THE WATER RAT in Harrogate

Food was cold, no stuffing, hard parsnips, cold plates and tasteless gravy. Toilets also dirty with no toilet roll. No excuse considering we were first sitting, how was the food so cold? I've had good food here before but was very disappointed with the Sunday carvery on this occasion, especially as it was a family celebration. Reluctant to go back.

Just a quick pitstop while out walking. I had a nice Jack Daniel's then went on my way... the pub was nice and clean and quiet. I'll probably call in again at some point.

Great service and delicious food, also dog friendly 😋

We like visiting The Water Rat. Great location next to the river. Welcoming staff. Good food, including the option of small portions. Dog friendly. Only downside is no car park and when busy have to park a little distance away.

We attended on a Thursday, which is Burger Night and enjoyed 2 great burgers for only £20. Great lighting, lovely atmosphere and busy! What stood out for us was the impeccable service from the manager Holly! What an asset she would be to any business! She was happy and bubbly and at the same time an absolute professional! Thanks for a great night! Also a lovely view of the cathedral and the river and the guest ales were fabulous!

Definitely the best place for romantic date , Brownie was delicious. View on the small river was marvellous. Prices are reasonable ,service was great with a nice smile .. really recommend it for couples and groups.

Lovely sunny day by canal sitting outside ,prompt service and gluten free options.So good we went again for a drink the next day.and also dog friendly

Great little place will definitely be back

We has passed the Water Rat on a morning stroll on Ripon’s River Skell Trail and then it was recommended by the Pet Shop owner just off the town square, so we booked online and rang ahead just to be sure. We were a little early but were shown to our table with my name chalked nicely on a place setting. Straight away we could feel the family-parlour-like ambiance, with a modest number of patrons including a table full of real club members (this being a Tuesday night). I ordered a Theakstons and Michele had a Pepsi. The manageress and her deputy were full of welcomes to our little Cockapoo who was happy to share floor space with a black lab. It’s always a good feeling to share in the admiring glances from other customers and it was clear this really is a dog friendly establishment. I ordered the soup of the day (cauliflower curry) with a Steak Pie as my main , while Michele had Hummus with Crudities and Flatbread followed by Cajun Chicken Burger. The soup was gorgeous with just the right amount of cumin. It was served with fresh bread and herb butter on a wooden platter. M’s hummus went down well too. She throughly enjoyed her Cajun Chicken while I tackled the pie. With pie crust like this I will seriously consider coming back, from Ashington, just for afternoon tea. The steak was unctuous although perhaps a little salty for me. The steamed green beans, sugar snaps and shredded savoy cabbage complemented the mash beautifully and there was a beef dripping gravy too! We were full as ticks but I had spotted hot chocolate on the menu and asked if I might try one. This struck a chord and the manageress decided she would essay a new recipe - “what would I think if there were nutella-like hazelnut overtones(?)”. I was game and it was exceptional. I could go on…these two young people are working very hard and deserve every success. Try it and see.

Six of us went here for dinner. What a lovely pub! The two members of staff who served us were brilliant. The food was excellent and good value. The location, atmosphere and feel of the pub was lovely. We will definitely return. This is a real hidden gem.

It’s a nice pub with a nice outlook, service was very slow but the food arrived fairly quickly, the food itself was typical pub grub, edible without any wow factor, it’s no different to anywhere else now but when did a burger with a small portion of fries become almost £15?!

Visited today for Sunday Lunch. Food luke warm, needed to ask for a steak knife to cut through the beef, gravy very watery and I’ve never known roast potatoes on a Sunday Lunch to be coated in garlic Very Dissapointed

"Just" saw this hidden treasure as we were driving past on the main road and am glad we turned around Had the carvery which was excellent together with the service and position near a small river 👏👏👏👏

Lovely and friendly staff, good choice of food and pleasant seating area to eat and drink. Good value for money. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Nice and clean good selection of beers,and reasonable price staff smart and very pleasant nice surroundings.

Outside seating on canal bank very popular pub.

Fab local. The staff work so hard and all with such lovely smiles!

Worst carvery I've had Meat so tough they struggled with carving knife, so blunt table knives were useless. Wouldn't recommend it

Beautiful waterside location. Nicely decorated inside too. Customer services was spot on and the food was great 👍

Nice setting with view on the cathedral over the river. Enthusiastic waitress. Most of the wines on the menu were sold out. Had a very nice seafood platter to share, followed by good chicken and a crispy fish with chips. Good values for money

Booked a table for the Sunday Carvery at 2pm. Very impressed with the food. Great roast meats and excellent replenishing of vegetables after each sitting. Service efficient and friendly. We will be back!

Friendly atmosphere, staff organised and efficient. Food and drinks great and good value. Will call again when in area

Lovely pub well placed next to the river in the beautiful market town of Ripon. We have the Sunday carvery. Food was well cooked and the dessert cheesecake really nice. 20 quid for two courses was good value I thought. Service is a bit slow and chaotic which kind of let the place down. The two hardworking staff members looked absolutely exhausted when we arrived and you have to wait a fair while before the carvery is staffed to get your meal. Would go back through

Just stopped off for a drink. Nice location by the river, would imagine very busy on a sunny day. Friendly service, would recommend ****

Best thing by far was the very attentive service from the young lady who looked after us. The small bottle of Prosecco I ordered was reminiscent of fizzy grapefruit juice. I ordered the Sea Bass with prawns, in white wine with tomatoes and onions. The overcooked fish in its flabby skin, was served drowned in a sea of unseasoned, tasteless liquid and the prawns had obviously done a runner with the onions, as they were nowhere to be seen. The vegetables were cold and inedible, looking like they had been cooked hours earlier, and left forlornly waiting for evening service. The chips were flabby and of a very dark hue. Tastiest thing on the table was the mayonnaise.

Just had a drink. Lovely sitting overlooking river. Staff freindly.

Lovely delicious food , family-friendly atmosphere, dogs welcome too

really nice staff- the vegan burger was okay but nothing to write home about. The service however was really good and location is nice :)

Delicious food, good value, friendly staff, beautiful setting, what's not to love?! We really enjoyed our first visit here, would definitely recommend

Lovely place for a quiet drink and meal on a Sunday.

Early evening meal. Good pub food. Beer selection is good but not great, but that can be a personal view.

Superb food and excellent service A warm and friendly place Great scenery by the riverside.

Lovely venue next to the River Skell and with superb staff who were happy to help and have a laugh. Food was delicious and my fish in the foil was outstanding. Well.done guys.

A a really nice, relaxing pub, especially on a sunny day. Right on the river with a view that can't be beaten.

What a lovely place for a drink, bar staff was very polite and friendly, beer prices more than reasonable. We would definitely recommend this pub..

We had a quiet lunch and shared a seafood platter, staff were so friendly and welcoming and our server Beth was really quick and attentive, the platter was plated really nicely and the ingredients were fresh and overall the whole experience made our day and was really lovely. We don't get out much and Beth was very understanding of our kerfuffle so thanks to all that hosted us!

Perfect setting directly beside the river

Friendly staff and great location. Nice view.

Called in for lunch today and the attention, service, food and atmosphere was fantastic, could not of asked for better.

I enjoyed a fabulous fish pie in The Water Rat. Great service, good portion sizes and a beautiful view too. It a as also dog friendly for our family's dogs. We all would return and try other items on the menu as everything looked great.

Had Sunday lunch. Tasty and staff wonderful

Good beer, nice food. Hard to find.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 😊

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fabulous place, staff and atmosphere!

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

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

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.

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.

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...