Scottish pub The Lass O’Gowrie has been a fixture on Manchester’s Charles Street for over 170 years.
For most of that time, it’s been something of an old-school Victorian boozer, serving the poor residents of its “Little Ireland” neighbourhood throughout the 19th century, and, more recently, the mix of students, city workers and academics that float down from nearby offices and campuses.
Already popular for its weekly open mic and quiz nights, the Greene King-owned pub has now added another string to its bow with the installation of a new mini cinema in its second room.
With a big screen, comfortable seats, and space to accommodate 20 people seated (or 35 standing), whilst the rest are in the main bar getting the pints in, film fans can catch intimate screenings of their favourite cult classics behind the scenes.
Pic copyright Phil Tragen 2022
Set to open for a mix of bespoke screenings and private sessions, the new mini cinema also has access to BBC and Sky Sports channels.
ADVERTISEMENT
The dog-friendly pub has just undergone a six-figure refurb, with an upgrade to its 23-seat floating beer garden seeing the arrival of new seating, decking and fencing.
Elsewhere, new furniture, carpets/floors, lighting fixtures and artwork have been introduced to give the pub a ‘new and improved urban feel.’
Pic copyright Phil Tragen 2022
Bosses have also reintroduced its food offering, serving up crowd-pleasing classics like fish and chips and vegan-friendly Beyond Meat burgers.
Speaking on the pub’s new look, Josh Murray, General Manager of Lass O Gowrie, said: “We couldn’t be happier with phase two of the refurbishment and are really excited to be able to welcome our regulars and newcomers back through the pub’s doors.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Having received a full makeover both inside and out, the Lass O Gowrie has never looked better, and I speak on behalf of myself and the team when I say we can’t wait to show it off”
Ryanair is being investigated over charging parents to sit with their children
Emily Sergeant
Ryanair is being investigated by the Government’s leading regulator over charging parents to sit with their children.
Currently, Ryanair’s terms and conditions require at least one parent to sit with their children aged two-11 when they fly, but this is done through what the airline calls a ‘mandatory family seat’, meaning the parent must pay in order for them to secure a seat next to their child.
This fee applies to both outbound and return flights, and typically costs around £8 each way – but for all other passengers, reserving a seat is optional.
And it’s this that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation.
We’re investigating Ryanair over its practice of charging parents to sit with their children – including those with disabilities – and whether this could be unfair under consumer protection law.
— Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) June 11, 2026
CMA evidence suggests this approach to seating is used across the majority of Ryanair’s UK routes, and the watchdog understands that Ryanair is the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose this charge.
Other airlines offer to seat children with a parent or guardian without the need for a paid-for adult seat reservation, or they allocate seats together automatically during booking for free.
The CMA says it’s investigating, in particular, whether Ryanair’s approach to seat reservations may mean parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability‑related obligations as set out under aviation rules.
The watchdog wants to determine whether or not this practice is in line with consumer law, and whether the airline’s contract terms are ‘unfair’ if they put customers at an unfair disadvantage.
Ryanair is being investigated over charging parents to sit with their children / Credit: Gerrie van der Walt (via Unsplash)
Under consumer law, businesses must show a total price that includes all unavoidable charges, rather than adding extra charges separately or later in the process, as this ensures consumers can effectively compare prices and understand the true cost of what they are buying.
“Lots of families save up to afford a summer holiday and we know that extra charges can quickly bump up the price,” commented Hayley Fletcher, who is the Senior Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA.
“Our investigation will consider Ryanair’s approach to family seat reservations and how the cost is presented to consumers to determine whether they comply with consumer law.
“For the past year, we’ve told businesses to ensure their customers are shown the total price upfront – those who don’t face the very real possibility of action from the CMA.”
At present, the CMA is currently at the beginning of its investigation, and has reached no conclusions about whether Ryanair has broken the law.
Featured Image – CCNull
News
Girl, 14, detained under Mental Health Act after stabbing at Manchester high school
Emily Sergeant
A 14-year-old girl has been detained under the Mental Health Act following a stabbing at a high school in Manchester earlier this week.
In case you need bringing up to speed, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a stabbing at a school on Plant Hill Road in Blackley – confirmed to be Co-op Academy Manchester – on Tuesday morning (9 June 2026), and when they arrived on the scene, they discovered that two students and a teacher had been injured.
A 14-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault, before being taken into custody for questioning.
But it has now been confirmed by GMP that she has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
The three people injured during the shocking incident earlier this week have now all been released from hospital after being assessed.
As part of the investigation, GMP says it is are also ‘aware of and looking into’ social media posts in relation to the incident, but would like to remind the public not to speculate or comment, as this is an ongoing live investigation.
Offering the latest update on the investigation as it progresses, Jon Shilvock, who is the Chief Inspector of GMP’s City of Manchester North division, commented: “Our investigation has continued at pace since… we were first made aware of the incident, and our thoughts are with those that were injured and were caught up in the incident.
“Whilst the physical injuries were not believed to be serious, we know the impact to those that were involved or were witnesses to this will be significant, and we want to reassure our community we are taking this very seriously.
“As our investigation progresses, we are aware that names relating to the incident are being circulated on social media which are unhelpful for the investigation. This is also causing concern with the victims and those that have been impacted therefore we would stress that people do not speculate regarding this incident.
Georgina Pellant -
18th August 2022 
