New tenant at Lass O'Gowrie in Manchester

John Rowlinson has now taken over the Lass O’Gowrie on Charles Street.

This comes after former landlord Gareth Kavanagh, the Great British Pub Award 2012 Pub of the Year winner, was forced to surrender his lease after his pub company Greene King claimed he was a below-average operator.

Kavanagh has previously stated that he was forced to hand in the keys for the Lass O’Gowrie just months after he won a two-year battle against Greene King for a reduction in his rent.

Reputation had 'been lost'​

Simon Longbottom, managing director for Greene King Pub Partners, said: “Our hope is for the Lass O’Gowrie to regain its reputation as one of the great ale pubs in Manchester – a reputation that sadly, has been lost, despite the accolades awarded the pub. 

“The Lass was an iconic pub in Manchester, and with the long overdue planned investment, successful local pub operator, John Rowlinson, at the helm and a focus on real ale, including locally brewed cask ales, we are confident it can again be the legend it once was.”

Iconic pub​

John Rowlinson, the new tenant for the Lass O’Gowrie, said: “The Lass O’Gowrie is an iconic pub and I am very proud to be taking it forward. I am certain that the refurbishment we are planning will firmly cement the Lass’s place in Manchester as a first rate real ale pub.”