LoveLincoln.co.uk has learned that plans to revamp the old Harbour Master’s Office on Brayford Wharf North and turn it into a restaurant have been given the thumbs up!

The City of Lincoln Council’s Planning Committee has granted permission for the unused building, which has sat empty for many years, to be redeveloped.

The building will now be completely demolished down to the existing foundations and replaced with a contemporary new two-storey structure.

The design of the building will be modern and simple incorporating materials such as timber and glazing and vertically hung metal curtain walling.

The new building will be twice the size of the current one and will include a cantilevered balcony at ground level over the Brayford Pool to be used as an external seating area.

Lincoln-based Stem Architects first submitted the application in March 2011 on behalf of applicant Keith Darwin.

The Harbour Master’s Office joins a long list of new developments in the busy Brayford Pool area which has recently seen the arrival of Zizzi and The Handmade Burger Company.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln is also due to open on Brayford Wharf North later this year.

After the disappointment of the Christmas Market cancellation last year and with the news that there won’t be an ice rink this year, Lincoln Business Improvement Group is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the city is the place to be over the festive season.

The festive fun begins with the official lights switch-on by the stars of this year’s pantomime at Lincoln Theatre Royal, Cannon and Ball, on Thursday 17^th November at 7pm in the city centre.

The return of the Christmas Market from 1^st to 4^th December will bring a smile to residents’ lips after it was snowed off last year. The annual attraction brings in people from all over the UK and abroad and is traditionally centred around the city’s Castle Hill area.

To accompany the Christmas Market a Moroccan market will run from 1^st to 22^nd December in St Mark’s Square, giving people the chance to buy authentic North African products with real camels set to line the square and lend a festive feel.

Family attractions taking place in City Square include the arrival of Santa and his sleigh on 26^th November and a farmers’ market on 2^nd December followed by carousel rides on 3^rd and 4^th December.

For children the magic continues with a reindeer walk from Bailgate to the Cornhill on Thursday 8^th December at 6pm and a Lantern Parade on Thursday 15^th December. The Lantern Parade will leave the Cornhill and make its way up Steep Hill to Castle Hill for a Nativity Service.

To add to the festivities hundreds of Santa Clauses are expected to grace Lincoln’s streets in the annual fun run organised by the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia which takes place this year on Sunday 11^th December.

From 16^th to 19^th December there will be a promenade Nativity in the grounds of Lincoln Castle at 6pm and 8pm. Tickets can be bought from Goodies Sweet Shop on The Strait or by calling 01522 525307.

The fun run, which starts in the Castle Square, is a popular event which sees participants of all ages dressed up in Santa costumes attempting a 3.5km course through the cobbled streets of Lincoln.

Throughout December there will also be an Advent Calendar Trail, which will see 24 stores displaying bright red, branded and illuminated advent boxes. Each box will be decorated by participating businesses and filled with ‘presents’ worth £100.

A competition will run alongside the Advent Calendar Trail and one lucky person will win £2,400 worth of prizes!

Lincoln BIG Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said: “It’s been a tough year and with the loss of last year’s Christmas Market it’s really important to make the city centre as bright and cheery as we possibly can to attract customers to the city this Christmas.”

A taste of Spain is coming to Lincoln with the re-vamp of The Bowl Full!

The restaurant, located just outside of the city centre on West Parade, will re-open as a tapas bar on 3^rd November after being closed for refurbishment.

Dishing up traditional Spanish tapas as well as Lincolnshire tapas The Bowl Full promises an authentic, relaxed atmosphere for the peckish to enjoy.

Lincolnshire sausages, haslet, Lincolnshire Poacher and Cote Hill Blue cheese are some of the local ingredients that will be used on the menu, while produce for the traditional Spanish tapas will be sourced from Spain (where possible) including chorizo, meats, anchovies and many more.  

To celebrate the re-launch the restaurant is offering three tapas dishes and a bottle of house wine for just £20 until the end of December. Bargain!

Owner Joanne Bycroft said: “I’ve been running The Bowl Full for seven years now and I wanted to do something to revitalise the business.

“I’m so excited about the re-opening; it’s given me a new lease of life. We’d been holding tapas nights once a month for about a year and they were very successful.

“I think there’s a gap in the market for it, there’s not a place in Lincoln that’s dedicated to authentic tapas and we’ve tried to create a true atmosphere here for our customers to enjoy.”

Regional and gourmet nights and a beginner’s guide to tapas – which will allow people new to tapas to try a bit of everything and find out what they like for a set price – are just a few of the ideas Joanne has for the future of the restaurant.

The new opening times for the restaurant are 6pm until late, Thursday to Saturday.