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Welcome to the LoveLincoln Blog

Welcome to the LoveLincoln Blog

November 25, 2011

Introducing The Electric Bar and Restaurant

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 10:37 am

The Electric Bar and Restaurant at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln, due to open on 21st December, has launched its own website.

Visitors to the site can find out what culinary treats Head Chef Alec Maxfield will be cooking up when the restaurant opens or peruse the impressive cocktail menu which includes timeless classics as well as some more contemporary ones.

You’ll be spoilt for choice with mouth-watering dishes such as pan-seared diver scallops with apple textures and a sherry vinegar reduction, roast loin of venison, ‘posh’ fish and chips and rich liquid chocolate cake! De-lish!

An introductory Dine with Wine menu offering three courses for only £20 per head plus half a bottle of wine per person will also be available from Monday to Thursday.

There’s a choice of dishes to choose from include home-cured hot smoked salmon to start, 12-hour braised cheek of pork to follow and lemon plate for dessert.

To celebrate the opening of The Electric Bar and Restaurant, DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln staged a pop-up version at Lincoln College for two nights only earlier this week.

Invited guests were treated to a delicious four-course meal prepared by Alec and his team with wine and cocktails mixed by Bar Manager Andy Hallam.

Richard Farrar, one of the directors of Brayford Hotels – the company behind the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln development – said: “Alec is a really exciting and accomplished chef and we’re delighted to be bringing him to the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln as Head Chef of The Electric Bar & Restaurant.

“Whilst we are just putting the finishing touches on the hotel we wanted to give people a taste of the exceptional standard of food they can expect when it opens later this year.

“The pop-up restaurant phenomenon has been taking the world by storm and we thought this would be a great way of bringing it to Lincoln and showcasing Alec’s outstanding modern British cuisine at the same time.”

The Electric Bar and Restaurant is already taking bookings for tables. Visit the website at www.electricbarandrestaurant.co.uk and reserve your place today!

Christmas is Coming to Town

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , — admin @ 10:30 am

The lights are on, the tree is up and everyone is getting in the festive mood for a fabulous Christmas.

Lincoln Christmas Market will make a welcome return – weather permitting – from 1st to 4th December after being cancelled at the 11th hour last year because of heavy snow.

Set amongst the cobble stones and the ancient buildings in the heart of Lincoln’s uphill quarter, the event features around 250 stalls selling everything from gifts and food to arts and crafts, authentic continental wares and much more.

Traditional Christmas stories such as the Nativity, The Twelve Days of Christmas and A Christmas Carol will be brought to life by street theatre in the Bail.

The entertainment doesn’t stop there however! There’ll be music from Da Capo Singers and the New Life Choir as well as a funfair on Westgate and a Winter Wonderland for the children at The Lawn. It’s set to be the biggest and best Christmas Market yet!

Holly Parker, Events Officer at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “We’re delighted to bring music and theatre to the Lincoln Christmas Market and add that extra special feeling to the fantastic festive atmosphere.

“There’s nothing like wandering through the stunning historic quarter of Lincoln to the sound of Christmas carols floating through the air and stopping to watch traditional festive tales played out in the street.

“I hope every visitor to the market gets the chance to take in some of the fabulous entertainment, as well as visiting the stalls.”

The annual event is a great boost for the local economy as it generates revenue of £10 million and attracts 100,000 visitors to Lincoln from all over the country and beyond.

You can follow Jingle, the Christmas Market mascot, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lincolnelf for regular updates on stalls, entertainment and Christmas Market news.

More information for everyone about opening hours, travel tips and the latest news can be found at www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk

The Christmas Countdown Has Begun!

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 10:25 am

With only six days to go until the first window on advent calendars across the city is opened, Lincoln BIG (Business Improvement Group) is preparing to open the first of its own over-sized advent calendar boxes.

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

The excitement begins on 1st December when the first box will be opened at The White Hart Hotel in the Bailgate. The trail will then continue throughout December in stores and businesses such as Mamas & Papas, Lincoln Theatre Royal and Raspberry Village before the final box is opened on 24th December at Lincoln Cathedral.

Each day people visiting the store when the box is unveiled will be able to receive an extra treat, a give-away or a discount in-store.

