Martin Ainscough was born in Wigan and brought up on the family farm in Parbold.

He studied Agricultural Business Management at Imperial College, London and then worked in the City as a Brewing and Leisure Analyst, latterly for Nomura.  After 10 years in the city, Martin set up a pub and restaurant business in 1995 with other family members.  Branded as Ainscoughs, it operates a small group of pubs and wedding venues in the North of England.

Martin was Vice Chairman of Compton Verney in Warwickshire and latterly Chairman of Lakeland Arts for 11 years where he spearheaded the building of Windermere Jetty, the award winning boat museum, retiring in 2021.  He was a Governor of Edge Hill University in Ormskirk until 2019 and is currently an advisory board member of the Granada Foundation and a trustee of the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust.

Martin is passionate about working cocker spaniels, gardening, the Arts and trees.

During his year as High Sheriff of Lancashire Martin hopes to work with all services and voluntary organisations to highlight the many issues impacting the vulnerable elderly.

Martin Ainscough DL the High Sheriff of Lancashire 2022 - 2023