The Greene King-leased pub, run by Gareth Kavanagh and manager Lisa Connor, beat 14 other category winners to the top award at the Great British Pub Awards, run by the Publican's Morning Advertiser (PMA).
In addition, the pub won the title of Best Live Music & Entertainment Pub of the Year.
The awards were presented by comedian Jason Manford at a glitzy festival-themed awards dinner at London's Park Lane Hilton last night.
The pub faced the challenge of losing a large chunk of its custom with the departure of BBC Manchester headquarters to Salford.
However the judges pointed to the fact that Gareth and Lisa responded positively, replaced the lost trade and also praised their creative resilience in building the pub’s reputation as a venue and organising a huge number of events.
They were also impressed with the way in which clubs and organisations of every description, from retro video games to Doctor Who fans have made the pub their base over the years, making it as much a community pub as a destination venue. The pub’s real ales and pub grub, especially its home-made pies, also won praise.
PMA group editor Rob Willock said: “Whether it is through comedy, drama, live music or simply being a welcoming pub with a great atmosphere, The Lass has continued to attract customers from all walks of life, and it is this that made it the judges’ choice.”
The national winners are:
Best Family Pub – the Pigs, Edgefield, Norfolk
Best Freehouse Pub – the Queens Arms, Corton Denham, Dorset
Best Community Pub – the Old Sergeant, Wandsworth
Best Tenanted/Leased Pub – the Royal Oak, Appleby, Cumbria
Best Spirits Pub – Mokoko, St Albans, Herts
Best Charitable Pub – the Ship Victory, Chester
Best Newcomer – the Eagle & Child, Ramsbottom, Lancs
Best Smoking Pub – the Royal Oak, Keighley, West Yorks
Best Live Music & Entertainment Pub – the Lass O'Gowrie, Manchester
Best Cask Beer Pub - the York Tap, York
Best Sports Pub – the Famous Three Kings, West Kensington
Best Cellar Pub – the Cradock Arms, Knighton, Leics
Best Turnaround Pub – the Methuen Arms, Corsham, Wilts
Best Managed Pub – the John Millington, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire
Best Food Pub – the British Larder, Bromeswell, Suffolk