To take advantage of these special offers you’ll need to quote a code word that will be announced in the local media and on the @visit_lincoln Twitter page.

Alongside the Advent Calendar Trail will be a competition that gives one lucky person the chance to get their hands on £2,500 worth of prizes! The winner will receive a range of gifts donated by each of the participating businesses.

To enter the competition you have to visit all 24 advent boxes and write down what you see in each window. You can enter through http://www.lincolnsbigadvent.co.uk. Make sure you complete your entry before 31st December to stand a chance of winning this amazing prize giveaway!

For a full list of places taking part visit http://www.lincolnsbigadvent.co.uk or pick up a Visit Lincoln This Christmas leaflet.

November 24, 2011

Win Two Tickets to see Jason Byrne TONIGHT!

Filed under: Features — Tags: , , , — admin @ 9:55 am

We’re giving our members the opportunity to win two tickets to see Jason Byrne’s sold out show at the Lincoln Drill Hall tonight!

If you’re not already a LoveLincoln.co.uk member, be sure to register on the site to be in with a chance of winning! You’re going to have to be quick to bag this prize! Our lucky winner will get to see the comedian’s brand new show Cirque du Byrne which kicks off at 8pm tonight.

As seen on Dave’s One Night Stand, Live at the Apollo and Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford the ringmaster of tom-foolery himself will bring you an anarchy packed show of acrobatic proportions.

Encounter a deviously constructed comic spectacle, be tamed by on-stage farce and audience interaction, and gasp in awe at daring comic stunts as the definitive clown of comedy pushes his riotous show to the edge.

To win all you have to do is answer the following question:

Where is Jason Byrne from?

A) Cardiff

B) Edinburgh

C) Dublin

Send your answer with your name and contact details to hello@lovelincoln.co.uk with Jason Byrne in the subject line of your email by 2pm. Alternatively you can DM us on Twitter @welovelincoln

The winners will be announced this afternoon and the tickets can be collected from the Lincoln Drill Hall box office tonight before the show.

November 16, 2011

There’s No Place Like Home

Filed under: Student in the City — Tags: , , — admin @ 11:04 am

My flatmates and I had been planning on going to the launch of new student night Billionaire ever since we had first got our hands on the leaflets.

Billionaire is the newest event in town on a Thursday night and is to be held at Lincoln’s new club, ‘Home’. The club had only been open one night before Billionaire was launched so it felt like a privilege to be able to go. From what I could find out from all the posters and flyers advertising the evening this new club had six rooms and eight bars. What was there not to like about this place?

As soon as we stepped inside the building we felt like VIPs. The place was swarming with staff all eager to tell you which new room you should try out first. The place even smelled new!

I didn’t manage to explore all the rooms that were advertised, but one of my favourites was definitely The Terrace: very chic and simplistic. They’d used warm lighting, real fires and small round booth tables which made the room feel quite romantic. You would never have guessed there were 800 odd students in the room below!

The Terrace was appropriately named as the room led on to, well, a terrace! The thought of being outside in the cold Lincoln winter shouldn’t put people off going up here. Again, you would never guess you were at a student night as the smart outdoor furniture and fires scream plush big city club.

My overall favourite room has to be the main dance floor on the second floor. The open-plan layout and high ceilings make the room feel huge, with the centrepiece of the room – a dangling light display – hanging perfectly above the dance floor. The music on this floor was just my taste: a mix of chart tunes and popular classics that got the whole room singing.

There was even a special guest for the night: Lucien Laviscount from Big Brother. He made an appearance around 1.15am before having his photograph taken with people from the VIP area. Unfortunately, and I know it’s not very ‘studenty’, I left shortly after this because of my full day on lectures on the Friday, but I’m annoyed I had to leave because I bet the night had so much more to offer.

I think new clubs like Home and Tokyo are just what Lincoln needs, giving students and locals a much more exciting choice for a night out.

November 15, 2011

Win Two Tickets to see the Circus of Horrors

Filed under: Features — admin @ 1:17 pm

The Circus of Horrors, the group that rocked Britain’s Got Talent, will perform their new show The Ventriloquist at Lincoln Theatre Royal this weekend – and we’re giving away two tickets!

On Sunday 20th November you will be taken on a journey to Berlin in 1930 when Dr Haze rolls into town with his Vampire Vaudeville show and its latest new attraction, The Ventriloquist.

