The Cardinals Hat, Lincoln

Upmarket GBG alehouse, with several different seating / dining areas on slightly different levels (this building being at the lower end of Steep Hill). Easily the busiest pub I've been to since the end of the coronavirus lockdown, but there were plenty of staff on hand to do the table service and other formalities. Excellent choice of eight real ales - including a fine Rudgate Ruby Mild (£3.80) - plus four draft ciders.

Having walked down Lincoln's Steep Hill, whilst smugly watching those struggling up it, I was looking forward to a visit to what is one of Lincoln's older buildings. Unfortunately, I arrived to find the bouncers refusing entry to another couple. I was also told that the pub was full. But I asked if I could wait for a table to become free and this was accepted. After a wait of around 5 minutes, I was allowed in and directed to an outdoor roof terrace through the rear door, where I was told that there was standing room. I did managed to spy a few of the beers and ciders as I walked through and whilst not allowed to sit inside, could see that each of the rooms are fairly small. The ale range I could see was Fernandes Black Voodoo, Milestone West Coast IPA, Ridgeside Nothing From Nothing, Adnams Ghost Ship & Rat White Rat. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie, Orchard Pig Maverick, Snail's Bank Rhubarb Cider & Lilley's Mango Cider. The roof terrace was cold. But all of the tables were free. I was only accompanied by 5 very drunk youths who were content to fight one another, including on the floor, whilst happily smashing glasses. Needless to say, this wasn't the most relaxing of places to spend time. So, I drank up and left pretty quickly. It's a shame, as the building itself is nice and the beer and cider range was probably the best I found in Lincoln on this visit. But the pub is clearly too popular for its own good.

A good looking pub, both inside and outside. The main room is L shaped and there are three small snugs at the front and rear. Lots of reclaimed wood around the place. 8 handpumps with a decent range of beers and strengths. My pint was in good nick and Ms CAMRA liked her red wine. We called in here twice during our two days in Lincoln.

Decent enough place with the bar to the middle & left. Further room to the left. Decent strength real ales on offer.

Billed as the oldest pub in Lincoln and recently brought back to that use, it has an L shaped counter serving two rooms, there are two small snugs to the left, one rather Scottish baronial in decor, and at the rear is another little snug up a few steps. The whole place is a mix of ancient and modern in most respects. There are four pulls on the front counter and four more with different beers round the corner, there are also another four devoted to cider. The Gents is labeled "Dandies", I didn't check out the Ladies.