THE WATER RAT in Harrogate

We had a really nice Sunday lunch carvery last week with a lovely view of the weir & cathedral from our window table. Food was very good although lamb would have been a good option for Easter Sunday? The one criticism (and we are dog lovers) is that dogs are allowed in the restaurant area which is unhygienic. We had one particularly large slobbering dog inches from our table!

Nice relaxing lunchtime at a lovely cosy pub. Food great value and excellent staff

Great food and beer staff are lovely would highly recommend this place

Very pleasant pub inside and out.

Fantastic service and good food

Arrived about 12:30 on a sunny Good Friday. Was told there would be an hours wait for food. Table would be ready at 1:30. We were happy with this as it wasva lovely day and we were sat outside in the sun. Steak pie was homemade, as were the chips. Nice big chunks of meat. Gammon sandwich was amazing too. The girl who was waiting on was doing a sterling job. The landlord was a nice guy too. Apologetic for the wait and appeared to check the waitress was OK, which was nice. Lovely pub with big picture windows with lovely views of the river. Dog friendly too.

Nice place to have a drink by the water and close to town centre

The young lady that was working was lovely, very helpful. The beer was ok. Didn't eat.

We visited for Mothers day and were lucky to be the last sitting as it meant we didn't have to leave. Although all food etc was finished in plenty of time so we wouldn't have been rushed. The food was amazing and generous portions, and service was quick and very friendly with lots of smiles, even at the end of what must have been a very busy day!

Booked this place to meet up with friends having traveled from Scotland. The service was great, waitress was happy, exuberant and fun. Didn’t have to wait long to order drinks or food. Menu is good pub grub. My partner had the sharing seafood platter, it was amazing value for money, he ate the lot! I had beef cheek with mash and roast vegetables. Very tasty. Highly recommend.

Great Sunday lunch at great price and excellent quality.

Lovely view of the river and cathedral. Fish and chips was out of this world. Would definitely recommend!

Lovely spot to have a morning coffee, great views great interior, friendly happy staff, but our coffee was lukewarm, despite that we would go back.

Really nice place. Great view when sitting outside. Staff friendly..

The food is so good. All home made. We went there to celebrate a family event. The staff friendly and helpful. It’s well priced for the quality. We went on 15th Feb for a late lunch and we would like to thank all the staff that served us that day

We had a family lunch here today involving 3 cars arriving from different start points. We were early. We didn't know what name the table was booked under. Not a problem. We were made to feel really welcome. The rest of our party were delayed so by the time we all arrived it was close to the kitchen closing. Again, not a problem. We didn't feel stressed at all. Lots of choice on the menu. We liked that there were so many fish dishes. We all really enjoyed our food. Overall we felt really welcomed. It's a shame we are not local or we'd be back really soon.

Nice location overlooking river and weir. Enthusiastic welcome but seemed to lose concentration (chatting to friends/staff). Average food, the small fish though fresh, about the size of a sardine. Overall, nowt special.

The best pub in town, the staff are amazing friendly and attentive. The beer is always clean clear and tasty. The food, well thats on another level for pub dining. The sharing seafood board is unreal, the batter on the fish must be made with magic we have never tasted anything like it, light crispy and fresh. And you couldnt get a better setting. Keep up the good work. Xx

Beautiful view and staff very friendly and helpful

…Still the best place in town for me! X the staff are exceptionally good x and locals that know just how to behave….i hope this place stays a great as it always has been x jeC

My wife Googled for a nice looking pub on our way to Whitly Bay and picked this. She booked as we were driving and I'm so glad she did! The pub is lovely and in a really nice spot by the river (even though the weather was absolutely freezing!) We were warmly greeted (sorry I didn't get her name) and had lovely service. The food though, was absolutely fantastic. There was a great selection of ales (and a fantastic choice of alcohol free too,) Both my starter and main course were made with locally sourced produce (pigeon breast with black pudding and a beef cheek with horseradish mash) and were so very tasty. Definitely recommend this place if you're in the area.

