Discover Lincoln’s top tea rooms
Sometimes the only cure for a stressful week is to grab a book, set out to a friendly café, and spend the day relaxing with a cup of tea. To help you forget those weekday blues, here are our top five places to grab a good cuppa in Lincoln.
Stokes of Lincoln
First established in 1902, Stokes has had over 100 years of experience brewing delicious blends of coffees and teas. Located in a quaint old 16th century building, it is built upon the Medieval High Bridge, and offers a great view of the river Witham. A pot of tea for one will set you back £1.30, but a range of specialties from Assam to Darjeeling tea are also available, starting at £2.05. With a cozy interior, and pleasant light jazz playing in the background, this is a perfect place to relax and watch the swans float past. A full list of teas and coffees can be found on its website.
Oliver’s
If you can’t bear the thought of trekking up Steep Hill, Oliver’s may be the perfect place for you. Located just before Straits Brasserie Restaurant, the downstairs boasts a bright and cheerful cream interior adorned with French Impressionist paintings, with tables next to the window perfect for people-watching. There is also a more enclosed space upstairs, great for a intimate gathering, as well as for admiring the café’s charming timber-framed architecture. A cup of tea will cost you £1.30, with an extra 10p allowing you to choose from delicious green and lemon varieties.
The Grove
Slightly further uphill (18 Steep Hill), the trip to The Grove is definitely worth it. A small, quiet café, The Grove’s long, narrow shaped interior ensures plenty of nooks and corners to settle into, with a dark green colour scheme that creates an instantly cozy ambiance. Your basic cuppa is £1.90, which is very reasonable considering the generous portions. And that’s not to mention the wide variety of homemade cakes and ice creams on offer. The combination of friendly staff, charming crockery, and walls decorated with work by local artists, make The Grove a winner.
10 Green Bottles
Situated on Clasketgate, this is the most out-in-the-open café on our list. 10 Green Bottles stands right next to the Theatre Royal, allowing customers to flow directly between. Traditional and Earl Grey teas will cost you £1.40, with speciality fruit teas starting at just 20p more. A bright and friendly café, the upstairs is especially well furnished with comfy black and red chairs, and cream walls that really enhance the light and space. Whether you fancy a refreshment during a play’s interval, or you just want to unwind whilst watching Lincoln’s traffic shoot past, 10 Green Bottles does not disappoint. The website can be found here.
Pimento Tea Rooms
Perched at the very top of Steep Hill, Pimento’s selection of teas are supplied by Imperial Teas of Lincoln, just nearby. Prices start at £2.10, and include a huge variety, from Chinese and Taiwanese tea, to herbal and wholefruit infusions. Connoisseur teas are also available at a slightly more expensive £3.30. Despite its large size, the café is spread over a dozen rooms, the narrow corridors and winding stairs providing a homely feel, full of clinking cutlery and buzzing conversation. It’s also located just behind a shop – a perfect place to relax after a spending spree.
