Entertainment in Lincoln

The best place to try and catch a gig during your stay in Lincoln is The Engine Shed. It’s the city’s largest live music venue and has hosted the likes of Gorillaz, Kasabian and 30 Seconds to Mars. What’s more, it’s also had Fatboy Slim, Jaguar Skills and Zane Lowe behind the decks for some insane DJ nights.

It’s named after the city’s old railway engine shed, which stood on the site. What’s in its place now is an absolutely stunning venue with a 1,800-capacity gig space. It’s at the heart of the city and one of the focal points of the university campus, so it’s not hard to find. Just a short walk away from our Lincoln City Centre hotel, it’s pretty handy if you fancy seeing some of the biggest names in music.

For a more low-key place to catch a band, make your way to The Tap & Spile. It’s one of Lincoln’s original live music venues. They put on gigs every Friday and often Saturdays too. Best of all, it’s absolutely free, so you can pop down and enjoy their quality selection of real ales and tap your foot to your heart’s content while listening to the live bands. They changed management not long ago and ever since, the choice of music (and selection of beers) has come on leaps and bounds, delving into jazz, blues and reggae.

Last but by no means least, you should also check out if there are any gigs on at the Lincoln Drill Hall. It’s primarily a theatre venue, but they’ve also been hosting live music for over half a century, including The Rolling Stones in the ’60s. These days, their gig programme is more along the lines of Showaddywaddy and tribute bands, but the renovated Victorian building is a quality venue and still well worth a visit.

If you want to find out more about the Lincoln Drill Hall as a theatre venue, then take a look at our page on Lincoln theatre, where it has its own dedicated section, with more on the shows, events and festivals you can find there. We also delve into some of the city’s other theatre options, including the gilded, Victorian New Theatre Royal in the Cultural Quarter and the city’s famous Chapterhouse Theatre Company, whose company tour the country putting on open-air productions of Shakespeare as well as contemporary plays.

For bellyaching comedy, full of tear-inducing quips and gags, the biggest names on the comedy circuit come to Lincoln to play The Engine Shed. We mentioned it earlier as the city’s premier live music venue, but it’s also hosted the likes of Frankie Boyle, Sarah Millican and Jason Manford.

If you’re looking for a regular stand-up night, the best around is the Red Herring Comedy Club. It usually takes place on the first Saturday of the month at the Lincoln Drill Hall and the people who run it have their finger firmly on the pulse of the national comedy circuit, booking the best in up-and-coming acts from across the country.

Sadly, Lincoln isn’t particularly blessed with sporting prowess. The city’s only professional sports team is Lincoln City FC, who have so far struggled to reach the country’s top division. Nevertheless, ‘The Imps’ (that’s their nickname) are worth checking out for any neutral football fans out there.

They play at Sincil Bank Stadium, which is one road away from the south end of the High Street and just a six-minute drive from our Lincoln (Canwick) hotel. Tickets are affordable, with cheaper deals available for students, families and adults over 60.