retiredmartin

September 2026. North Hykeham. Lincolnshire.

You left me in Poachers Brewery Tap at North Hykeham in the suburbs of Lincoln, showing no ill effects from the handful of Devil’s nuts foisted on me by the locals after securing the “tricky” tick in GBG27.

Parked up in my campervan in the industrial estate on the junction of the A46/A1134, I considered my fine dining options for the night.

Traditionally I’d have sought out a Chinese takeaway, but all three (3) were a good 20 minute walk in the wrong direction. Next to me rest stop there’s a Best Western hotel (“cask ale available in the Martini bar“), Hickory’s Smokehouse,

and McDonalds.

Oh, and a terrible Whitbread Brewer’s Fayre that we popped in to use the play area back in December 2003, after I’d made my 4 year old stand on a bitterly cold terrace at Sincil Banks and watch Cambridge lose to Lincoln.

We left the football early, and while James was getting scared by Brewster Bear,

I was finding out from an Imp that Danny Webb had equalised in injury time. You’d have recognised Danny from his career stats;

I digress. While checking out the Brewer’s Fayre I discover it’s just been turned into a bran’ new Spoons, both a superior option for tea and a pre-emptive cert.

Having told you that 6-11 is four hours last time up I’m loathe to work out how long the Hykeham Manor is open, but I can assure you it’s rather more than the Poachers.

It’s even got its own washing machine outside. You can probably live here.

Open less than a year, it’s not heaving with trade now the family play area has gone, and the carpet looks like it hasn’t replaced since an accident at Emily’s 7th birthday party in 2007.

But is it any good ? Well, the cask range is a bit meagre,

but at £1.88 a pint (£1.38 with grubby CAMRA token) who’s complaining ? Mind you, it was only £3 in the Poachers, so you can make a cheap night of your Hykeham weekender.

“That’s the cheapest pint you’ll get anywhere !” says the cheery barmaid.

“And one of the best” I reply, pathetically.

“Yes, Sea Fury is a nice pint“. Aren’t young people great ?

It is a nice pint, and so’s the Abbot I’d stupidly ordered with the honey bowl (not a euphimism). It would have been better VFM to get a soft drink with the food and use the coupon to buy the beer,

but as you’ll know maths aren’t my strong point.