Welcome to The Lighterman, a pub, dining room and bar on Granary Square, King's Cross. Our name is inspired by the industrial past of King's Cross, and the Victorian Lightermen who worked on flat-bottomed barges, known as "Lighters", on the canals and rivers of London. With three floors offering stunning views across Granary Square and the Regent's Canal, The Lighterman is a place to relax and enjoy all-day drinking and dining.
We've created a modern British menu with European influences for lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and Sunday roasts. With seasonal and sustainable produce at the forefront of our menus, we have a range of choices from seasonal salads and flatbreads to meat and fish cooked on our wood-fired grill - not to mention our infamous Sunday roasts.
We've created a modern British menu with European influences for lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and Sunday roasts. With seasonal and sustainable produce at the forefront of our menus, we have a range of choices from seasonal salads and flatbreads to meat and fish cooked on our wood-fired grill - not to mention our infamous Sunday roasts.
Services
Opening onto Granary Square, the Ground Floor is a social and relaxed dining space to enjoy a casual lunch through to evening cocktails. The bar offers a range of sustainable and biodynamic wines, innovative cocktails, draft and bottled beers that can be enjoyed alongside seasonal dishes from our modern British menu.
The First Floor Dining Room is a unique place to enjoy any meal, be it a group lunch, breakfast meeting or a romantic dinner for two. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer panoramic views across King's Cross, and for those wanting to get a better look of the surrounding area, the wrapround terrace has extensive seating which guests can enjoy year-round.
Located on the tranquil Regent's Canal, the Canalside Bar & Terrace offers seasonal cocktails, wines, premium ales and beers alongside a selection of snacks from our Bar Menu. With stunning waterfront views, this is an ideal spot for pub lunches, after-work drinks and late night cocktails. We have mulled wine, parasols and heaters (subject to availability) to keep you warm throughout the winter.
The Lighterman has a range of versatile dining areas that can be booked for meetings, events and private celebrations. The First Floor is a beautiful space to celebrate any special occasion with a three course lunch or dinner or a drinks and canapes reception. Guests can also enjoy the wraparound terrace which overlooks the hustle and bustle of Granary Square and Regent's Canal.
Reviews (25)
H. R.
Jan 22, 2022
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For a lively pint with mates or family, the Lighterman at the new Granary Square development is a great option. The restaurant is spread over 2 floors and has a big terrace. Which is perfect for these times. There is plenty of heating on the terrace too. The food is nice and the portions are pretty good too. Some good choices for vegans as well. They have a good selection of ales and wines. Prices are pretty good. Service was fantastic. We would go again for sure.
Ketan Desai
Jan 16, 2022
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Visited on a Sunday night and sat outside. Staff are friendly and welcoming with a good selection of drinks.
Three star rating is for the poor outdoor heating. Someone will have to press the button every two minutes to turn them on!
Apparently the management are unable to use a telephone to arrange for someone to rectify this 🤣
Three star rating is for the poor outdoor heating. Someone will have to press the button every two minutes to turn them on!
Apparently the management are unable to use a telephone to arrange for someone to rectify this 🤣
Chris Falvey
Nov 25, 2021
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Great location. Menu is very limited. Food is presented well and is generally good, but not excellent. Vegan options could be better. Had salt beef hash and the vegan platter…hash was good but very small. Vegan platter could be excellent (looked awesome!)…pickled veggies were raw veggies that had been shown the pickling liquor rather than actually pickled. Could do with more cauliflower fritters. The toasted, crispy bread was just hard toast.
Daniel Brade
Oct 25, 2021
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Parth Kotecha
Oct 18, 2021
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Nice place in the heart of KX.
One of the best for drinks and food wise they have a pretty reasonable menu.
Having said that, flat breaks are yumm and so is the veggie burger.
The vibe is a good mix depending on the time you go.
More veggie options would have given the extra star. Definitely a place to come back.
One of the best for drinks and food wise they have a pretty reasonable menu.
Having said that, flat breaks are yumm and so is the veggie burger.
The vibe is a good mix depending on the time you go.
More veggie options would have given the extra star. Definitely a place to come back.
Angie Angie
Sep 29, 2021
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Stephen Swinn
Aug 23, 2021
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Goss Khan
Aug 20, 2021
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Angela Maria
Aug 11, 2021
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Nishant Jani
Jul 18, 2021
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Christina Lo
Jun 26, 2021
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Great vibe, casual and lively restaurant. Starters was fab and the Sunday roast beef was how I liked it. A little disappointed with the kids menu. The mini cheeseburger (not shown) wasn't really mini, (the bun was standard size as the main course) could have added some lettuce or gherkin and the main burger wasn't really a wow factor. Service was great
Kelley P.
Oct 04, 2020
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The venue was beautiful and we were grateful to be seated under a heater on the balcony, but our table had a no smoking sign on it while all of a sudden the two tables directly next to us were puffing away on cigarettes and blowing their smoke in our direction.
