Spirits and Stories

Jo and Paul Bycroft have been to a fair few bars in their time, all in the name of industry research.

Over the course of their travels, they came to the conclusion that Lincoln was in desperate need of a destination that was ‘as good’, if not ‘better’, than the stunning bars they had visited elsewhere. Something sophisticated and refined, where the staff had a real knowledge and appreciation for the art of a good drink.

We bring to the table not just quality drinks, but stories. With our extensive knowledge of the grape and the grain, our flair for food, and our passion for entertaining guests, we create experiences that go beyond the ordinary.

Jo’s background in catering began in the 80’s (which makes her feel quite old), when her mum worked in and managed various restaurants in the city. She opened her own tapas restaurant, ‘The Bowl Full’, in the West End of Lincoln in 2004. The restaurant served excellent food to a lot of wonderful customers, but it wasn’t quite a bar. And so, Jo and Paul opened The Optimist in 2015 with the intention to provide both delicious food and decadent drinks.

The Optimist became The Pessimist, and the rest is history.

Whether you’re a ‘glass half empty’ or a ‘glass half full’ person, we have hundreds of glasses and a wide range of different things to fill them with.

The Pessimist is for anyone who likes quality food, delicious drinks, and good company.

We’re open Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm, and Saturdays from 12 noon. Come and have a drink with us.