Great little pub staff brilliant 👏 great new-year do

Lovely food. The staff were really attentive and well presentated. The location is great, I look forward to visiting in summer

Food was very good lovely staff very friendly and dog friendly too Will definitely go again soon

Food was lovely, had a great table over looking the river and a nice atmosphere as well

A really great place to eat and drink

Nice pub by the river. Staff where great and very attentive. Dog friendly too.

We called in for lunch on our trip away last week. I wish we lived closer as everything was superb! If we are ever in the area again we would definitely go again 😊

An evening visit with family for food and drinks. Excellent food great friendly staff especially Holly and Dan they made our visit memorable we highly recommend this venue

The landlord is very welcoming and knowledgeable about local ales, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. The atmosphere is homely, and the views are idyllic, making you feel welcome whatever the weather.

Great pub by the river watching the kingfishers. Good lunch stop and good value.

Great find this with a window seat next to the river and a friendly warm atmosphere. Carvery food was excellent and the staff very attentive. Busy place too so you will need to book. Loved it

Had a pint here, friendly service and not too expensive. Sat at the outside tables right next to the roaring river, which have a great view up towards the Cathedral.

We visited The Water Rat as part of the new food tour run by Yorkshire Appetite Food Tours. A great location by the water, delicious food offerings and nice service and atmosphere. Will definitely return.

We stopped at The Water Rat for lunch on our way to North Yorkshire. When we arrived we weee advised there was a bit of a wait for food but we weren’t in a hurry so that was no problem. Had a wander round Ripon and then back and straight to a table. Well worth the wait, the food and beer were excellent as were the views over the adjacent river which included spotting some Kingfishers darting about. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Great pub along the riverside at Ripon the food was homemade service was excellent great value and the decor is lovely

I had a wonderful time at the Water Rat, a cosy pub by the river in Ripon. The Sunday carvery was fantastic, with tender and juicy meat, crispy roast potatoes, and a generous selection of vegetables. The gravy was rich and flavourful, and the Yorkshire pudding was the best I’ve ever had. The beer was also excellent, with a variety of real ales to choose from. The landlord and landlady were very welcoming and friendly, and made us feel at home. The service was fast and efficient, and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant. The pub has a lovely view of the river, and a nice patio area for sunny days. I highly recommend the Water Rat for anyone looking for a great pub and restaurant by the river in Ripon. It’s a hidden gem that you won’t regret visiting.

Had a nice Sunday Carvery here today. I prefer my roast potatoes a little crispy but, other than that, very nice. I noticed that the outdoor seating area caught the sunshine from midday too. 😎

Very disappointed. We came for a meal, walked in and there was a staff member who was looking right at us as we stood there waiting but made no attempt to greet us. I said to my partner that maybe we seat ourselves so we, in full view of same staff member plus another behind the bar, went to sit down. We saw a table in the window which had a reserved sign on from 2 hours before so went to ask could we sit there, only to be told they have no availability. This could have been communicated to us by the initial staff member, instead of her gawping at us when we were obviously waiting to be seated. The second staff member behind the bar could also have said something when we went to seat ourselves. On reflection glad they didn't try to squeeze us in or anything because this didn't instill a sense that the service would be any good. I don't think I would return.

A lovely pub on the banks of the river. Great customer service.

A great place to visit when in Ripon

We were able to enjoy a drink outside overlooking the river, it's a very popular place. They sell the Best Pork Scratchings.

First time visiting this little find, must say we were made very welcome by all the staff, friendly atmosphere, lovely food and excellent service. Thank you, we will return with our dogs

Dog friendly riverside pub. Parking would be a problem as it's a short dead end street.

Beautiful setting, delicious food, lovely staff. What more could you want 😊

Had a lovely window seat and view of the water. Staff were very attentive and polite. Menu is limited but what we had was nice, nothing really special but not expensive either. Down side was the dogs, inconsiderate owners letting them wander around, very off putting when served food

Fabulous place, staff and atmosphere!

So nice when staff are accommodating . They let dogs in . Portions good sizes and delicious . Comfortable seating with sliding windows overlooking the water so relaxing

Great atmosphere and great staff. Nice views of the river too, although the outdoor seating is limited

Thatcher's Gold only cider on tap. Pepsi served completely flat. Burger well overcooked - very dry. Chips were good. Dirty carpet badly needed a hoover. Rowdy lot in outside seating area smoking, swearing and using racial slurs. Lovely friendly staff and fast service let down by almost everything else. 3 stars is generous.

