The Laboratory

After weaving your way through acre after acre of new subdivisions, you’ll find yourself in the heart of Lincoln’s township and at the doorstep of a building that looks like it’s been here forever. But don’t be fooled! The Laboratory was designed and built in 2015, using recycled materials salvaged from earthquake-damaged Christchurch. It's a space that blends history, creativity, and community into something truly special.

Step inside and you’ll find a welcoming, quirky venue offering an excellent range of craft beer brewed onsite, including traditional English-style hand-pulled ales served straight from the cask. Pair your pint with wood-fired pizzas, tapas-style plates, or comforting dishes perfect for sharing (or not!).

The drinks menu doesn’t stop at beer, there’s a thoughtfully curated wine list, handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, and a surprising range of whisky tucked away in the cosy little snug bar.

If the Laboratory’s food and drink offerings weren’t enough to entice you, the décor is something to behold. Expect stripped back brick walls, high-beamed ceilings, and the old bar counter from the Hororata Hotel. A toasty log burner takes pride of place in the restaurant’s centre while the enclosed courtyard, with its own fire, makes even cool evenings inviting. The Laboratory is an eclectic mix of mismatched old furniture, kitsch Royal Doulton wash basins, lamps and knick-knacks. There’s plenty to remind you of your schooldays spent in the science lab too: Bunsen burners hold table numbers, flasks carry wine and beakers are used for sampling the brews. Upstairs you’ll find a cosy lounge with retro couches, red glowing mannequins as lights & intimate seating nooks.

For the film lovers amongst us there is a boutique cinema with 15 plush seats showing all of the latest movies. You can book it out for a private screening for you and your friends, a kid’s birthday or even show your own film. Families are always welcome, and the beer garden and adjoining village green offer a great place for the kids to run around and enjoy the toys and games.

A place full of character, comfort and bucketfuls of charm, The Laboratory is well worth the drive from the city, you never know, it may even make it worth buying one of those new houses!