BEAR is opening in Lincoln and honestly, your brunch plans just levelled up

Speciality coffee, big‑deal brunch and all‑day hangs are coming to the Cornhill Quarter in summer 2026.

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Independent coffee and brunch favourite BEAR has announced it’s opening a new site in Lincoln – and yes, it means even more decent coffee and brunch is officially on the way to the Cathedral city.

The new spot will take over the old Three Joes unit in the Cornhill Quarter, with doors expected to open in summer 2026. It’ll be BEAR’s ninth site overall and its very first in Lincolnshire, which feels long overdue, really.

If you’ve been to the Nottingham or Derby locations, you’ll know the vibe: speciality coffee, big brunch energy and cocktails if the day calls for it. BEAR describes itself as part coffee house, part kitchen, part bar – basically somewhere you can accidentally spend half your day.

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BEAR in Hockley, Nottingham (IMAGE: BEAR)

The Lincoln opening is part of BEAR’s steady East Midlands takeover, adding to its already busy sites in Nottingham and Derby. Each location keeps the same brand feel but is usually tweaked to suit the city it’s in.

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The new site is being pitched as a go‑to for pretty much everyone – locals, students, office workers and visitors – so expect it to be busy from morning coffees through to late‑afternoon cocktails.

Co‑founder Craig Bunting said Lincoln felt like a perfect fit for the brand, calling it a city with “incredible energy” and a strong sense of community, which is very on‑brand for BEAR. He also confirmed the team is buzzing to open in the Cornhill Quarter and meet their future regulars.

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There’s no exact opening date just yet, but summer 2026 is the target – so for now, all you can do is mentally prepare and start planning who you’re dragging along for that first brunch.

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