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The Botanist in Lincoln is doing is ready for Christmas, launching a new festive menu with a unique twist on some classic favourites, and The Lincolnite went to check out the delights on offer.

The festive menu for the bar and restaurant on Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter is mixing up some of their well-known dishes to add some Christmas flavour.

There is a new hanging kebab, with turkey, pigs in blankets and stuffing, with mixed vegetables such as sprouts, roast potatoes and kale — as well as gravy to be poured on top.

The turkey hanging kebab, which requires a gravy pour as it trickles down the meat. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Stacked with turkey, pigs in blankets and stuffing. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Also, there is the vegan board, which boasts an eclectic blend of foods, including cauliflower rings with bang bang sauce, sweet potato hummus, crispy gnocchi and a celeriac, cashew nut and mushroom pot pie.

The vegan board, offering wide variety for everyone. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Sweet potato hummus. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

For those with a sweet tooth, there are three new desserts to try out as well, each with their own Christmas twist.

There is chocolate orange cookie dough with vanilla ice cream, gingerbread cake with banana, rum, black pepper and date syrup, and last but not least, winter fruits cheesecake with candied pistachios.

Gingerbread cake is served with vanilla ice cream. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The winter berry cheesecake comes with candied pistachios. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The hanging turkey kebab costs £14.50, and the vegan board costs £14.95, while the new winter desserts cost between £5.95 and £6.95.

The festive menu will run until Christmas Eve. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A spokesperson for The Botanist Lincoln told The Lincolnite: “The new menu has been really well received so far, we’re famous for our hanging kebabs so the turkey twist has proved a big hit.

“We just wanted to create a festive, homely feel for our customers this Christmas, and to provide ample selection for everyone who walks through our doors.”

Those of you with a sweet tooth won’t want to miss this. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

If that wasn’t enough, The Botanist has also introduced a new eco-friendly virtual Christmas cracker, which saves on waste by using a QR code to make an interactive game rather than pulling a regular cardboard cracker.

When you scan the code, you and a friend sign up on your phones and tap your screen until there is a winner, before registering your contact details to enter a draw to win some top prizes.

The QR code for the eCrackers can be found on the much that holds your cutlery, cutting down on waste from traditional Christmas crackers. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The eCrackers are in aid of homeless charity Shelter, raising thousands in donations for a good cause.

The Botanist’s Christmas menu will run until December 24, and the restaurant will close for two days before returning on December 27 to prepare for New Year’s celebrations!

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Pop megastar Olivia Rodrigo has recruited Lincolnshire artist Holly Humberstone for her North American tour next year.

2021 was truly the year of Olivia Rodrigo, as the Disney Channel artist turned pop sensation broke countless streaming and chart records with her debut album Sour.

The 18-year-old’s smash hit Good 4 U reached the top of the charts in countless countries, and her huge year of fame resulted in seven Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

She will now hit the road for a worldwide tour in 2022, starting in April, and she has enlisted the help of Grantham artist Holly Humberstone as a support act for her North American dates.

Holly herself has had a stellar 2021, releasing her second EP The Walls Are Way Too Thin in November to critical acclaim, being nominated for the prestigious Rising Star award at the BRIT Awards, and finishing runner up in the BBC Sound of 2021 list.

The Walls Are Way Too Thin, Holly’s second EP release so far. | Photo: Chuff Media

Humberstone, 21, posted on her social media channels on Monday to confirm the news, saying she was “so gassed” to be going on tour with Rodrigo.

She said: “Think I’ll burst with excitement these shows are gonna be the best ever!”

Holly is no stranger to performing Stateside, having made a name for herself on James Corden’s Late Late Show earlier this year and playing multiple headline shows in America also.

The month-long run of the tour will see Holly play most of the North American shows as the opening act for Olivia Rodrigo, starting in New York on April 26, and finishing in Los Angeles on May 25.

The dates for Olivia Rodrigo’s world tour, titled Sour after her debut album of the same name. | Photo: Olivia Rodrigo

A Covid-19 testing bus is launching this week offering supervised lateral flow tests for people without symptoms in areas with high deprivation, low vaccination uptake and high infection rates.

The Lincolnshire County Council’s Public Health has joined forces with Stagecoach to launch the bright green bus providing rapid testing with results within 30 minutes.

Councillor Martin Hill, LCC leader and chair of the Lincolnshire Outbreak Engagement Board, said: “This is another addition to our community testing programme and will help us to identify Covid amongst those people who are showing no signs of having the infection.

“We’ll use the bus at various locations around the county where it might be most needed. It provides a quick and easy way for local residents who might be out shopping or taking a stroll to pop in and take a supervised lateral flow test or pick up test kits.

“Not only will it give people peace of mind with an on-the-spot testing opportunity, it will also provide us with extra data on infection rates – even more important with the new Omicron variant emerging.”

Residents can also pick up test kits to use at home and make sure they aren’t infected before visiting family and friends with vulnerable members, large indoor events or other high-risk environments. Staff will be on hand to provide advice and guidance on testing.

Natalie Liddle, acting head of service – health protection, said: “The testing bus is a timely boost for our testing programme in Lincolnshire.

“The bus will be used in locations across the county where our data shows it is most needed, for example areas of high deprivation, low vaccination uptake and areas where there are high infection rates. The bus will provide residents with quick and easy access to lateral flow testing.”