The Famous Grouse Hotel

About The Famous Grouse Hotel

The Famous Grouse Hotel is Lincoln's only pub, standing on the same spot for over 140 years. The site's first licence was issued to Scotsman Andrew Arklie in 1868, who named his hotel The Perthshire Arms after the home he'd left in Scotland. A brick and concrete replacement, The Lincoln Hotel, opened in 1885, and the name changed to The Famous Grouse Hotel in 1996, linking back to the whisky brewed in Perthshire, Scotland - and to Arklie's own roots.

The original 1885 building stood until the Canterbury earthquake of 4 September 2010 left it condemned; it came down ten days later at 125 years old in front of an emotional crowd of long-time locals. Today's hotel is a modern rebuild that retains stylistic qualities from the previous structure.

Situated 20 minutes from Christchurch in Lincoln, Canterbury, the hotel offers a main bar, garden bar and separate restaurant serving gastro pub food all day including breakfast, along with modern 9-room accommodation and a conference room available for hire.

The Famous Grouse Hotel: Lincoln's Only Pub, 140 Years and Counting

Lincoln, Canterbury has only ever had one pub, and it has stood on the same spot - give or take a few metres - for over 140 years. The story begins in 1868, when Scotsman Andrew Arklie was issued the first licence in Lincoln and named his hotel The Perthshire Arms after the home he'd left in Scotland. It became a popular venue for dinner parties after sporting events, agricultural shows and ploughing contests, and hosted important public meetings, including a 1872 committee gathering for a proposed railway line.

From The Perthshire Arms to The Famous Grouse

In 1882 the hotel was sold to David Bartram, who built a brick and concrete replacement, opened in 1885 as The Lincoln Hotel with "splendid accommodation, private suites plus a new billiard table". The Lincoln Lawn Tennis Club was formed there, pigeon shooting was hosted through the 1880s, and the local rugby team held its after-match dinners at the pub. In 1996 the hotel took its current name, The Famous Grouse Hotel, after the whisky brewed in Perthshire, Scotland - a fitting nod back to Arklie's own roots.

Surviving the Earthquake

The 1885 building stood for 125 years until the Canterbury earthquake of 4 September 2010, when the chimney on the William Street side collapsed onto the back bar extension and the structure was condemned. It came down ten days later in front of an emotional crowd of locals, some of whom had been drinking there for over 70 years. The back bar extension kept operating on a smaller scale while planning began on a replacement, and today's Famous Grouse Hotel is a modern rebuild that retains stylistic qualities from the original.

Food, Drink and a Place to Stay

Today the hotel offers a main bar, garden bar and separate restaurant serving gastro pub food all day, including breakfast until 2pm, snacks from 11am, lunch from midday, and dinner from 5pm. The menu ranges from a Big Brekky and eggs benedict through to burgers, salads, a Canterbury lamb shank, pan seared salmon and steaks cooked from the grill - sirloin, Angus ribeye or rump, with a choice of sides and sauces. Share platters like the Mixed Grill and Taco Platter suit a table, and a kids menu runs all day.

The hotel also offers modern 9-room accommodation, along with a conference room available for hire, and pours a wine list running from Marlborough sauvignon blanc and pinot noir through to Central Otago pinot gris and riesling.

Visiting The Famous Grouse Hotel

Just 20 minutes from Christchurch, The Famous Grouse Hotel is open from 11am Monday to Thursday and from 10am Friday to Sunday, at 2 Gerald Street, Lincoln.

Signature items

• Canterbury Lamb Shank
• Mixed Grill Platter
• Pan Seared Salmon
• Devils Chicken Nibbles
• Angus Ribeye
• Lamb Quesadilla

Menu

Entree

• Garlic Bread — Garlic focaccia with housemade hummus
• Cauliflower Nuggets — Served with pomegranate sauce
• Dumplings — Pork and coriander dumplings with housemade sauce

Dessert

• Tiramisu — With ice cream and whipped cream
• Chocolate Brownie — With berry compote and cream
• Ice Cream Sundae — Choice of caramel, chocolate or berry
• Cheesecake of the Day — Chef's creation

From The Grill

• Sirloin (200g) — Choice of two sides and a sauce
• Angus Ribeye (300g) — Choice of two sides and a sauce
• Rump (500g) — Choice of two sides and a sauce

Kids (All Day)

• Fish Bites — With golden fries and tomato sauce
• Mini Hotdogs — With golden fries and tomato sauce
• Chicken Nuggets — With golden fries and tomato sauce
• Spaghetti — Meatballs in napoli sauce with spaghetti and cheese
• Cheeseburger — Beef patty, melted cheese and tomato sauce with golden fries
• Kids Sundae — Choice of caramel, chocolate or berry

Share Platters

• Mixed Grill Platter — Angus rump, BBQ chicken wings, Cumberland sausage, calamari, chicken tenders, ranch slaw, wedges with sour cream, sweet chilli and aioli
• Taco Platter — Chicken, fish and pork belly tacos with guacamole, salsa and iceberg lettuce (9 pieces)
• Deep Fried Platter — Fries, vegetable samosas, vegetable spring rolls, prawn twisters, jalapeno bites and lamb bites with sauces

Lunch (12pm-5pm)

