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The Strugglers Inn, Lincoln
Lincoln
LN1 3BG
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about The Strugglers Inn
Seeing old pump clips up the walls in the main entrance of the Strugglers Inn, before the doors to the left and right-hand sides of the pub had me hopeful that I was about to walk into a destination pub, and thankfully I wasn’t let down. This is a small space that has a snug in the front right bay window with banquettes that are served by a hatch from the bar. In the left-hand side of the pub is the main bar area where every part of the wall and ceiling is covered in old pump clips. Seating is found across the front windows and up the left-hand wall opposite the bar counter. At the rear are some high tables and steps out the back lead down to a beer yard with seating.
The bar counter supports a limited standard keg range and ten hand pumps that were all in operation. Available during my recent Thursday evening visit were TT Landlord, GK Abbot Ale, Animal Brewing’s XT Goat, Vocation’s Pride + Joy, Welbeck’s Atlas and Greendale Oak, Salopian’s Day of Days, Pheasantry Brewery’s Black Pheasant and Saltaire’s Spiced Chocolate Stout alongside the guest cider Gwynt y Ddraig’s Welsh Warrior. I plumped for the Salopian, which went down well and was served by two extremely friendly gents who were working the jump. I had to stand at a high table as there was nowhere to sit, but I didn’t mind as there was a decent atmosphere. This is certainly a pub to include on a visit to Lincoln, and it is certainly worth the cardio work out climbing up the hill from city centre.
On 10th May 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Strugglers Inn
ORIGINAL REVIEW May 2012 score 8.
The best on a sadly brief tour of Lincoln,as Ray says a wonderful traditional interior with a small bar and even smaller Lincoln Snug containing just three tables and room for around a dozen.The bar has fitted bench seating around the perimeter,a small fireplace and a blackboard describing the ale selection which features several local micros and some national brands.Pork pies are available at 60p and pickled eggs and onions are snack alternatives.
A definitive local where regulars are greeted by all and sundry on their entrance and bade a fond farewell on exit.There is live music on Sundays but there is hardly room to swing a cat,so this is a place for solo artists only.
A slight fly in the ointment was the inclusion of several undistinguished national real ale brands such as 6X and Doom Bar on my trip,but I expect this reflects regulars tastes so who am I to snipe.There is a wide enough choice however to keep even the fussiest drinker happy.A must visit and I will be back,but it is worth choosing a quiet time given the lack of space if you are troubled by the prospect of vertical drinking.
UPDATE
A revisit 10 years later found the terrific interior unchanged but ,after a change of hands,a much better ale selection.Gone are the national brands,all brewers are chosen because of their excellence and the chatty landlady told us they always have two dark ales ,one of which will be pokey (on my trip Roosters Scoundrel).I arrived late in the session and had a great Beartown Creme Bearlee (NBSS 4.5) while my colleagues said the Roosters Baby Faced Assassin was also excellent.There was another Beartown brew , something from Ossett and another one or two I have forgotten.
This is a must visit when in Lincoln and worth the struggle up Steep Hill.An upgrade and very close to a 10.
On 3rd July 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Strugglers Inn
Two bits of news prompted a visit after too long an absence: first, a pub of the year award from local Camra, and second, the long time licensee's retirement this month. It was good to be back, but perhaps our midweek afternoon was a bit of a low key time for a celebratory or farewell visit. My spirits were lifted by the Milestone Honey Porter 4.9%, a beer I hadn't seen for too many years - I'm not a fan of honey beers, but this one hits the spot for me. Other beers (there were seven on, out of 10 hand pumps on the bar) included some from local(-ish) Welbeck Abbey and Ossett, and an IPA from Horncastle which is just up the road. I must remember to come back again soon; I hope nothing too much changes.
On 6th April 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3746 recommendations about 3483 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Strugglers Inn
Still one of my favourite pubs in Lincoln. Nothing has changed since our last visit, except that maybe a couple of the guest beers are more adventurous. The usual, friendly welcome with people moving up so that you can sit down. Good craic, well kept ale and friendly locals. What more do you want in a pub.
On 23rd September 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Strugglers Inn
Excellent beer-drinkers pub with a heritage inventory interior, located on the west side of the castle and close to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life if you are interested in other aspects of the local history. The bar is dominated by the splendid selection of real ales in a range of styles and strengths from a total of 11 handpumps and a vast array of clips on the walls and ceiling, but the Lincoln Snug of to one side is a real treasure of a room. I went for the Norwegian Blue from Newark (£3.50), but you could certainly stay for an elongated session here.
On 29th June 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Strugglers Inn
A wonderful place at the base of the castle walls and full of traditional character (CAMRA inventory listed too – regional), especially so on our pre-festive visit where the decorations and atmosphere were maxed out to 11. Absolutely rammed, and we were fortunate to grab two spare stools at the end of a table. Basically penned in so unable to explore much, beyond noting that it’s a two-room place (one is basically a snug) with lots of old pumpclips on display and a tiled log-burning fire. 11 ales listed on the blackboard from near and far. My Abbeydale Salvation was in very good shape. Really enjoyed my stop and having then gone down the hill to tick other far less good pubs, I wish I’d stayed here. The best two pubs on my evening were this and the Vic opposite, with this one edging it. Plan a session split between the two and you can’t go far wrong, I’d say. Lovely. 9.5
On 17th December 2017
- rating: 10
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Strugglers Inn
An absolutely wonderful traditional pub under the castle walls, if ever there was a pub worth the walk up the infamous Steep Hill, this is the one. If you only ever only go to one pub in Lincoln make it this one.
On 31st May 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Strugglers Inn
When i first visited the Strugglers it was a Stones tied house,things have improved loads since then.
Once inside the pub is pretty much unaltered,we had a drink in both rooms on two visits yesterday,there is a small square shaped lounge to the front right which has a few normal tables and chairs,but we managed to get a seat in this room,the main bar room is to the left,this is a narrowish oblong shaped room,there is comfy bench seating down the left side and small stools,we also got a seat in here early evening on two small stools which were close to a real fire which was roaring away.
There are about 7 pumps on the bar,on our recent visit all had Christmas beers on which is no problem for us as we like them,on our first visit we had Oldershaws Holly Daze which went down very well,on our second visit we had a drink of Great Newsome Winter Warmer.
There is a real fire in both rooms.
We have been in this pub loads of times and always enjoy our time here,3 pints drunk all really nice.
The pub was really packed which created a great atmosphere on each visit,both me and the wife prefer this pub to the Victoria.
Pub first visited 26/3/1983
Recent visit 6/12/2014
On 7th December 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Strugglers Inn
All waye a must to call in if its just for the beer garden had two good pints of Timothy Taylor.s
On 3rd September 2013
- rating: 10
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Strugglers Inn
A small cottage styled GBG pub. This little Victorian pub is mainly in undressed brick, with the lower frontage in white - there is a nice bow window and the windows have black sills and lintels. There is a patio area. The interior has a couple of rooms - the main bar and a snug. The snug is in stripped wallpaper and a bit of cream and burnt orange - it has a brick fire, old pictures on the walls and a stag's head! The main room is in cream and burnt orange, with a wood floor and traditional perimeter and stool seating. The place is awash with emphemera; from pots and figurines to beer mats and toy witches! Beer; usual tap stuff with handpulls of; Bass, Castle Rock Black Pearl, Black Sheep Bitter, Tim Taylor, Everards Original, Rudgate Ruby MILD, Brewster's Stilton Porter and Oldershaw's Blonde - all i tried were very good. A really great place and a must do when in Lincoln
On 21st April 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]