Quick info
About The Open Door
Volunteer baristas and bakers run The Open Door, a charitable cafe on Station Rd in Lincoln that sits a few minutes off the Water Rail Way. That position makes it a stop for cyclists and walkers, and bike racks with room around the back mean bikes can be parked and secured. The small menu keeps to bacon baps, toasties and homemade sausage rolls, alongside homemade cakes such as carrot cake, with coffee and pots of tea to go with them. Seating spreads between the inside room and a courtyard terrace for anyone who prefers to eat outdoors, and high chairs are on hand for families with young children. A step-free, wheelchair-accessible entrance serves visitors with mobility needs, and dogs are welcome. Tables work on a walk-in basis, with daytime opening Monday to Saturday and closures on Thursdays and Sundays. Parking a car close by is awkward, so arriving on foot or by bike is easier. A shelf of books and a few local crafts for sale fill out the room.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
Menu & Prices
37 dishes · mains £1–5- Pot Of Tea (For One)£2.00
- Pot Of Tea (For Two)£3.00
- Speciality Tea£2.00
- Iced Tea£2.00
- Summer Coolers£2.50
- Americano£2.20
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention homemade cake, bacon roll, bike parking and coffee and tea.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention homemade cake, bacon roll, bike parking and coffee and tea.
Customer Review Summary
Cyclists and walkers on the Water Rail Way make up most of the visitors, and reviewers repeatedly describe it as a cycle stop with a back terrace and courtyard where bikes can be kept safely while they sit out in the sunshine. Coffee is the most common draw, with one reviewer calling it the best they had in a long time and another calling it excellent. Close behind are the baked goods and cafe food: chocolate cake, homemade carrot cake, homemade sausage rolls, a bacon butty, bacon rolls, a cheese and tomato toastie, and a generous pot of tea. Reviewers describe the staff as friendly, lovely and always smiling, and several note the volunteer, charitable setup. Small touches earn mentions too, including local crafts for sale, books on a shelf and complementary toiletries in the toilet. Prices are called reasonable and not over priced. The one complaint is parking, with a single reviewer saying finding a spot for the car was the only issue. Several reviewers say they were drawn in by a friendly chat at the door or a local's tip.
Customer Review Summary
Cyclists and walkers on the Water Rail Way make up most of the visitors, and reviewers repeatedly describe it as a cycle stop with a back terrace and courtyard where bikes can be kept safely while they sit out in the sunshine. Coffee is the most common draw, with one reviewer calling it the best they had in a long time and another calling it excellent. Close behind are the baked goods and cafe food: chocolate cake, homemade carrot cake, homemade sausage rolls, a bacon butty, bacon rolls, a cheese and tomato toastie, and a generous pot of tea. Reviewers describe the staff as friendly, lovely and always smiling, and several note the volunteer, charitable setup. Small touches earn mentions too, including local crafts for sale, books on a shelf and complementary toiletries in the toilet. Prices are called reasonable and not over priced. The one complaint is parking, with a single reviewer saying finding a spot for the car was the only issue. Several reviewers say they were drawn in by a friendly chat at the door or a local's tip.
Featured reviews
- tony foster
“Lovely cafe had bacon roll and cheese and tomato toastie with coffee after cycling along the waterway trail”
- Tony Riley
“Wonderful people showing how to provide for the community. Charlotte & her team of volunteer baristas & bakers offer all that you could want from a local independent, & charitable, cafe. And they have a lovely courtyard space + bike racks which are perfect for Water Railway travellers”
- Matthew
“Came in from a walk from Lincoln, had 2 homemade sausage rolls, bacon & cheese bap and the Homemade Carrot cake which I highly recommend Charlotte working there is friendly and easy to talk to.”
- Paul
“Relley nice people friendly and a good service I just popped in for a coffee and some cake best coffee I had for a long time I definitely recommend dropping in if your passing”
- Martin Johnson
“Just want to give a shout out to this place and the young ladies running it. Great place, well worth a stop, 5 mins off the Water Rail Way. Home made everything, always smiling.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Closed
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed outside
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Casual
- On-site services
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Dessert
- Dining options· 6
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Seating
- Table service
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Highlights· 1
- Great tea selection
- Popular for· 2
- Solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Atmosphere· 1
- Cosy
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
Location
Cafes near The Open Door
- Rosie Lea4.51085.8 mi awayOutdoor seatingDelivery
full english breakfast, bacon butties, salted caramel milkshake
- Branston Café4.52806.3 mi awayOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
veggie breakfast, full english breakfast, homemade cakes
- The Tea Cosy4.7947.8 mi awayOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsReservations
homemade cakes and scones, pots of tea, chocolate cake
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Open DoorOutdoor seating | 4.9131 | — | homemade cake, bacon roll, bike parking |
| Rosie LeaOutdoor seating · Delivery | 4.5108 | 5.8 mi away | full english breakfast, bacon butties, salted caramel milkshake |
| Branston CaféOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.5280 | 6.3 mi away | veggie breakfast, full english breakfast, homemade cakes |
| The Tea CosyOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Reservations | 4.794 | 7.8 mi away | homemade cakes and scones, pots of tea, chocolate cake |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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