Lincoln’s newest Irish bar, Katie O’Brien’s, officially opened its doors on September 27, 2025, at the former TGI Friday’s site on Lincoln High Street.
Katie O’Brien’s is a new chain of Irish pubs, owned by Innvest Group, that have rapidly expanded since being rebranded in 2023 from The Butterfly Room. Lincoln marks their tenth site opening after beginning their journey in Durham.
The venue has promised to bring an authentic, Irish brand to Lincoln and is known for their live music and traditional Irish stouts such as Guinness and Murphy’s.
Jess Walker, sales and marketing manager for Katie O’Brien’s, said: “We were very excited to have the opportunity to come to Lincoln. Katie’s takes Irish bars to the next level and there is a lot of character with the venue which really comes across when you go to the Lincoln spot.”
The previous TGI Friday’s location closed last Autumn after the company fell into administration, but Lincoln locals have already begun to show their support for the new Irish tavern.
Darren Beckett, 45, estate agent, said: “When I was younger, they had Irish bars in Lincoln, but they have all gone now. It’s nice having something like this back, nowhere else has live music like this.”
Although the pub has not yet had a full week of trading, due to being shut for maintenance shortly after the opening weekend, Jess Walker said that the opening went “really, really well” and that the team was “more than satisfied” with the turnout.