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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Royal William IV, Lincoln
Lincoln
LN1 1YX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Royal William IV
I can’t recall any reason to contradict what’s already been written and can’t remember what I had, but my records show that I had ‘…an ok beer.’ at £1.80 a half.
On 13th November 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about Royal William IV
Situated in an excellent location by the Brayford waterfront it’s a decent looking building and I am guessing they make good use of the waterside cobbled pavement area for extensive outside seating in the summer.
It is actually branded as The Royal William IV Pub & Kitchen so no surprises that there is an emphasis on food here, but very good to see four handpumps on the bar with an interesting choice of ales. Internally it is very typical of these type of places with a modern décor that is not in keeping with the exterior and the usual design and gastro pub colour scheme at play. A mixture of stone flagged flooring and carpeted areas with exposed brick walls in parts and half-timbered walls painted blue, with white and what ever you call that horrible pink colour, above in other parts. But in saying that its pleasant enough and at just gone 6pm on a Friday evening it was busy but not overly so that there was plenty of room to stand and plenty of spare inside tables still free.
For our visit the Timothy Taylor, Northern Monk Collaboration Stout Northern Rising made another appearance on the day in cask form, alongside Tiny Rebel Carrie Blood Orange IPA. Shiny Brewery Disco Balls American IPA and something from Ferry Ales Brewery called Aah-Wooo, (which I am guessing is one of their usual range rebadged for firework night).
Has the advantage of probably being the closest decent pub to the station for a beer before jumping on a train (unless you like The Treaty Of Commerce, which I didn’t particularly), and would be my choice over all the other chain stuff that lines this edge of Brayford Pool.
On 7th November 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about Royal William IV
On the edge of Brayford Pool ,with an interesting exterior but a modern interior which wraps around a central bar which is up a slope,with seating options in modern furniture and lots of exposed brickwork .Four handpumps drawing TTx Northern Monk Northern Rising Unity Stout,Ferry Aah-Wooo,Shiny Disco Balls and Tiny Rebel Carrie Blood Orange IPA (NBSS 3) .An interesting ale selection so might be worth including on a crawl but not the full package as a pub.
On 4th November 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Royal William IV
Quite pleasant one late afternoon in February, not sure I'd like it here on a weekend in summer. A plain building in undressed stone plus some weatherboarding, it's in a fine location on the waterside. Three hand pumps (see photo) and my Just Jane from local F.A.B. was one of the beers of the day. They were advertising a tap takeover by Docks brewery a few days after my visit, but I'm busy. Nice to see a pub which could easily go down the tourist route actually stocking the product of local breweries. I only called in here because one of my planned pubs on a 10 pub research trip was not open when I was there, so this was a nice bit of serendipity.
On 21st February 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Royal William IV
Waterside pub at the North East corner of Brayford Wharf. The interior appears to be focused around dining, whilst there it outdoor seating overlooking the water. Toilets are upstairs.
3 real ales were on - Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, Ferry Ales Intruder & Black Iris Endless Summer. A fourth handpull was clipped with Lilley's Somerset Scrumpy Dry. Craft beers included Brixton Reliance, Beavertown Neck Oil, Verdant Light Bulb & Shiny Lines.
On my Saturday evening visit, the crowd inside was starting to thin out, with bar staff cleaning up. I wasn't too impressed when one barmaid sneezed into her hands and then failed to wash them afterwards.
A pub in a popular location with an interesting range of beers. But there are many better pubs in Lincoln.
On 12th June 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Royal William IV
The Royal William IV has an attractive curved stone right-hand side the abuts a brick and weatherboard section to the left. This pub is in a riverside location so expect it to be busy in clement weather. There is seating by the entrance and up the left-hand wall opposite the bar counter that runs up the right. In the right front is a sunken seating area where some very elaborate high backed banquettes are found. The rest of the furniture in here is very standard and it feels a bit like a dining area. More seating is found along the rear wall to the right, creating a split-level dimly lit U-shaped pub. No televisions, but there was some 1980’s background music.
Three of the four hand pumps were in operation drawing TT Boltmaker alongside Ferry Ales Brewery’s Spirit of Jane and Lincoln Red, the latter being past its best. Premium and craft keg were also available. I found the service to be very friendly, but paying top end prices I expect a top end pint. This pub isn’t on my list to revisit, but it does get an extra point for the service.
On 11th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Royal William IV
Attractive pub at the west end of Brayford Pool which I have been meaning to visit for years. Given a semi-traditional refurbishment that some might see as bland, but it's quite well done in its own way. For the better weather, it also has a good number of tables right by the waterfront. Just three real ales at the moment: TT Boltmaker, Peleton Pale from Tiny Rebel and FAB Mosquito (£4.00).
On 3rd June 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Royal William IV
Sorry another pub they have destroyed tarting it up the old saying if its not broken dont try and mend it.
It looks ok if its your first visit but if you have called regular when you visit Lincoln you will know what in mean.
Will only call when its sunny to sit outside
On 3rd September 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Royal William IV
A very attractive looking pub this one, but to my disappointment it had a very clinical approach although it was trying to better or keep up with the boring chain outlets further along. Even the choice of ales was non-descript.
On 9th April 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Royal William IV
A pleasant enough pub on the quayside alongside many mass market chain restaurants, such as Nando’s, Ask, Prezzo, etc. The building seems to be made up of two halves, the end part being an old stone built traditional affair, joined on to a more modern looking brick built building with the top half covered in wood cladding. They’ve made an effort to brighten it up with a few hanging baskets, window boxes and such like.
Inside it’s not unpleasant by any means, but has a little bit of a bland, identikit feel to it. Much of the walls are clad in white painted woodwork, covered with several old pictures. There are some dark wood strips of wood on the ceiling that seem to be more decorative than structural. The flooring in the front bar is tiles, with carpet elsewhere and some wood stripwork around the bar. There’s a decent looking brick built fireplace at the front, but that’s probably the only feature of any interest.
Food is apparently offered all day, although I didn’t inspect the menu, and there was a very 1970’s style vertical desert cabinet from which you were invited to select your dish. The best feature of the pub is the outside table and chairs alongside the river. Whilst not especially picturesque, it’s nonetheless a pleasant spot to sit and sup your beer.
Beers on tap are still Ruddles Best and Directors, so these are presumably unchanging. Ciders were Bulmers and Strongbow.
On 3rd July 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]