Popped in on the off chance for Sunday dinner and were found a table immediately. Food was great, a carvery with several meat choices. Pudding portion was huge and delicious.. Good value for 3 courses.

Lovely afternoon, lovely scenery, and good food,. My only downside was small , but I just wished they offered more sandwiches selection,. Lovely

The most fabulous pub in Ripon by far to date. Staff with an awesome sense of humour but also professional and real! Food is great and the staff seemed to be working excellently as a team. Also what a splendid array of crisps! x The real jeC x

Very disappointed that the expensive "sharing" platter was barely enough for one. Wonderful staff and location though.

Popped in for a family meal. We hadn't booked but luckily there was one table available. There was a problem with the card machine but Dan, the manager, kindly stated we could bank transfer instead. The food was delicious and the portions very generous. Staff...

We had a wonderful time at the Water Rat pub with my family. The roast beef was delicious, tender and juicy, and served with a generous portion of Yorkshire pudding, gravy, vegetables and roast potatoes. The service was fantastic, the staff were friendly, attentive and...

I only leave reviews if I’m either very happy or very disappointed. Extremely disappointed with the Sunday carvery yesterday. How an employed ‘chef’ cannot cook and produce a Sunday roast is beyond me. Firstly we sat outside for a drink before lunch, the table had...

Arrived and met by pleasant staff . Decided to have one drink . Cash only ! Had a problem with the card machine . We didn't have cash so the kind lady agreed for us to bank transfer the funds to the account . Sat...

The girls inside were very friendly and helpful. Popped in for a drink in the sun after a walk, tables outside were quite busy and a lot of empty glasses. We managed to get the last table and luckily it was in the sun, was...

Lovely place to visit but disappointed card machine wasn't working and neither was coffee machine 😕

Excellent setting and service. Lunch menu good and reasonably priced. Food very good.

Picturesque pub on the river bank serving great wine and beer, dog friendly with great views.

Fantastic pub right on the river, you couldn't ask for a better location. Had an excellent meal with the family with us having the sharing platters which were fabulous. Would recommend this for all

had a wonderful time at the Water Rat, a cosy and friendly pub in ripon. The bar manager Dan is a great host, always ready to chat and make you feel welcome. He knows how to pour a perfect pint of beer, and he has...

My partner and I have been on a tour of Yorkshire for the past couple of weeks and got recommended The Water Rat by a friend who is fairly local. Honestly, hands down the best pub we've visited so far (believe me, there have been...

Great pub with a good atmosphere, good food, great staff and a good view.

Although the staff were lovely and helpful the carvery wasn't very nice. There were flies flying round the food. The meat was lovely and cooked well but the choice of vegetables was very poor. It wasn't very hot either. I would recommend the carved at all.

This lovely local pub in an amazing setting on the River is starting to grow on me. 3rd visit now in 2 weeks. Great beers, friendly service nice vibe inside. Seating outside to sit alongside the river and overlooked by Ripon Cathedral. Albeit not many tables. Haven't eaten there yet but the food coming out of the kitchen looked great and well presented.

Nice spot. Right by the river. Book 📖 f you want a window seat. Food choice was good. Food portions were huge and delicious. Staff were super nice if a little harried. Dog was welcome. Good choice of low alcohol beers.

Really lovely spot by the river

Sadly, not a very good experience today. Been before so was disappointed this time. Menu choices very limited, not enough variety. Service for food - dreadful, so slow, but no complaints about the food. The premises were not busy, so standards should have been better. Two staff serving were very polite, however, they were having to apologise to people for the long wait. Busy season ahead...... hope things improve, it's in a lovely location.

Nice and friendly as usual, staff were very nice and helpful. Always enjoy our visit as we come from blackpool and we always call in when in Ripon.

We had a lovely meal with a view of the river. Staff were very frienldy. The cajun haddock was lovely. Would definely return and recommend.

