LoveLincoln.co.uk is excited! We have just been to hear the announcement of the new autumn and Winter season at the Lincoln Theatre Royal and are pleased to report that there are some cracking shows coming up!

Once again Ian Dickens and his team have put together an exciting and diverse programme that really does offer something for everyone. From the BAFTA award-winning Armstrong and Miller Show, children’s favourites Charlie and Lola and the spectacular Moscow State Circus to the hilarious Vagina Monologues this is a pretty decent line-up considering it is only the new management’s second season.

Since the theatre’s re-launch in March  the theatre has transformed itself into an engaging and dynamic venue at the heart of the city. Indeed Ian Dickens, Artistic Director and CEO of Lincoln Theatre Royal, is clearly delighted by the response so far from the community.

“The first season has been marvellous – beyond any expectations we had! We have had over 40,000 people through the doors in the first season and reached over £70,000 in excess of our original target.”

Ian’s enthusiasm is clearly paying off as he is now attracting many shows which traditionally play much bigger venues than Lincoln, such as the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black West End hit Tell Me On a Sunday starring ex-soap star and TV presenter Claire Sweeney.

Music also plays a big part in the new programme with chart toppers such as Darius, The Stylistics and 80s singing legend Midge Ure as well as some great tribute acts including the huge hit Back for Good recreating the magic of Take That. Get your tickets now as this will be a sell out!

Children are also well catered for with stars from TV such as CBeebies, Basil Brush, Fireman Sam and the Little Big Club – Live in Concert.

The rep season which produced some excellent reviews in the first season was not as popular as the team had hoped, so they will be giving this another push with some classic plays such as Charley’s Aunt, Murdered to Death and Who Killed Agatha Christie? featuring some familiar faces. LoveLincoln.co.uk would recommend giving one of the rep season plays a go as so far they have been excellent, and it would be a shame to see such quality drama fall by the wayside.

I have never been a theatregoer before; however the enthusiasm of Ian and his team made me curious as to the appeal. So with the excuse of writing the odd review I have found myself lured into the world of the stage and I am pleased to say I have been converted! Let’s hope the city of Lincoln also continues its love affair with the new-look Theatre Royal!

The eagerly awaited third instalment of the Twilight phenomenon, Eclipse, is coming to a cinema near you!

Advanced screenings of the film are showing at the Odeon Cinema Lincoln this weekend (3rd and 4^th July) to packed audiences at each of the 25 showings a day.

The official release date of the film is 9^th July and sees Bella struggling with her decision between her love for Edward Cullen and her best friend Jacob Black as the feud between vampires and werewolves continues.

Audiences are also set to see the return of Victoria and her army of vampires as they ravage Seattle and head to Forks looking for revenge.

LoveLincoln.co.uk will be running a competition next week giving members the chance to win two free tickets to an opening night screening of the new Twilight film at the Lincoln Odeon on 9^th July!

For more details about the competition keep an eye on the LoveLincoln.co.uk blog or the members’ page. For those of you who aren’t already registered just follow the step-by-step process; it’s quick and easy!

Photographs of Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral, the opening of Parliament by Her Majesty the Queen and a Lancaster bomber are among a collection of over 800 going under the hammer to raise funds for a Lincoln children’s charity.

 The transparencies, taken by the founder of the Lincoln Camera Club John Chambers in the 1950s and 1960s, were donated anonymously to Strut in the Community and will be sold to the highest bidder at an auction on 15^th July.

 The sale at the charity’s headquarters on Outer Circle Road in Lincoln is the latest fundraising attempt organised by Philip Barnatt, Senior Partner at award-winning estate agency, Mundys.

 Philip has dedicated the next 12 months to helping to raise vital funds for the charity after it announced earlier in the year that it would have to close if its financial situation didn’t improve.

As well as the photos of historical national events there are also over 100 vintage glamour shots and scenes from Lincolnshire, Venice, China, Hong Kong and India.

The slides are among 220 lots which have all been kindly donated by local businesses or members of the public but Philip is hoping there will be around 400 lots up for auction on the day.

Eugenia Pryor, Service Manager for Strut, said: “The money raised will go towards our play day scheme which runs from the end of July through August.

“Fundraising helps to raise awareness too. There are parents who are struggling with no support and they don’t know about the service we provide so it’s important to make them aware that we are here and that help is available.

“We’re very grateful to the team at Mundys for everything they’ve done. We don’t receive any funding from the Government and rely solely on fundraising and donations so their help has been invaluable.”

A Lincoln pub has been named Lincolnshire Pub of the Year in the 2010 Camra Awards.

The Strugglers Inn in Westgate beat off stiff competition from over 200 other pubs in the six branch areas in Lincolnshire, including Gainsborough, Grantham, Grimsby, Louth and Peterborough, to become the first city winner in three years.

The uphill pub has been run for the last 18 months by Landlady Anna, who’s been in the business for 32 years.

‘It’s incredible, we’re all overwhelmed, it’s a glorious event,” gushed Anna. “The presentation where we’ll receive the award is happening this month on the 20^th July here in The Struggs at around nine in the evening.

 “It really is a testament to my staff and we’re a great team, they have so much enthusiasm that it bubbles out of them.

“They’re happy to speak to the customers about the beer and the different flavours and characters of each and it’s really important that they can do that and they do so with love and passion.

“It’s lovely and I think it will be a good thing for the business and the area as well as for myself and my team.”

The Strugglers Inn has a range of local beer on offer including Poacher beer sourced from a brewery in Hykeham and Grafters beer from Willingham By Stow.