Diners in Lincoln with a sweet tooth are in for a treat this autumn when a local fine dining restaurant launches a Pudding Club evening.

The Green Room restaurant, based within The Lincoln Hotel, will be offering a special menu each month from September that’s dedicated to all things sweet.

The Pudding Club, an idea dreamt up by Head Chef Sam Owen, will offer a selection of weird and wonderful desserts using one key ingredient or product. The first event on 30th September will be a Chocolate Evening.

Each menu will give diners the chance to sample an array of different desserts, some familiar and others not so familiar!

As well as adding a twist to more traditional delights such as chocolate brownies, Sam will be conjuring up quirkier dishes such as chocolate ravioli, dark chocolate foam with pineapple and onion and even white chocolate and amaretto soup!

Sam explains: “The success of the Green Room restaurant over the past year has proved there is a real appetite in the county for high-quality, delicious food and a unique dining experience.

“So many people tell us that the dessert menu is their favourite course, so we thought why not dedicate a whole menu to this?

“Our aim is to surprise and delight our clientele and get people talking and enthusing about their shared passion for puddings!”

The Pudding Club will meet every last Thursday in the month from 6pm to 9pm from September onwards with the launch of the club on 30th September. Booking is advisable to avoid disappointment.

For more information please telephone the Green Room on 01522 520348.

The Lincoln Theatre Royal is offering LoveLincoln.co.uk users a two-for-one ticket offer for its upcoming show Busting Out.

Coming to Lincoln next week on Wednesday 29th September at 7.30pm, this is one show you don’t want to miss!
Busting Out stars songstress Emma Powell and comedian Bev Killick and promises ‘jaw-aching (and on occasion, knicker-wetting) humour.’

Join the bosom buddies for an evening that’s part musical, part stand-up, part theatre and part cabaret and you’ll be busting to tell your friends about the feel-good show of the year!

Louise Housley from the Lincoln Theatre Royal added: “Emma and Bev pride themselves on being ‘normal women’ and have created a clever, liberating and laugh out loud show that celebrates women of all shapes and sizes.

“The show has been going down a storm in a D cup all around the UK and it’s not just for women – men will find it really entertaining too!”

To get your two-for-one tickets call the Lincoln Theatre Royal box office on 01522 519999/525555 and mention the promotional code: AUSSIE when you book.

Brides-to-be in and around Lincolnshire will be delighted to hear that exclusive bridal wear label Meringue will launch a brand new wedding dress boutique next month in the heart of Lincoln city.

The launch to celebrate the new boutique will take place on 7th October from 7pm at Meringue’s new location in St Mary’s Street.

Situated above award-winning florist Flowers by Suzanne, the new boutique will showcase the label’s collection of custom-made wedding dresses and veils.

Meringue will be open for browsing from Thursday to Saturday without the need for an appointment, although appointment-only days will also occur.

Established over two years ago, Meringue promises locally crafted and custom-made garments.

Owner and designer Nicola Culliford said: “What a bride chooses to wear on her big day is an extremely personal choice and there is a huge variety of designs out there for all different tastes and budgets.

“At Meringue, however, we have quite a unique style and approach that has become extremely popular with the more discerning bride who tends to be looking for the perfect balance between simplicity and embellishment; something that is often quite hard to find.”

The boutique will officially open its doors for the first time on Saturday 9th October. Further details can be found at www.lovemeringue.co.uk.

A visit to historic Lincoln Cathedral is cheaper now that the building has been granted charity status.

The new £6 tickets allow visitors entry to the city’s landmark all year round.

As a charity the cathedral can now claim Gift Aid and collect more money in tax relief. £100,000 per year is expected to be raised.

Before this new scheme, a single ticket to visit the Cathedral cost £6, an annual single pass cost £15 and an annual family pass cost £30.

Cathedral officials believe Gift Aid will boost visitor numbers and hope the changes to admission charges will lead to more people getting involved with activities at the cathedral.

The Usher Gallery is set to re-open its doors on Saturday 2nd October after a year’s closure.

After undergoing a £1 million revamp to improve disabled access the museum is ready to open once again for visitors.
Visual Art Co-ordinator Jeremy Webster, who led the improvements, said “We are now tantalisingly close to the re-opening and we can’t wait.”

The gallery now has a new ‘pavilion-style’ entrance in Danes Terrace, towards The Collection, while the traditional front entrance in Lindum Road will be closed but will remain a feature of the gallery.

The new entrance has made access easier to everyone but it’s especially friendlier for people with mobility difficulties. The improved gallery now features a new lift for even easier visitor access.

“We have a few special things planned to celebrate the opening,” said Jeremy. “The first temporary exhibition in the Usher is the BP Portrait Award 2010, coming directly from the National Portrait Gallery. This opens on the 2nd October – it’s a fantastic show and always very popular with the public.

“We are also working with the Lincoln Art Programme which has commissioned Mark S Gubb to produce some flags for the Usher. These are being raised over the gallery on Saturday 25th September as a precursor to the opening.

“The Lincoln Art Programme is hosting a special flag raising event in the grounds of the Usher that day which is an open invitation.

“We are also installing two new outdoor sculptures to mark the occasion, one by Peter Randall Page and the other by Edward Allington,” he added.

The new and improved pavilion entrance now hosts an outside exhibition space where sculptures and larger artworks can be displayed.

“I am very relieved that at long last the gallery will be fully accessible,” said Jeremy. “It will make a huge difference to all those people who may have struggled and perhaps even given up trying to get into the gallery in wheelchairs or with pushchairs.”

Shoppers may be able to walk down the High Street without fear of being knocked down if plans to extend the pedestrian area go ahead.

Lincolnshire County Council is considering the Lincoln East to West Link Road proposal which would transform the High Street from the railway crossing to St Marks into a pedestrian-only zone and encourage Lincoln’s shoppers to shop more in the area – not that we need persuading!

Ever get frustrated standing at the city’s three railway crossings? You want to get to those important High Street shops but all you can see is the East Midlands train slowly passing by, stopping you getting to them.

Lincolnshire County Council may have answered your prayers as officials are looking into the possibility of a pedestrian footbridge over the High Street railway crossing as well as the removal of vehicles from the pedestrianised area.

These schemes may not happen for another three years so for now leave yourselves plenty of time for that all-important Christmas shop!