Fabulous setting and fabulous food ! Seafood sharing platter was excellent and the sauce on the chicken wings and chipolatas is addictive !!

The Water Rat is a perfect place to stop by after a walk along the river or a visit to the nearby cathedral. I would highly recommend this pub to anyone looking for a quality and affordable pub experience in Ripon

Good food and great friendly service. Nice location.

Great location and very friendly staff. Food we had was good, chicken burger and both if us finished our plates. Unfortunately I had been given 3 dirty glasses. Two I cleaned myself, the third I handed back. Having worked in a pub for years myself,...

That's the last time i visit this venue, i live about 15 minutes Away, i ordered a small platter of haddock gujons and a small portion of chips, i got a plate for three people. The food was greasy, two of the gujons had no...

Great food and beer with lovely river view

Lovely pub by the river! Nice little outside area and pub spotlessly clean and a friendly, helpful staff member/manager/owner behind the bar!👍

We stumbled across this lovely looking place in a great location by a quiet spot by the river on a walk, did some googling to check it was dog-friendly and came back for dinner. The long windows looking out to the river offer a fabulous...

Lovely spot by the river, good selection of local real ales in good condition

Dream location ,relaxing stunning and inspiring views. Lovely food good price and excellent quality Friendly pleasant staff .

We visited for the first time today with family. Whilst our booking had somehow been missed, we didn’t really care… they sorted a table, tried to figure out how it had been missed, and we had a lovely time. Service was great, food was bloody...

Lovely place, with fantastic atmosphere and views. Really friendly staff and customers. Relaxed and welcoming. Wished we had gone for food as looked delicious.

3 bar snacks £15, what I had where really nice.

Table for 2, lovely interior although the carvery table is tucked away in a corner and not very well designed, it's cramped and creates a bottleneck when people are trying to get to the table with sauces. I assume this is why they have a...

They got my drink wrong I ordered a lemonade and they gave me fizzy water then said they might of run out of lemonade horrible kids choices tried to make me pay double what I ordered it took about 1 hour to arrive and then...

Fabulous place, fabulous staff and the food is pretty fabulous as well. Highly recommended.Not sure there is anything more I can say, it's still fabulous and I'm enjoying the new menu. Good job guys.can not find anything else to say it's still fabulous.Still doing a great job and I'm happy to say still good and busy.

Great Riverside location with outdoor seating, good selection of drinks and good pub food.

Fantastic Sunday carvery. Great value and super roasts. Beer well kept. Seating by the river is a bonus

Fantastic Sunday lunch, generous portions and warm welcome. Great atmosphere, family friendly and a wonderful view out of the huge windows onto the water

Tried this pub/restaurant in a great location by the river. Quite an extensive menu, maybe too much choice with some very gastro choices 🤔. Thought a couple more simple dishes would have been good on the menu like a pie etc. I had a sandwich,...

Fantastic day here as 29 of us-family meet up as we are here from Australia. Beautiful location. Lovely food, excellent service. Highly recommend The Water Rat.

Read quite alot of good reviews, so decided to go with my friend. Lovely setting, just by the river. We booked a table for evening meal. Food was terrible!! Battered fish was tasteless and my chips were soggy and slightly burnt. This was mentioned to the waitress. She did offer to replace the chips which were exactly like my original ones. Definitely not freshly prepared!! My dessert was a white chocolate and raspberry tart which was hard and tasted stale ! I didn't eat it apart from a couple of mouthfuls. Extremely disappointed as I wasted good money!! Definitely won't return 😕

went in there yesterday, only 2 real ales on & neither l would recommend so l went on the Guinness

Lovely location by the river. Unfortunately, it seems to be a popular place for dog walkers to stop after walking their dogs. A case love me. Love my dog.

Great little traditional pub with a good menue.

This is an excellent pub with very tasty food and lovely staff. We had a Saturday night but to eat here - three of us with two dogs- and were made very welcome. Mixed a couple of small plates with mains and all was very...

Love it here, if it's sunny, you can sit outside watching and listening the river flow by with a lovely pint. I recommend the fish finger sandwich for a lunchtime snack 😋