The Tiny Tavern, Lincoln

From Nov 2024 A big disappointment for me was the fact I turned up here on a Friday night at closing time so never made it inside, by all accounts it sounds a decent place so one for next time.

Facebook page of The Tiny Tavern - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Tiny Tavern - www.facebook.com

This was a decent wildcard after a full days PG crawl thanks to Mrs A's south Lincoln tour. As Tris says below it's a sure sign that you have some beer tourists at your micro door, when I tried the wrong door. However one of the locals let us in and even more embarrassing, a couple of us thought he was the governor. Once we got a few ales normality was resumed, the beer quality and choice in here was sublime and Tony P is still talking about it. Six beers Beermats Cremated, Milestone Pacific Islander, 8 Sail Fenman Bitter, Nailmaker Chocolate Safari, Little Critters Blonde Bear and Pheasantry Pale. Prices were all around the £4 a pint mark.

Like Old Boots, one of my drinking companions made the same mistake when trying to effect entry, though I shall spare their blushes; you do though have to ring a bell to get in which was new to me, giving the place a speakeasy feel. Otherwise, it’s as described and quite large for a micropub. Though there were six pumps, I didn’t have a drink but had a sip of my drinking partners’ quaffs and all tasted good; I could quite easily spend time here, eschewing the nearby Imp & Angel. Rated 7.5.

I was forewarned by the previous reviews so I read the notices on the doors and didn’t look like a numpty trying the apparent main door. The entrance procedure is a hangover from covid that still works for the owners, keeping out riffraff and allowing a check on numbers on busy days. Entry is via the “cellar” and then through the servery. Inside is a long, thin ex tattoo parlour, the counter is halfway down on the right. Six pulls all beers from small fairly local breweries in excellent condition served by an enthusiastic landlady. Low seating at the front, taller at the back. Outside at the rear is a nice beer garden with an intregal smoking area.

Narrow, but not as tiny as some micro-pubs, with seating areas front and back of the compact central counter area. The former has the exit door, with the entrance being in the adjacent former shop unit with a buzzer needed to gain entry. Basic furniture and limited decoration in all parts. Five interesting real ales on handpump, including the Tyto Alba from Great Newsome (£4.10).

Micropub spread over 2 old cottages. Arriving quite late into Lincoln, I was concerned that this micropub may not be open. I rushed down the High Street and tried the door to the left, without reading the notices to enter press a bell to gain entry through the door on the right. Locals looked on in amusement as I tugged at the door without any success. Still not reading the notices, I assumed they were already closed, especially when I saw the barmaid head to the other door. I thought she would tell me that they were closed. Instead, she welcomed me in, bemoaning (in a friendly way) everybody that fails to take heed to the notices! All of the action appears to take place in the left of the cottages. There is a bar towards the rear, with a limited amount of seating. Most seating is nearer the front window. Nevertheless, customers were either congregated around the bar, playing darts against the real wall or in the garden at the rear. The 5 real ales were 3 Brewers Copper, White Rose Mosaic, Welbeck Abbey Rapunzel, Brewster's Hophead & 8 Sail Victorian Porter. Ciders were Thatcher's Stan's Big Apple & Broadoak Mango Cider & Purple Haze. The best of 6 new pubs I visited on Saturday evening in Lincoln.