Pizza, pasta, tiramisu – we all love Italian food!

People in Lincoln must like it even more than most because there are more Italian restaurants to choose from in the city than ever before.

And soon there’ll be another Italian vying for your attention on Brayford Wharf North. The popular chain Zizzi is set to open in Lincoln in May.

Zizzi will be moving into the empty unit next to the ODEON cinema which has had former lives as Bar Med, Slug & Lettuce and So Luxe.

The chain, whose motto is ‘You can taste when someone loves what they do’, now has more than 100 restaurants across the country after opening its first just over ten years ago in 1999.

Zizzi offers a wide variety of Italian dishes including Italian bread boards, pasta, pizza, calzone and risotto. LoveLincoln.co.uk is certainly looking forward to a visit!

Everyone enjoys a glass (or two) of vino and thanks to The Lincoln Hotel, which is opening a new venue called Bar 67 next month, Lincoln is set to get its very first wine bar.

The bar, which was in use when the hotel first opened in 1967 but closed 25 years ago, is being brought back to life by Christopher Nevile and his sister Lady Elizabeth Arnold who bought the hotel a few years ago.

Mr Nevile said: “Lincoln is a beautiful city and has a lot of trendy bars for young people and traditional pubs but there aren’t any wine bars aimed at the slightly older professional market which is why we decided to open Bar 67.

“As well as the décor having a 60s/70s feel there are lots of cosy seating areas where people can sit in comfy chairs and chat without having to shout over the music. But it still feels quite modern in a retro kind of way!”

The bar’s new manager Adrian Gray was formerly the Duty Manager at the hotel and says he’s looking forward to opening the doors of Bar 67 to the public for the second time!

“Lincoln has been missing a wine bar so I think Bar 67 is exactly what the city needs,” said Adrian.

“We’re also planning to host live mic, comedy and jazz nights which will help to establish it as a prime venue in the city and attract people of all ages who want to enjoy a sociable drink in pleasant surrounds.”

Over 50 different wines will be in stock at the bar – choices, choices – as well bottled beers and spirits and customers will be able to buy a virtual bottle of wine which consists of six glasses of wine so they can mix and match rather than having to buy a bottle of red or a bottle of white.

Meat, fish and cheese platters will also be available for those who like a bit of a nibble with their drink.

Although the official date has yet to be confirmed the hotel plans to open the bar between 5pm and midnight Tuesday to Saturday.

Don’t look down!

Great news for those of us who are not afraid of heights! A new youth centre set to house the county’s largest climbing centre will open on Tritton Road in March.

The building took three years to renovate and cost a whopping £5 million to have its makeover into The Showroom which will be open seven days, 14 hours a day for 11 – 25 year-olds.

The transformation from a Dixon Motors car showroom to a youth centre is part of a County and City Council partnership with Lincoln College and Lincolnshire YMCA.

Funding for the project came from the £31 million MyPlace programme of the Big Lottery Fund.

A wide choice of facilities at the centre will have visitors unsure of where to start including a restaurant, an urban football cage and an arcade zone – including bowling and video games.

A conference and event centre at The Showroom will be used to keep the venue self-sustaining and a hair and beauty salon, operated by Lincoln College, will provide a place for training and work experience for its students.

Also recently opened is The Ascent, an indoor climbing facility at the North Kesteven Centre in North Hykeham.

The Ascent offers fully instructed climbing lessons twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays at a cost of £4.10.

Those from the age of nine to 19 can take part in the activity.

A city pub that has stood empty since January 2010 is giving people in Lincoln a chance to see what the venue will look like after its refurbishment.

Images on a large hoarding in front of the Horse and Groom pub on Carholme Road show the pub’s new logo and a sneak peek at what it will look like when work is completed.

Plans were submitted last year to refurbish the bar, which was a popular gay bar before it became a live music bar in 2007.

Changes include plans to extend the pub lounge and improve the outdoor dining area and garden, including the installation of two large outdoor umbrellas.

The former Chicago Rock bar which has stood empty on Silver Street for several years is to re-open next week as Wahoo nightclub.

The Chicago Rock brand has been bought out by Cavendish Bars who are also opening Wahoo venues in Brighton, Oxford, Putney, Southampton and Oldham.

The venue will show sports events on plasma TV screens at the weekends and in the evenings and will open till 3am as a destination attraction for music, dancing and DJ nights.

Already signed up are Lincoln club nights Fat Poppadaddys and Faux.

“Wahoo will be quite chameleon-like, offering something for everyone, but ultimately we’ll be focusing on the late night entertainment,” said manager Riki Bennett, who hails from New Zealand.

“We’ll be providing good entertainment-led nights with DJs and a varied mix of acts to appeal to everyone aged 18 and over.”

Riki said Wahoo hopes to provide a new alternative for people in Lincoln and to put something back into the community at the same time.

“We’re hoping to work with the university and the local community and we’ll be looking to support local sports teams and charities,” he said.

Following refurbishment work the bar will open on Saturday 15th January with a capacity of between 600 and 700.

If you fancy a ticket to the launch party and drinks reception on Saturday 15th January email Lincoln@cavendishbars.com

Lincolnshire’s annual county show could move to the weekend from 2013.

The show, which was first held in 1820, normally takes place on a Wednesday and Thursday in June.

But organisers are now considering either changing the dates or extending the show’s duration to allow people who work during the week to visit the show on a Saturday.

The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society’s Council met this week (Thursday 6th January) to discuss the idea but a final decision won’t be taken until May.

If the society decides to changes the dates the show could be held on a weekend for the first time as early as 2013.

Professor David Chiddick, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln who is the society’s new President, said he is in favour of a change.

“I think it would be a good idea because clearly it would make it easier for people to go to the show,” he said.

“I personally feel it would be good to widen the opportunity for people to go.”

However he added that there are many factors to take into account before a final decision is made.

What do you think? Would you like to see the Lincolnshire Show extended or moved to a weekend? Post your comments below!

Not content with being named by The Guardian as one of the best ten coffee shops in the UK, Lincoln independent Coffee Aroma has found its way into a list of the top five cafés on the planet!

The coffee connoisseur’s blog www.cosycoffeeshops.co.uk has visited and reviewed 116 cafés across the world looking for a combination of ‘nice places’ and ‘outstanding coffee’.

The authors have sipped coffee in places as far flung as Mexico City and Brisbane but found excellence closer to home and placed Coffee Aroma fifth on their list of favourites for 2011.

Owner Richard Teasdale was understandably delighted with the accolade.

“We are absolutely honoured to be in the same top 10 as Kaffeine, Tina We Salute You and Monmouth [in London].

“These three amazing coffee shops are most definitely in our own top 10, and they do some pretty amazing stuff, so to be mentioned as being in the same league as them is an absolute dream come true.

“This accolade is the perfect way in which to end 2010 and with which to see in the New Year!”

What do you think? Is Coffee Aroma the best café in Lincoln or do you have your own favourite? Post your comments below.