Wig & Mitre, Lincoln

A very aged building with a collection of rooms spread over two floors, sadly sitting smack in the middle of the touristy bit and with a heavy emphasis on food. Otherwise it could be pretty good. Ales on were Green Imp and 49 Squadron from Ferry and a pair of house beers from Milestone.

After some confusion about whether I had ever been to the Wig & Mitre, it seems that I probably did go to the original pub of that name when it was a couple of doors down Steep Hill. It then closed down and reopened as Widow Cullens Well, but when I subsequently visited under the new name it was so changed that I didn't realise I'd already been. Confused? I certainly was. Now re-established in its new location, it's been tantalising me for my last two or three trips. So on this time in Lincoln I was determined to finally visit the new location of the Wig & Mitre, and luckily my drinking companions were willing to go along with me. It didn't seem so lucky when the lass behind the bar told us there were no cask ales because of a cellar fault, but this soon turned out to be old information and we were served from our choice of two house beers from Milestone Brewery. I just had a half of Cathedral Gold 4% (NBSS 3.5), as I was intending to visit BeerHeadz next, which the rest had already done, and the others had pints of that or the W&M Best Bitter 4.4%. It was ok here but I'm not sure it's one I'll be in a hurry to return to. Maybe when I've forgotten I've already been...

The entrance to the Wig & Mitre opens into a square front seating area where banquettes run under the front windows and tables sit in the centre. A strong smell of fat was an indication that food is served here. There is a small bar area in the middle section of the pub where a short serving counter runs along the left-hand wall. One of the four hand pumps was reverse clipped which left Black Sheep’s Best, Milestone Brewery’s Cathedral Gold and Ferry Ales Brewery’s 49 Squadron as the cask options. Steps to the rear lead to a split-level seating area. In here were the only other customers, a pensioner couple who sat in complete silence during the entirety of my stay. I wasn’t very impressed with this place and will walk past next time.

Bit of a weird one this, it's a tearoom at the front with a fairly traditional taproom in the middle then a dining room at the back. There are four pulls on the counter generally serving safe nationally recognised beers although some interesting pump clips are among those on the opposite wall. Apparently there's an upstairs as well but I didn't check it out.

The Wig and Mitre is situated at the top of steep hill,so handy for a drink after walking up it. We had been in this pub a few years back and thought it was the original Wig and Mitre,but it is not,with the original Wig and Mitre being next door. Once inside this is quite a comfortable pub,the front area is smallish and square,shaped,there is comfy bench seating and a couple of normal tables and chairs,the bar is in the middle area of the pub,there are a few tall tables and stools in this area,the rear area is up a few steps,there are comfy bench seating and normal tables and chairs in this area. There were four real ales on the bar,we had a drink of Tom Woods Lincolnshire Gold which went down very well,the other beers were Oakham JHB,Everards Tiger Bitter and Black Sheep. We quite liked this pub,but it is expensive with our pint and a half costing £5.00. Pub visited 6/12/2014