The Waterfront was the first pub J.K. Rowling told us about that will feature in the upcoming ninth book in the Strike series, Sleep Tight, Evangeline.
On 25th January 2025, J.K. Rowling changed her X header to a photo of the city walls and Minster in York, North Yorkshire, and confirmed it would be a location in the ninth book.
When we were visiting York in summer 2025, J.K. Rowling replied to suekmoorhen on X with a pub to visit: The Waterfront.
The Waterfront lies on the bank of the River Ouse.
The pub has suffered severe flooding from the river; you can see the flood level marked above the fireplace in the photo below.
Considering how early it was in the writing process that J.K. Rowling changed her header photo to York, we could guess that the cathedral city and The Waterfront pub will feature quite early on in Sleep Tight, Evangeline.
To get down to King’s Staith, where the pub is located, from the Low Ousegate bridge, you have to descend some stone steps. Alternatively, coming from the Shambles direction, you can walk down King Street to the pub.
The Waterfront is right next to another pub called the King’s Arms.
We don’t know yet what will take place at The Waterfront. It’s possible Strike and/or Robin will interview a suspect/witness involved in the new case here.
Find The Waterfront on the map below.
If you’re in York for a visit, there is another Strike pub in the city worth a visit: The Old White Swan, which features briefly in The Hallmarked Man.