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Exterior - The Lighterman, London,

The Lighterman

4.4 (4603)
£26 to £40
British
3 Granary Square, London, N1C 4BH

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A photo of The Lighterman restaurant

The Lighterman

4.4
£26 to £40
British
King's Cross

Make a booking

2 people
21:00
Booked 4 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for brunch
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for scenic views
The Lighterman, a pub, dining room & bar, is open from lunch through to dinner and welcomes you all day on weekends. Our Head Chef has created a modern British menu with European influences. The extensive drinks menu includes draught & bottled beers, craft ales and seasonal cocktails, together with a well-curated and affordable wine list. There is plenty of outdoor seating. The canal-side bar with alfresco terrace overlooks the water, the ground floor has seating directly onto Granary Square and the top floor has its own wraparound terrace, with panoramic views across the square and canal.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British, European
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–11:30 pm Fri 12:00 pm–12:00 am Sat 10:00 am–12:00 am Sun 10:00 am–10:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    events@thelightrman.co.uk
  • Area
    King's Cross
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Public transport
    King's Cross Underground & Rail Station
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan
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Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Lighterman.

4.4

4.4
(4603)
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • North London

    Great for brunch

  • North London

    Neighbourhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Lighterman offers delicious food in a "lovely location" by the canal, ideal for sunny days. Guests praise the "outstanding" service and accommodating staff, who are particularly attentive to special needs. With "superb food," a friendly atmosphere, and "brilliant views," it's perfect for both meals and drinks.
4,603 Reviews
  1. Susan

    London2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 8 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely meal and friendly attentive staff who were happy to help us move into the sunshine for coffee and dessert.
    The LightermanResponded on 12 October 2026
    Hi Susan, We are thrilled to read your amazing review! Your satisfaction is our priority, and we look forward to serving you again in the future. Best wishes, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  2. claire

    London3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 2 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was outstanding and the food was delicious.
    The LightermanResponded on 5 October 2026
    Hi Claire, Thank you for your kind words. It's fantastic to know that you enjoyed your visit and that our efforts met your expectations. We hope to see you again in near future. Best wishes, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  3. Denise Gold

    Phoenix / Arizona41 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 19 September 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely location. Staff could be better - got quite loud with a large party as we were finishing. Food was decent. Would come back for drinks
    The LightermanResponded on 30 September 2026
    Hi Denise, Thank you for your 4-star review and for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed the location and food, and we’re glad you’d consider returning for drinks. We appreciate your comments regarding the noise and table clearing, and we’ll make sure to share these with the team so we can improve the experience for our guests. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Warmest, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  4. Rebecca Gold

    London68 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 18 September 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I was due to have dinner but sadly my daughter didn't arrive so I had to leave in a hurry as was concerned about her. The staff were great and made it easy for me to pay my bill quickly so I could jump in a taxi.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Mike

    London4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent as always. Always great service and always superb food.
    The LightermanResponded on 21 September 2026
    Hi Mike, We're so glad you had a great time at our restaurant! its always our pleasure to serve you and we look forward seeing you soon again. Best wishes, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  6. Mari

    London11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 31 July 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Outside tables next to the canal on a sunny day.. what’s not to love 🧡 . Had the beef burger which was good.
    The LightermanResponded on 3 August 2026
    Hi Mari, Thank you so much for a lovely review. We are delighted to hera you had a good time with us. We really hope to see you again soon. Warmest, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  7. roshni Gold

    London86 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 23 July 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was a bit slow but food was good. Nice spot outside
    The LightermanResponded on 27 August 2026
    Hi Roshni, Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the food and our outdoor space. We’re sorry the service was a little slow during your visit, and we appreciate your patience. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Warmest, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  8. Nicky Gold

    London103 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 1 July 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We dined here with friends, being Deaf I have so many challenges and I made them aware that I’m Deaf and would need to be seated where it helps the communication between my friends, they were so accommodating and friendly, super helpful without fuss. We all had a great time here and thank you for being so kind!
    The LightermanResponded on 15 October 2026
    Hi Nicky, We are grateful for your amazing feedback. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience at our restaurant. It has been our pleasure to serve you and we hope to welcome you back soon. Warmest, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  9. Jonathan

    Surrey12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 June 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good food, friendly service and nice view of the canal.
    The LightermanResponded on 14 July 2026
    Hi Jonathan, Thank you for your 5 star review. was our pleasure to serve you. We hope to see you some time soon. Warm wishes, Karolina

    Is this helpful?

  10. Karen

    London4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 June 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Restaurant setting by the canal ,enjoyed watching the world go by while enjoying good food ,wine and company
    The LightermanResponded on 24 June 2026
    Hi Karen, We truly appreciate your positive review and the time you took to share your experience. Hopefully we will see you soon again. Best wishes, Victoria

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British, European
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–11:30 pm Fri 12:00 pm–12:00 am Sat 10:00 am–12:00 am Sun 10:00 am–10:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    events@thelightrman.co.uk
  • Area
    King's Cross
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Public transport
    King's Cross Underground & Rail Station
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan
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FAQs

Yes, the menu includes clearly labelled vegetarian and plant‑based dishes, for example the House green salad (v), Triple cooked chips (v), Smashed bean, mushroom & beetroot burger (v*), and Ice creams & sorbets (v/pb).

The Lighterman is at its loveliest on a sunny day, especially around sunset on the top‑floor terrace for panoramic canal views, and Sunday lunch is a popular choice for the Sunday roast.

Yes, guests report bringing dogs and having a good experience (one reviewer specifically booked because they needed a dog‑friendly spot and enjoyed their first‑floor table).

Yes, The Lighterman’s canal‑side and top‑floor terraces, a well‑curated wine list and cocktails, plus guests praising its ‘sexy, moody’ lighting and sunset cocktails, make it a lovely choice for a special evening.

Yes, families regularly dine here: reviewers describe family dinners and breakfasts, praising attentive service and repeat visits that make it a comfortable choice for children.

Sunday, the Weekend Menu features a dedicated Sunday Roast and guests specifically praise visiting for the Sunday Roast.

The Lighterman has a buzzy, sociable canal‑side vibe, three levels, terraces and panoramic canal views create a lively spot guests love for sunsets, drinks and friendly service.

The Lighterman's dry-aged beef burger (on the Weekend Menu) is a recurring favourite, guests repeatedly praise its juiciness and flavour.

Casual dress, comfortable, informal clothing is appropriate and nothing formal is expected.

The Lighterman is frequently busy and bustling, guests regularly report it being full and lively, with one reviewer noting “Tuesday night and it feels like Friday.”

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. London
  4. North London
  5. King's Cross

Make a booking

A photo of The Lighterman restaurant

The Lighterman

4.4
£26 to £40
British
King's Cross

Make a booking

2 people
21:00
Booked 4 times today
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