The Golden Eagle, Lincoln

A long walk from the bottom of the hill and station along the High Street. It’s a two roomer with a front and back bar both reached from a side entrance through an archway. Five pulls in each bar, four beers on in each although a different set in each, blackboards above the rear counter explain the choices. Owned by Castle Rock so Nottingham beers are in evidence as well as a couple from Yorkshire and beyond, but it’s not wall to wall Castle Rock, not even Harvest Pale. There were various co-labs on today, Castle Rock and Salopian, Castle Rock and Turning Point, Vocation and Neon Raptor as well as beers from Castle Rock themselves, Brass Castle, Howling Hops and Moot. Usual keg fare. It’s a stripped back look in the rear bar and there’s nice wallpaper and nicer fireplace in the front bar in spite of the darts board it looks more of a lounge, banquette seating in both, Britannia tables and some low stools in the back, where there’s also screens and the toilets.

The Golden Eagle is an old coaching inn with an exterior that could do with a lick of paint. Sky Sports is heavily advertised. There are two bars, the front was empty during a recent Thursday afternoon visit so I went into the rear where there were a handful of customers. Wood floor runs through and banquettes run up the windowed left faced by the bar counter up the right. The large television was off and some background noise was supplied by a radio behind the bar. Standard keg was available and four of the five hand pumps were in operation drawing Castle Rock’s Harvest Pale, Portobello Brewing’s Decca Supreme Session Ale, Pheasantry Brewing’s BB Best Bitter, Fauna Brewing’s Meadow Maker. The service was polite, but I couldn’t get comfortable in this rear bar. On my way out I had a quick nose around the small wood floor front bar which was a bit more interesting. A curved L-shaped brown panelled bar counter faces a couple of tables under the leaded front windows. On the right-hand wall is a fireplace with burner and hanging from the ceiling is a ‘chandelier’ made from wine glasses. Five hand pumps sit on the bar, same selection as previously stated. I wasn’t that impressed with this place so I’ll not be walking down from the centre again.

Out-of-centre Castle Rock pub which I persuaded Desmond to schlep to due its GBG17 status. Wish I hadn’t bothered. Two bars, the front one was basic and battered, brown shades with knackered fabric seats and ‘funky’ black gold and silver peacock wallpaper. The rear room was busier but choc-full of lairies so we stayed in the front bar, on our tod. Four ales on; Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Fullers ESB, Sharps Doom Bar and Oakham Xmas (which was in excellent shape – which was a shame as it meant that I couldn’t fully hate the place). May have picked the worst possible time to visit but really didn’t rate this one and in not worth the effort to leave the city centre for (and get caught at the level crossing) unless you are willing to do a few others nearby.

I was here for a recent Tuesday night appearance of Luton Town at the nearby Sincil Bank stadium. It was fairly busy with pre-football drinkers, as you might expect, and all hand pumps were in operation. Excellent pint of Bateman's XB. A good friendly atmosphere.