Owner of Canny Man’s pub dies suddenly

THE owner of one of Edinburgh’s most iconic public houses has died suddenly.

Watson Kerr ran the Canny Man’s bar in Morningside and is understood to have passed away on Saturday.

His son Tristan will take on the family business.

The Canny Man’s is renowned as one of the city’s most eccentric venues, complete with a female mannequin on the ceiling and art and memorabilia covering every corner.

It featured in an episode of Rick Stein’s Food Heroes television series, in which the chef sampled the pub’s famed Bloody Mary, just one of the large menu of drinks that has made the Canny Man’s an institution for many locals.

Mr Kerr caused controversy in the 1990s when he banned Christmas parties, festive menus and seasonal hats.