It’s sensationally sinister and contains more shocks then a Van de Graaff generator!

It contains bizarre and beautiful circus acts including a daredevil flying trapeze, a vampiric crow woman suspended only by her hair, sword swallowers, pickled and bendy people, voodoo warriors, knife throwers and an almighty cast of 26 of the wildest, weirdest and greatest performers on earth.

What is a circus tent commonly called?

A) A Big Top

B) A Spinning Top

C) A High Top

Send your answer and contact details to hello@lovelincoln.co.uk with Circus of Horrors in the subject line of your email by midnight on Thursday 17th November.

The winners will be announced on Friday 18th November and the tickets can be collected from the Lincoln Theatre Royal box office on the night.

November 11, 2011

Cannon and Ball Keep It Light This Christmas

Filed under: News — admin @ 10:36 am

Lincoln’s favourite comedy duo Cannon and Ball will light up the stage – and the High Street – this Christmas!

On Thursday 17th November the pair will help get you in the mood for the festive season as they perform the annual switch-on of the Christmas lights at the War Memorial on the High Street at 7pm.

Crowds will be entertained by the Salvation Army Band and the Rock Choir singing pop, gospel and Motown and BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Rod Whiting will be on stage from 6.15pm getting you warmed up for the big button-push!

Bobby and Tommy will meet with the public from around 7.20pm at the Waterside Shopping Centre and fans can bag themselves an autograph too!

And that’s not all! Oh no it’s not! Cannon and Ball will also star as the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, this year’s Christmas panto at Lincoln Theatre Royal.

Ian Dickens, CEO and Artistic Director of Lincoln Theatre Royal, said: “I am delighted that Cannon and Ball have been invited to switch on the Lincoln city centre Christmas lights this year.  We hope the whole city join us in welcoming them, yet again, in the run-up to Lincoln Theatre Royal’s pantomime.”

The Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Kathleen Brothwell, said: “As the darker nights draw in and we look forward to the festive season, it’s always nice to see the Christmas lights switched on in the city centre.

“The lights give a real seasonal feel to Lincoln in the run-up to our premier event, the Lincoln Christmas Market, and on towards Christmas.  I hope the crowds will turn out as usual and join us for the magic atmosphere and great entertainment.”

Keeping You on Your Toes for Charity

Filed under: News — admin @ 10:12 am

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be having a ball with its very own Strictly Ballroom 2 Finale at the LPAC next week.

The event takes place on Sunday 20th November and 16 couples will be showcasing their newly learned skills by dancing to the Cha-cha-cha and quickstep. They are looking to wow the audience who will decide which hard-working pair will be crowned St Barnabas Ballroom Champion on the night.

Dancers have been perfecting their moves over the past ten weeks by attending a one-hour dance lesson each week.

Esther Knight, a volunteer for St Barnabas Shops, explains how much hard work has gone into the training: “Those celebrities make it look easy on television each week. To perform all the steps well and make it look effortless for the audience takes concentration. The teachers have been kind and patient, especially at the start when there were a few mishaps on the studio floor!

“Now the finale is nearly here and we are looking forward to raising funds for St Barnabas whilst having a ball ourselves, and hope the audience enjoy it as much as we shall.”

St Barnabas is an independent local charity that cares for over 4,000 people who are living with a life-threatening illness in Lincolnshire. It needs to raise over £3m a year to keep going and 1,000 volunteers play a crucial role in the charity’s success.

Street Beat, the formation team from Premier Dance Centre who recently came first at the Blackpool Championships, and Katrina Barker and Paul Watkins who are ranked number one in the English Amateur Dance Sport Association will also be featured on the night.

Becky Otters, Events Fundraiser for St Barnabas Hospice, said: “I am very excited about Strictly Ballroom 2. Last year’s event was a huge success raising over £4,500 for our hospice and I am hoping we can smash this and raise even more money.”

For tickets to Strictly Ballroom 2 Finale visit www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk, contact fundraising on 01522 540300 or email becky.otter@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

To find out more call 01522 540300. And remember – Keeeep Dancing!

Lincoln Set to Shine at Olympic Torch Celebration

Filed under: News — admin @ 10:08 am

The Olympic Torch will burn bright at Yarborough Sports Ground on Wednesday 27th June 2012.

