The Cardinal's Hat — Restaurant in Lincoln

Steeped in charm and history, The Cardinal's Hat Pub is a Lincoln institution, having first opened its doors in the 13th century. We visited this venerable pub on a bank holiday Monday during a local festival. Expecting crowds, we stopped in for lunch and were pleased to find a comfortably bustling atmosphere.

The pub exudes cozy, old-world ambiance with its dark wood beams, stone walls, and bowed ceilings. We grabbed pints of their hand-pulled local ales and IPAs at the quick and friendly bar. Settling into a table, we relaxed over our drinks while taking in the pub's character.

A lone blues guitarist strummed soulful tunes, complementing the warm vibe. Patrons swayed along as they ate lunch. While we didn't dine this visit, the novel newspaper-shaped menu was stacked with classic British pub fare that looked generously portioned and appetizing.

Upstairs, the Cocktail Bar would be an ideal perch for evening revelry. But even during our lower-key lunch, The Cardinal's Hat maintained its quintessential old pub charm. History seeps from every corner of this centuries-old public house, making it a must-visit for great beer and cozy atmosphere steeped in...

You can always guarantee a visibly warm welcome from any of the staff on shift. The staff have always greeted each customer with enthusiasm and care. They have a well designed drinks menu with a range of wines, beers and spirits available, all the usual plus the new and unusual. They have a variety of snacks and sharing platters available, I tend to gravitate towards the bread, olive oil and balsamic as I enjoy their rustic choices of bread. The upstairs seating area is a charming space that can accommodate large groups of people, but still have more private and quiet corners for individuals and couples. I particularly enjoy the choice of furniture, with squashy sofas, grand high back armchairs to sleek Scandinavian style chairs. The Hat's atmosphere is lively and comfortable. Downstairs has a more 'pub' feel, with high stools and benches. With exposed beams and what appears to be original window frames, you could easily believe the Hat to be one of the oldest buildings in Lincoln with all the charm and character that...

I came for drinks as an autistic person with mobility issues. I did a mini pub crawl from the bailgate to this pub, it was the first time a member of staff offered me to turn the music down and offer ear plugs as I was over stimulated. This is the most neurodivergent accessible pub I have been to in Lincoln (as an Irish girl who loves pubs!), the only downfall is their toilets include stairs. But despite that, all the pubs with an accessible toilet, could not accommodate other disabilities. Chelsea was the person who served me, offered me her personal headphones as I was overwhelmed, and I struck a conversation with her as I felt so grateful, I was about to go home because it was too much, her empathy and help allowed me to stay out for a few hours!

Thank you Chelsea, I will be contacting your pub location when I open my disabled charity as I would like your pub to be a part of our recommendations for disabled people’s safe spaces! :)

8/10 recommend for accessibility 10/10 recommend for...