The food was priced rather high (though probably accurate for the area) and the value for money seemed less than expected. £10 for a flatbread that was practically some tomato sauce and rocket on a very thin tortilla was disappointing, the cauliflower fritters were okay but when the best item we had were the sweet potato fries and that
The food was priced rather high (though probably accurate for the area) and the value for money seemed less than expected. £10 for a flatbread that was practically some tomato sauce and rocket on a very thin tortilla was disappointing, the cauliflower fritters were okay but when the best item we had were the sweet potato fries and that
Austin D.
Nov 26, 2019
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Walked in for brunch and was served right away. Ordered the eggs Benedict and was satisfied. Nothing to complain about really. I tried some of the coconut berry oatmeal and also enjoyed that a lot. It was super thick and heavy and they give you a lot, especially for the price. The fresh juices were okay, not my cup of tea. Highly recommend the bacon especially if you like it a little chewy.
Hugh L.
Nov 14, 2018
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We arrived to a very busy restaurant with a table of 9 understanding we may not find space. The employees were taking up two large tabletops eating meals. We asked if we may be able to take one of the tables for our group and two employees were quite rude to us. The attitude influenced us to leave immediately.
Bev C.
Oct 31, 2018
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We had a party of five. They either weren't prepared to handle a party of five in our section or someone called out. We had three different wait staff during our meal. The two who had lamb entrees had mild cases of food poisoning the next day. My daughters pumpkin and fig tart was inedible. Pumpkin was barely cooked. We told third waiter this was the case and he didn't offer to make it right. He was the same person who told us that the soup of the day was onion soup. They brought broccoli soup with no explanation. When I brought it to their attention no one knew what to do. Onion soup
Mark W.
Oct 09, 2018
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Vasiliy M.
Sep 11, 2018
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Cathy S.
Jun 18, 2018
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Having just arrived from the US, we were on our way to Dishoom but saw the terrace at Lighterman's with folks having drinks and glowing in the sun. I love being outside so we stopped here instead. They were lovely about holding my friend's luggage at the front and seated us on the upstairs terrace.
It was gorgeous and fun although the food was fairly ordinary and the waiter did forget one of the items we had ordered.
On a beautiful day with a friend you haven't seen in a while, it can't be beat.
Yes, waitstaff seems trying hard to look hip and were a bit disorganized, but
It was gorgeous and fun although the food was fairly ordinary and the waiter did forget one of the items we had ordered.
On a beautiful day with a friend you haven't seen in a while, it can't be beat.
Yes, waitstaff seems trying hard to look hip and were a bit disorganized, but
Matt P.
Feb 06, 2018
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We stopped by in the evening for a few drinks before seeing a movie at the Everyman nearby, the upstairs was packed so we hit the downstairs bar and got a corner of a table. It was so loud! It's basically all concrete and metal with a fairly low ceiling and it was a busy night so we couldn't even hear each other across the table. We had one round and left. It's too bad because the location is great. Maybe it would be better in the summer when it's more open to the deck next to the canal.
Sylvelin B.
Oct 06, 2017
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Leslie P.
Aug 06, 2017
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To be honest, we came here because we couldn't get a table at our first choice. We were hungry so we picked a place nearby.
The food was good, but nothing to write home about. I wouldn't necessarily recommend anyone to make a trip down here (it's a bit out of the way from central London), but if you're in the area, it's definitely worth trying. The waiter and hostess were friendly.
The food was good, but nothing to write home about. I wouldn't necessarily recommend anyone to make a trip down here (it's a bit out of the way from central London), but if you're in the area, it's definitely worth trying. The waiter and hostess were friendly.
Lindy Y.
Mar 28, 2017
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Xander M.
Oct 12, 2016
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Katie H.
Jul 10, 2016
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Last weekend was Beyonce's Formation tour at Wembley and in celebration of my friend Anne's birthday a group of 8 of us decided to go and worship at the altar of Bey. But first we needed to a) line our stomachs, before b) preload before getting to the stadium! Whilst I don't condone binge drinking, it was great to have a leisurely brunch and some quality wine before we headed into the mayhem of Wembley Stadium.
So in comes the Lighterman at Kings Cross, situated on the canal and overlooking Granary Square this restaurant bar has been open for 3.5 months, but I haven't been
So in comes the Lighterman at Kings Cross, situated on the canal and overlooking Granary Square this restaurant bar has been open for 3.5 months, but I haven't been
Meike B.
Jun 27, 2016
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OK, let's start on the good bits. Great view across the canal from the first floor balcony (beats the outdoor section out front). Beautiful furniture. Loads of friendly staff who seemed on top of things.
Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. We both wanted to start the week on a healthy note and opted for salad; difficult choice as the menu descriptions were rather basic: superfood salad listed little gem and dressing only, no itemised superfoods - turned out to be avocado, sprouts and pomegranate as advised by our server, carrot strips for garnish only; the beetroot
Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. We both wanted to start the week on a healthy note and opted for salad; difficult choice as the menu descriptions were rather basic: superfood salad listed little gem and dressing only, no itemised superfoods - turned out to be avocado, sprouts and pomegranate as advised by our server, carrot strips for garnish only; the beetroot
