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Submitted on Tuesday, 13^th December 2022
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The Water Rats, Kings Cross, WC1

328 Grays Inn Road
WC1
WC1X 8BZ

Correct details

Served areas

Kings Cross

Reviews of The Water Rats (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Old Boots left this review about The Water Rats

Two room, front and rear, pub furnished in cafe style with lower cast iron based tables and some higher ones in tubular steel in the front room. Hand pumps in the back room only and one with a half pint crown, two clipless.

It is or was a theatre, there’s a stage in the back room, boasting a long musical history, pictures of acts who’ve appeared adorn one wall, although I’m not sure Lenin or Marx did a turn here. Basement toilets via a corridor on the right. Good staff but a dreary pub.

On 12^th January 2026 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3859 recommendations about 3526 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Steve of N21 left this review about The Water Rats

As mentioned below this now functions as a Theatre, Bar and Restaurant on the ground floor and the headquarters for the Grand order of Water Rats on the floors above. The bar and restaurant are basically the front room and then the theatre / music venue is out back behind double doors with its own section of the bar.
Also as stated by others the bar serving the front restaurant section is all fizz and craft stuff but there are three real ale pumps on the section of the bar servicing the theatre, which obviously you would know nothing about if the dividing doors are shut. For our visit only one was going providing a very average Hogs Back T.E.A. with one unclipped and a reversed Pride Clip on the other.
We were actually here to have a tour and talk about the Grand Order of Water Rats in their HQ above the pub and this proved significantly more interesting than the downstairs pub itself, especially the society museum which has some classic theatrical memorabilia from former Water Rat members including Charlie Chaplin’s cane, Max Millars Hat, one of Danny La’Rue’s finest dresses but also that horrible green thing that was stuck on Keith Harris’s arm for several years.
If you are visiting for an event in the theatre, then the bar section will probably suffice but if you are just after a beer there are many more better proper pub options a short walk away.

On 31^st July 2018 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2317 recommendations about 2167 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Water Rats

Describes itself as a Theatre, Bar & Kitchen, the back-room venue was being set up for live music when I stopped by. The front bar is nearly square, with fairly basic semi-modern furniture and decor. There are also some small tables out on the pavement. No handpumps visible initially, but there are three on the rear counter (albeit only Bombardier, £4.20, on, with the other regular beers normally being Pride and Upham Punter).

On 9^th July 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 9017 recommendations about 9017 pubs]

View more reviews of The Water Rats (7)

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