The Birdcage, Lincoln

Corner pub in a quiet former industrial and older housing area, this now has an opened-out, reversed L-shaped layout. Mostly traditional furniture but a mix of decorative features (including a display of birdcages hanging from the ceiling, as one might expect). Three cask ales on handpump: Landlord, Moorhouse's Blonde Witch and Helmat Schmaker from Beermats (£2.05, half).

Official site of The Birdcage - www.birdcagelincoln.com

Facebook page of The Birdcage - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Birdcage - www.birdcagelincoln.com

Facebook page of The Birdcage - www.facebook.com

A number of pubs have closed down in this area to the east of the city centre since I started coming to Lincoln for pub research about 20 years ago - the Green Dragon, the Pelham Bridge, the Steam Hammer to name just three - and I can remember passing this one on my way to or from the Dog & Bone a couple of streets away without giving it much thought, apart from a slightly raised eyebrow at the fact that these two pubs quite close to each other were still going. It was only when I saw the Birdcage on the Good Beer Guide app that I decided to give it a visit. There were three cask beers on when I came here at just after 4pm on a midweek afternoon (see photo). I asked for a half of Landlord and went to sit at a table away from the bar. A couple of locals struck up conversation - workmen just finished, by their clothing and their lagers. I didn't mention Pubs Galore or the GBG, just beer tourism and pub research, and told them about the various pubs I'd done in Lincoln that day, and where else I had to go before my train back to Sheffield. I took the occasional sip of my beer, but it wasn't getting any more drinkable than the first one. It was clear to look at, but something was giving it a sharpness that the brewers at Timothy Taylors had never intended. Given my timetable, I wasn't going to spend time and trouble over arguing about the state of the beer - "it's supposed to taste like that" (no it's not) - and just left the bottom half of my glass on the table as I walked out. Date of visit: 21st February 2024