Welcome to the Water Rat Public House

Ripon is the UK’s fourth smallest city and certainly one of the most attractive, luring tourists in increasing numbers to wander through the quaint streets, visit the imposing cathedral or even enjoy a flutter at the races. After all this activity where better to relax with a drink and a finely prepared typically English meal than the curiously named public house The Water Rat where from the attractive weir side conservatory there are views to Alma Weir and to the cathedral itself.

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” One of the lines from Kenneth Graham’s children’s (and adults!) classic The Wind in The Willows, a theme you will see throughout The Water Rat, a delightful pub in a unique setting with more than one tale from the river bank to tell!

Time has marched on since the early days when in the1920s the pub with its sawdust filled spittoon was called Ringing The Bull after a sort of hoopla game popular at that time. Subsequently it became the Alma Inn and now The Water Rat where with a well stocked bar the daily choice includes up to three real ales, and a drink and a sandwich or a fine home cooked meal using fresh local produce can be enjoyed perhaps in the pleasantly relaxing conservatory. Enjoying a capacity of 35 this attractive conservatory is also an ideal venue for functions, birthday celebrations, christenings etc; with menu suggestions available from Rick Jones, The Water Rat’s friendly landlord.

The Water Rat’s reputation has ensured ever increasing popularity and support locally principally because of the excellence of the menu and the quality and choice of the bar in general and the real ales in particular. Why not make a point of calling in to The Water Rat and judge for yourself the next time you are in the Ripon area! An unusual feature, popular with many including no doubt Mr Toad, in this riverbank retreat is that you can email or telephone Rick, pre order your lunch so that it is ready for your limited lunch break.

Wind In The Willows theme
Real Ales
Home cooked food
Weir side conservatory
Food and drink 7 days a week
Functions and celebrations
Riverside location and cathedral views
CAMRA recommended