Fashionable ring worn by northern publican (9)
I believe the answer is:
innkeeper
'publican' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'fashionable ring worn by northern' is the wordplay.
'fashionable' becomes 'in' (similar in meaning).
'ring' becomes 'keeper' (type of ring worn to preserve a piercing).
'worn by' means one lot of letters goes inside another (I've seen this in other clues).
'northern' becomes 'n' (abbreviation e.g. N. Ireland).
'in'+'keeper'='inkeeper'
'inkeeper' going around 'n' is 'INNKEEPER'.
(Other definitions for innkeeper that I've seen before include "Accommodating type" , "Pub runner" , "local manager" , "Pub landlord" , "Job" .)