Andrew Macdonald is a professional potter and owner of The Pot Shop in Steep Hill.
Q: What’s your favourite thing about living in Lincoln?
A: It’s a nice city, it’s a pretty city, it has a wow factor. I think it’s moving in the right direction. It’s getting better. The town centre is lively, and it’s getting better because the number of independent businesses, shops and restaurants is increasing. The city is becoming a magnet for them.
Q: What’s your favourite place to go in Lincoln? And why?
A: Well Steep Hill, of course. It has a lot going for it, it’s attractive, it’s a one-off, it wasn’t built as a shopping arcade, but that’s happened by good fortune. It has got the beautiful cathedral at the top and then it’s got the commercial centre which is doing okay too. So Steep Hill is sort of the strange in-between bit.
Q: What would be your perfect Saturday in Lincoln?
A: So, I’m an official potter. I do it as a job. I obviously like it, but you must measure that by having time off and looking after yourself. It is tough. I mean people will think you just sit here painting pottery, and it is all easy, but it’s not. There’s a lot of graft that goes on behind the scenes. But being at the market at the top with nice weather helps. And Lincoln is really good for places to eat. It’s got just about everything. We are absolutely spoiled. You go away to another city and come back, and you realise how good it really is. It’s like you take it all for granted when you live here.
Q: If you could change one thing about Lincoln, what would it be?
A: They need to relentlessly put in resources for dealing with homeless people. Okay so they had the lovely light show – it cost thousands of pounds – but people are avoiding Steep Hill because they get accosted by these people begging all the time and being really loud. I know it’s a difficult and relentless thing to do and I know a lot of them are coming out of institutions, but they really need to offer something.