Weekend sees 876 COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths in Greater Lincolnshire

The Botanist reopened in Lincoln’s Cornhill this week with a brand new food and cocktail menu and The Lincolnite went to check it out.

The nibbles and starters range from pea hummus with mint and almond pesto and crisp flatbread, to Cumberland scotch egg with crispy onions and baked camembert in a bread bowl with chilli jam. The cheesy garlic bread baked with cheddar and mozzarella, served in a basket was a particular highlight.

There are also a range of hot boards and vegan boards, including patatas bravas, chicken skewers, bang bang cauliflower and heritage tomato salad.

Bang bang cauliflower, Cumberland scotch egg, patatas bravas and garlic prawns. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Baked Camembert in a bread bowl with chilli jam. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Botanist’s famous hanging kebabs remain a part of the new menu. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The new main dishes include pan fried seabass, lamb and mint pie, coconut sweet potato pie, and a variety of burgers, while The Botantist’s famous hanging kebabs remain on the menu too.

Desserts include cookie dough with Oreos, sticky toffee pudding, and dark chocolate and peanut butter pot.

Cookie dough with Oreos and vanilla ice cream. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Dark chocolate and peanut butter pot. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

And then there’s the cocktails! The Yuzu and peach Cosmo was a particular favourite for some, while pinky poppy pounch, elderflower and jasmine mojito, Lily pad sour with beefeater gin, smokey pineapple negroni and rhubarb sage martini are among the long list of other new cocktails to try.

A selection from The Botanist’s new cocktail menu. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A wide variety of new cocktails to choose from, including the elderflower and jasmine mojito. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Rich Pearson, General Manager at The Botanist, told The Lincolnite: “While we have been hibernating in lockdown we’ve developed a new menu, which is a rebrand of our amazing dishes, as well as some exciting new additions, for a modern crowd in a modern pub.

“We have also launched new cocktails and can’t wait for more people to try them.”

See the rest of our gallery below:

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A 46-year-old man has been jailed for over three years after causing the death of a woman in her 70s on the A17 while driving twice over the alcohol limit.

Just after 10.20am on Sunday, November 15, Norbert Tarasinski lost control of his black Audi A6 as he was driving along the A17 towards the Holdingham roundabout.

He crossed from the main carriageway into a lay-by and crashed into the parked grey Toyota Aygo, which belonged to 79-year-old Iris Mellor.

Iris Elizabeth Mellor sadly died after a crash in Sleaford. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police

Iris, from Helpringham near Sleaford, had pulled her car over into the lay-by after noticing a crack in her windscreen, and was waiting for assistance when the Audi crashed into her.

She tragically died of her injuries the day after being taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, while her granddaughter, in her 20s, suffered minor physical injuries from the passenger seat.

Tarasinski, of no fixed abode, provided a positive breath test at the scene of the collision, as well as giving a blood sample while he was at the hospital.

His blood sample found him to be over double the legal limit, showing 181 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The 46-year-old appeared before Lincoln Crown Court on April 12, where he pleading guilty to causing death by undue care while over the legal prescribed alcohol limit.

On Tuesday, May 18 he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, as well as being disqualified from driving for three years and must pass an extended driving test.

Tarasinski will also have to pay a victim surcharge of £190.

Detective Sergeant Luke Wells of Lincolnshire Police said: “Tarasinski was significantly over the drink drive limit and his actions have led to the death of Iris, a lady in her 70s.

“Tarasinski had been drinking the previous evening and into the early hours of the morning, having then had very little sleep. He will have time in prison to think about his actions.

“Our thoughts our with the family of Iris and we send our condolences to them.

“I have a very clear message, don’t drive if you have consumed alcohol or taken any form of illegal substance; it’s that simple. Don’t be responsible for someone else death.”

A 22-year-old man is wanted by police for failing to appear at Lincoln Crown Court in relation to driving offences and possession of cannabis.

Police believe James Dyson may be in the Doncaster area, or elsewhere in South Yorkshire.

Anyone who has seen Dyson, or knows his whereabouts, should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.