• Sirloin Steak — 200g sirloin cooked to your liking with fries, two eggs and red wine jus
• Fish & Chips — Lightly beer battered fish of the day with fries, garden salad, tartare sauce and lemon
• Roast of the Day — Roast meat with today's roasted vegetables and housemade gravy
• BBQ Ribs — Sticky BBQ pork ribs with ranch slaw and crispy fries
• Chicken Parmigiana — Crumbed chicken breast with napoli sauce and melted cheese, fries and salad
• Chicken Burger — Fried chicken with bacon, lettuce, tomato, cranberry sauce and smoky aioli, served with fries
• Beef Burger — Two smashed patties with bacon, smoked cheese, lettuce, crispy onion and smoky aioli, served with fries
• Veggie Wizard Burger — Double mixed vegetable patty with lettuce, beetroot, tomato and sundried tomato chutney, served with fries
• Fish Burger — Beer battered fish with tartare sauce, lettuce and pickles, served with fries
• Cajun Chicken Salad — Chicken and bacon in housemade cajun spice, crispy salad with yoghurt dressing
• Moroccan Lamb Salad — Marinated Moroccan lamb, crispy salad with olives, feta and tzatziki
• Halloumi Salad — Grilled halloumi and maple glazed nuts in a crispy salad with house dressing

Dinner (From 5pm)

• Prawn Linguine — Marinated tiger prawns in a chorizo-based tomato sauce, topped with cheese
• Roast of the Day — Roast meat with today's roasted vegetables and housemade gravy
• Pork Belly — Crispy slow cooked pork belly with creamy garlic mash, red wine jus and apple fennel slaw
• Chicken & Mash — Buttermilk fried chicken leg with creamy garlic mash, broccolini, gravy and crispy crackling
• Fish & Chips — Lightly beer battered fish of the day with fries, garden salad, tartare sauce and lemon
• Canterbury Lamb Shank — Slow-cooked with creamy mash, peas and red wine jus
• Pan Seared Salmon — Creamy mash, blanched leek and bacon scallops, drizzled with housemade hollandaise
• Lamb Rump — Sliced with housemade hummus, pita bread, pine nuts and fresh salad
• Cajun Chicken Salad — Chicken and bacon in housemade cajun spice, crispy salad with yoghurt dressing
• Halloumi Salad — Grilled halloumi and maple glazed nuts in a crispy salad with house dressing
• Chicken Burger — Fried chicken with bacon, lettuce, tomato, cranberry sauce and smoky aioli, served with fries
• Smashed Beef Burger — Two smashed patties with bacon, smoked cheese, lettuce, crispy onion and smoky aioli, served with fries
• Veggie Wizard Burger — Double mixed vegetable patty with lettuce, beetroot, tomato and sundried tomato chutney, served with fries
• Fish Burger — Beer battered fish with tartare sauce, lettuce and pickles, served with fries

Snacks (From 11am)

• Fries — With tomato sauce and aioli
• Wedges — With sour cream and sweet chilli
• Devils Chicken Nibbles — Sri Lankan hot sauce with grilled onions and peppers, 10 pieces
• Dumplings — Pork and coriander dumplings with housemade sauce, 10 pieces
• Garlic Bread — Garlic focaccia with housemade hummus
• Fried Chicken Tenders — Buttermilk-soaked chicken tenders with fries and ranch
• Mexican Beef Nachos — With cheese, guacamole and sour cream
• Fried Cauliflower — Served with pomegranate sauce
• Lamb Quesadilla — Crispy quesadilla with seasoned lamb, black bean paste, melted cheese, sour cream, salsa and guacamole

Breakfast (Til 2pm)

• Big Brekky — Eggs your way with bacon, sausage, housemade beans, hashbrowns, tomatoes and mushrooms on toasted sourdough
• Eggs Benedict — English muffins with spinach, poached eggs and hollandaise, streaky bacon and hash browns
• Bacon & Eggs — Cooked your way, served with toasted sourdough
• Waffles — Streaky bacon, caramelised banana, mascarpone, berry coulis and maple syrup
• Corn Fritters — Homemade fritters with sweet chilli, baby spinach, avocado and sour cream
• Kids Wee Brekky — Half-sized breakfast with egg your way, bacon, sausage, beans, hashbrown, tomato and mushrooms
• Kids Bacon & Egg — Streaky bacon, fried egg and toast

Frequently asked questions

Where is The Famous Grouse Hotel located?

At 2 Gerald Street, Lincoln 7608, Canterbury, about 20 minutes from Christchurch.

What are the opening hours?

From 11am Monday to Thursday, and from 10am Friday to Sunday.

Why is it called The Famous Grouse Hotel?

The hotel took the name in 1996, after the whisky brewed in Perthshire, Scotland - linking back to its first licensee, Scotsman Andrew Arklie.

Is The Famous Grouse Hotel the oldest pub in Lincoln?

Yes, it's the only pub Lincoln has ever had, standing on the same site for over 140 years.

Does the hotel offer accommodation?

Yes, modern 9-room accommodation is available for bookings.

Is there a kids menu?

Yes, available all day, including fish bites, mini hotdogs, spaghetti and a kids sundae.

Can I book a conference room?

Yes, the conference room and facilities are available for hire.

Tips

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• {"body":"The Mixed Grill and Taco Platter are built for the table.","title":"Go for a share platter"}
• {"body":"The hotel has 9 modern rooms available for bookings.","title":"Ask about accommodation"}
• {"body":"Open from 10am Friday to Sunday, versus 11am Monday to Thursday.","title":"Note the earlier weekend start"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Kids menu available all day"}