The Dog & Bone

AlexWoods

Best Pub Ever. Or at least a damn good contender. 17th August 2009

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The Dog and Bone in Lincoln is with out a doubt one of the best pubs that I have ever been to.

The Better Half and I were enjoying a day out in Lincoln on Saturday and, being conscientious and clever types we did a bit of research and decided upon the Dog and Bone as our lunch time watering hole. The pub was not, as the Good Beer Guide stated, at the north west corner of the cathedral complex, but some 10 minutes walk (I know, it could have been worse), far from the main drag in a neighbourhood reminiscent of Coronation Street. Tucked away down a small, residential road it would be easy to miss. Having found it though, more fool you should you chose to walk on by!

Pretty and quaint (or do I mean pretty quaint…) on the outside in bright yellow and blue with window boxes and hanging baskets a plenty, the front door leads you in a very comfortable lounge bar. Book shelves dominate this space crammed with everything from Mills and Boon to the OED. Round the other side of the bar one finds four excellent beers – Batemans XH and GHA, Hopbine and another which I cannot now recall. The food is straight forward pub fare. Rolls, sandwiches, homemade soup and ploughman’s. Predictably enough I had a ploughman’s and it was perfect.

Now then. On to the little touches that make the difference between a great pub and a good pub. On the bar there were piles of pies, quiches, loaves of bread, scotch eggs, pasties et al. Apparently the butcher up the road closes at 1pm and anything that’s left over he take down to the Dog for them to sell from the bar. The do an excellent Sunday roast by all accounts. Once a month. And they are currently fully booked ‘til October. There is a monthly folk and acoustic jam, which I am sorely tempted to rock up for next time. It’s a long way to go but I reckon it would be worth it. There are regular quiz nights, charity events, gigs and concerts. The walls are decked with pieces by local artists there for purchase of just for your viewing pleasure. The pub hosts a book exchange, which explains the large and eclectic book collection I guess. And the staff are the most obliging and pleasant I have ever had the privilege to meet.

To me this is a real jewel in Lincoln’s crown and the kind of pub that every landlord or lady should aspire to – friendly, welcoming, community orientated, straight forward and just down right nice. It’s well worth the trip to Lincoln, let alone a 10 minute walk to find it.