The Water Rats

The Water Rats is a live music venue at 328 Grays Inn Road in the King's Cross area of London, England. Its history combines an old London public house, music-hall entertainment, and a later role as an important small venue for emerging rock, indie, folk, and alternative acts. The building's institutional history reaches back to 1517, when the premises were associated with George Green, a landlord identified with the Pindar of Wakefield tradition. The present building dates from 1878. In earlier decades it was known as the Pindar of Wakefield and became associated with regular “old time” music-hall entertainment. The premises were also reportedly frequented by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, adding to the site's cultural and historical associations. The venue's modern identity developed after the premises were acquired by the Grand Order of Water Rats in 1986. The name was subsequently changed to The Water Rats, linking the venue to the charitable theatrical organization while retaining the site's function as a London entertainment house. Until 1992, the Pindar of Wakefield name remained part of the venue's history, but The Water Rats became the established contemporary brand. The venue is particularly notable for hosting artists at formative stages of their careers. Bob Dylan played his first United Kingdom gig there in December 1962. The Pogues, then performing under the name Pogue Mahones, made their first performance at the venue on 4 October 1982, appearing alongside Suppose I Laugh, a band that included Dmytro Morykit. Oasis made their debut London appearance at The Water Rats on 27 January 1994. The Beta Band played its debut show there on 23 July 1997. The Decemberists performed their first show outside North America at the venue on 1 October 2004. Other artists associated with appearances before achieving wider recognition include Katy Perry, Sisteray, The Courteeners, Ra Ra Riot, and Vindicated. The venue's role is not limited to concerts. In 2014, The Water Rats began hosting a weekly quiz night, broadening its schedule beyond live music and reinforcing its function as a local entertainment venue. It reopened in October 2015 under new management. The combination of a compact performance setting, central London location, historic public-house character, and a reputation for presenting developing artists gives The Water Rats a distinctive position within London's grassroots music circuit. It is best understood as a venue brand rather than a record label or a conventional consumer-products company.

The site occupied by The Water Rats has a long history as a London public house and entertainment location. It was originally established in 1517, when the landlord was George Green, a figure associated with the Pindar of Wakefield tradition and, according to the venue's historical account, supposed connections with Robin Hood. The current house was constructed in 1878. For much of its earlier modern history, the premises were known as the Pindar of Wakefield. The venue developed a reputation for regular old-time music-hall entertainment, a role it retained into the 1980s. The building was also associated with notable intellectual and social history, having reportedly been patronized by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. In 1986, the premises were purchased by the Grand Order of Water Rats, a charitable theatrical organization. The venue's name was changed to The Water Rats, creating the identity by which it is now primarily known. The Pindar of Wakefield name continued to be part of the venue's historical context until 1992, but the Water Rats name became established as the modern brand. The venue's significance in popular music comes from its role in presenting artists before they became widely known. Bob Dylan played his first United Kingdom gig there in December 1962. The Pogues, then called Pogue Mahones, gave their first performance at The Water Rats on 4 October 1982, sharing the bill with Suppose I Laugh, which included Dmytro Morykit. Oasis made its first London appearance at the venue on 27 January 1994. The Beta Band played its debut show there on 23 July 1997. On 1 October 2004, The Decemberists used the venue for their first performance outside North America. Other acts reported to have appeared before achieving broader recognition include Katy Perry, Sisteray, The Courteeners, Ra Ra Riot, and Vindicated. The Water Rats has continued to operate as a mixed entertainment venue rather than concentrating exclusively on concerts. A weekly quiz night was introduced in 2014. The venue later reopened in October 2015 under new management, marking a further stage in its modern operation. Its identity today rests on the combination of historic pub architecture, London music-history associations, intimate live performance, and a continuing role in the development of new acts.

• 2015

  Venue reopens under new management

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The Water Rats reopened in October 2015 with new management.

• 2014

  Weekly quiz night introduced

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The venue added a weekly quiz night to its entertainment schedule.

• 2004

  The Decemberists make their first overseas appearance

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The Decemberists played their first show outside North America at The Water Rats on 1 October 2004.

• 1997

  The Beta Band plays its debut show

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The Beta Band performed its debut show at the venue on 23 July 1997.

• 1994

  Oasis makes its London debut

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  Oasis played its first London performance at The Water Rats on 27 January 1994.

• 1992

  Pindar of Wakefield era ends

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The former Pindar of Wakefield identity ceased to be the venue's principal contemporary name.

• 1986

  Premises acquired by the Grand Order of Water Rats

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The Grand Order of Water Rats bought the premises and the venue adopted the Water Rats name.

• 1982

  The Pogues give their first performance

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The band later known as The Pogues, then performing as Pogue Mahones, played its first show at the venue on 4 October 1982.

• 1962

  Bob Dylan plays his first UK gig

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  Bob Dylan performed his first United Kingdom gig at the venue in December 1962.

• 1878

  Present building constructed

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The current house at the site was built, replacing or succeeding earlier premises.

• 1517

  Early recorded history of the site

  [1]The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org

  The site is described as having been established as a public house in 1517, when George Green was the landlord associated with the Pindar of Wakefield tradition.

A historic, grassroots London live-music venue that combines intimate concerts, emerging-artist programming, and public-house entertainment.

• Live entertainment

  Live music venue

  The Water Rats presents intimate live performances in a central London venue. Its historical importance comes from hosting artists at early stages of their careers, including Bob Dylan, The Pogues, Oasis, The Beta Band, and The Decemberists, as well as later acts such as Katy Perry, Sisteray, The Courteeners, and Ra Ra Riot.

• Entertainment event · 2014

  Weekly quiz night

  Introduced in 2014, the weekly quiz night extends The Water Rats' programming beyond concerts and supports its role as a neighborhood entertainment venue and public house.

• 2015

  Reopening under new managementStrategy

  Background

  The venue underwent a management transition.

  Action taken

  The Water Rats reopened in October 2015 with new management.

  Aftermath

  The reopening continued the venue's operation as a London live music and entertainment space.

  Source

• 2014

  Expansion into recurring quiz-night programmingStrategy

  Background

  The Water Rats operated primarily as a live music and entertainment venue.

  Action taken

  The venue began hosting a weekly quiz night.

  Aftermath

  The schedule broadened to include a regular non-concert entertainment event.

  Source

• 1986

  Adoption of the Water Rats identityStrategy

  Background

  The premises had historically operated as the Pindar of Wakefield and were associated with old-time music-hall entertainment.

  Action taken

  After the Grand Order of Water Rats acquired the premises, the venue was renamed The Water Rats.

  Aftermath

  The new name became the venue's modern identity while preserving its association with live entertainment and theatrical culture.

  Source

1. 1The Water Ratsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Water Rats venue websitethewaterratsvenue.london