The sports ground has been officially confirmed as one of the venues for an evening celebration during the London 2012 Olympics Torch Relay and the free open air event is scheduled for exactly one month ahead of the opening ceremony in London.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, said: “Playing host to the Olympic Flame is a great honour and we’re delighted to be welcoming it to Lincoln.

“Yarborough is the city’s sports hub and we will be working to ensure that young people in Lincoln are central to this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK from Greece on Friday 18th May 2012 before beginning the 70 day Torch Relay which sets off from Land’s End, Cornwall. It will travel for about 12 hours each day, finishing 66 of the 70 days off with an evening celebration.

There will be entertainment at the event and a cauldron will be lit from the Olympic Flame to mark the end of the day’s proceedings.

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “We have no doubt Lincoln will help to stage an evening celebration event that captures the excitement, passion and spirit of the Olympic Torch Relay as it comes to rest at Yarborough.

“The event will provide the perfect opportunity to invite the local community to welcome the Olympic Flame and shine a light on the culture and heritage of the area.”

Details about the timing of the event, how many people will be able to attend and who will be performing are currently being finalised. Information nearer to the time will be available through www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay or www.LoveLincoln.co.uk

November 2, 2011

Sausage Festival Goes With a Banger

Filed under: Student in the City — admin @ 4:58 pm

When my friends first told me about the Lincolnshire Sausage Festival I was a bit apprehensive. I wasn’t too sure that I could see the fun in looking at sausages all day but I thought I’d give it a go, after all what else would a student  do on a Saturday morning?

This year’s Sausage Festival began at 10am on Saturday 29th October and I was pleased when I looked out of my window that morning to see the sun shining. By ‘morning’ I of course mean mid-afternoon when the rest of my flatmates rolled out of bed. At this point, with a rumbling stomach and friends in tow, I was excited to see what the Lincolnshire Sausage Festival could offer.

The trek up Steep Hill is enough to put even the most active and energetic off but not me. With a helping hand from a friend, literally, I made it up. The smell of sausages wafting down from the castle was definitely the motivation I needed. By the time I had reached Castle Square I was lost in a crowd of people, all trying to get from one stall to the next.  It seemed this sausage festival malarkey was a lot more popular than I had anticipated!

As you walked through the Castle Square it was lined with stalls all competing for customers, with the sound and smell of sizzling sausages as you made your way through to the castle grounds. I had never been past the castle gates before so this in itself was a treat for me; I’d always wanted to see what was lurking behind them. I was impressed! The grounds of the castle were buzzing with people and stallholders, with the picturesque backdrop of the castle walls surrounding the event. For those who were new to the city, or maybe those who just wanted to experience something different, there were free tours of the castle scheduled throughout the day. This is a brilliant way of showing off Lincoln’s best bits from a different angle.

The Lincolnshire Sausage Festival is now in its ninth year and I can see why; the tourists and trade it brings to the city must be a big boost for the local economy. As I made my way to one of the first stalls I was keen to see what I could sample. Being a student definitely has its limitations at times like these! It may not have been a sausage but I began by trying some crisps that the first stallholder had to offer, and this tempting taster had worked on me, I bought a whole packet!

I was surprised to see more than just sausage stallholders there. I noticed a big tent set up for children where they could watch their own food demonstrations and presumably let the adults get on with the food tasting! In another tent there was TV chef Rachel Green cooking up a storm with several food demonstrations using food from the many stalls at the festivals which she then handed out for members of the audience to try. I made my way to a hog roast stall where my friends wanted to stop for lunch but I had different ideas, I’d already spotted a stand offering sausages, roast potatoes and gravy which sounded like heaven!

I joined the longest queue at the event, which to me suggested that this was the best stall. It was certainly the best choice I made and definitely worth the wait! The local sausages were delicious and I could now see why the Lincolnshire Sausage Festival was so popular. As I left the castle grounds I saw the mascot for the festival walking around – a lifesize cartoon sausage! My friends and I grabbed the opportunity to have our photo taken with him/her, a lasting reminder of our day out. As I walked back through the crowds of people, which were still growing considering the festival finished at 4pm, I knew that I would definitely be back next year. In my opinion it’s worth trekking up Steep Hill for!