Well-known publicans of the Mosset Tavern, Gordon and Melissa Brailsford, are settling in this week as new tenants at the Red Lion in Tolbooth Street.
The popular bar in the centre of
Gordon said: “It wasn’t an immediate ‘yes’, we had no real ambition to open another pub, but we decided ‘why not’, we’ve got a wealth of talent at the Mosset and within the Red Lion, to make it work.”
And he added: “It’s a bit of a homecoming for my wife, as she lived here for 20 years when her parents, well-known publicans, Robbie and Carol, owned the pub.
He’s even convinced Carrie to stay on behind the bar.
Face of the Red Lion
“Carrie is still going to be the face of the Red Lion on a day-to-day basis. She’s built up a really great, loyal legion of fans here,” he added.
Gordon, who has been at the Mosset since 2006 and formerly managed TGI Fridays in London’s Picadilly said people are already asking him what changes he is going to make.
He wanted to quash any fears that he would change what the Red Lion has become popular for.
“There will be a few,” he said, “but they’re going to be subtle. We’ll be continuing the great name it has for food, and I want to increase the malt selection we have here.
More Moray gins
“We’re also going to build on the success of the great Moray gins that are around, Gordon Castle, Red Door and Avva Gin from Fochabers.
“The Red Lion is known for quality and we’ll be increasing that in spades.”
