Five hidden gems we uncovered in Lincoln in 2019

A bright and bubbly Korean couple, two dedicated gamers, a burger restaurant guru and an eccentric antique collector are the people behind some of the best hidden gems in the city.

The Lincolnite has uncovered some of the best places to eat, drink, play or shop in the city, which have been quietly building up loyal fan bases with the owners’ great personalities.

Tiny Lincoln Korean street food restaurant

Hyunjong (left) and Taehee Shin (right) opened Bab to Go. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

The hidden gem series started off when we said 안녕하세요 (or hi!) to the bright and bubbly Korean couple behind Bab to Go on Monks Road.

Hyunjong and Taehee Shin built up a small but loyal customer base who got in touch with The Lincolnite asking us to check it out.

Bab to Go serves up a base of steamed rice or noodles in a recyclable pot before customers choose between a couple of different toppings.

Akēdo is a hidden Lincoln gem for gamers

Toby is the personality behind this hidden gem. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

Up next was Akēdo, a gaming bar inspired by a Korean backpacking trip which turned into an eight-year stay.

Toby Rovezzano, 35, is the warm personality full of stories who opened Akēdo Gaming Bar nearly three years ago on Corporation Street.

Customers pay £5 to access thousands of games on the latest or retro Playstation and Nintendo consoles. The fee can be waived for customers who buy a few drinks.

Why everyone’s raving about this Lincoln burger joint

Kine owner Jason Lord-Castle. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Kine, a burger restaurant on West Parade, was next to get the hidden gem treatment after a year of rave reviews.

Former freelance documentary filmmaker Jason Lord-Castle started Kine as a burger pop-up restaurant for Lincoln, which grew into an established restaurant.

The whole menu continues to prove popular with locally sourced ingredients, and it has recently been updated with some new dishes this autumn.

The man behind a quirky Lincoln antique shop

My Secret Antiques owner Benjamin Jackson. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A circus ringmaster model, a painting of Abraham Lincoln and a large pair of buffalo horns are among the array of weird and wonderful items on sale at a new antique shop.

Local man Benjamin Jackson, 41, has been operating his business My Secret Antiques online for two and a half years from a small storage unit in Washingborough.

Benjamin has since expanded the business by opening a shop at Unit 5, Great Northern Way on Great Northern Terrace in Lincoln.

Lincoln board game cafe proves a hit in its first year

Alex Kirk-Bellamy runs the Red Panda Gaming Café on Lincoln High Street. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Red Panda Gaming was the last Lincoln business of 2019 to get the hidden gem treatment after a successful first year in business.

Once inside there is a welcoming space for people to enjoy playing board games, ranging from classics like Monopoly to new wave games such as Ticket to Ride and Catan.

Alex Kirk-Bellamy runs the gaming cafe which has over 300 titles for people to play along with a bring your own booze policy.

Do you know a Lincoln business which deserves to be featured as a hidden gem on The Lincolnite? Get in touch with the team on [email protected].