Lass O'Gowrie, 36 Charles Street, MANCHESTER, M1 7DB [Map]
0161 273 6932 
11-23 MO-SA; 12-22:30 SU
Lunchtime Meals, Rail Station Near Pub

An almost timeless photo of the Lass O'Gowrie, September 2001

Manchester's a great city, not quite as great as Birmingham, but then I'd be biased having spent 8 years in the latter, and barely 8 days in the former. When I visited Manchester in the early autumn of 2001 for a conference on meteorology, I felt a need to explore a suitable watering whole within walking distance of Manchester University where we were based. So armed with a photocopy of the relevant CAMRA Good Beer Guide page and a number of recommendations from you, 'the Great Beer surver', I set out into themidweek afternoon drizzle armed with a copy of the relevant A-Z map. Fortunately my spirits weren't dampened even after walking straight in and out of the first recommendation, and a rather disappointing beer in the second. Then I came across the Lass O'Gowrie. Not the most stunning of locations with its back street situation and railway viaduct close by but the building itself from the outside is certainly most stunning as the picture below shows with its impressively tiled front facade.

Within it's pretty big with lots of wood, high ceilings but perhaps a little dingy. Then again in my books it's a proper pub and I was certainly impressed, especially with the Victorian gas lightning. It's popular with locals with an invasion of students during termtime evenings. I've been there then at the atmosphere remained friendly but certainly quite boisterous. There are corners to escape to though if there's space with several snugs.

When I first visited the pub it had its own brewery which was installed in 1993 but was sadly closed in 2003 and brewing is unlikely to recommence. Fortunately though a decent ale range remains, I'm sure I counted about 10 hand pumps. I'm always a little concerned at pubs with so many pumps, but they seemed to shift the ale and there was certainly nothing wrong with any of the beer that I've had there. The do do food, just simple good value for money bar food from lunchtime through to early evening. Don't know whether it's available on Sunday though. I'd ring to check if you're planning to make a special trip.