. The walking tour includes the Bailgate, Roman Lincoln and Lincoln’s Jewish heritage.
For more information and to see venues that are participating visit www.discover-lincolnshire.com or follow it on Twitter www.twitter.com/discoverlincs
Our new site has been up and running for ten days now and word is beginning to spread about LoveLincoln.co.uk. Our hundredth member just signed up which is cause for a celebration!
We think our events listings are pretty compreheneisve but keeping a website like LoveLincoln.co.uk up to date is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge – you can never say you’ve finished the job. If you know of an up-coming event you can email the details to hello@lovelincoln.co.uk, or sign up for a business account and add your own events free of charge.
There’s a busy weekend of music coming up with the Courteneers playing at the Engine Shed tonight and Editors following hard on their heels tomorrow. But our website is not just about live music; it also covers theatre, comedy, art exhibitions, festivals, restaurants – you name it!
