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Quirky pub names?

(86 Posts)
LRavenscroft Sun 18-Jun-23 13:49:58

In conversation we were talking about quirky pub names. My favourites were The Slug & Lettuce in Worcester & the Sir Walter Raleigh in East Budleigh. Have you ever come across some quirky pub names and what would you call yours if you were the proprietor?

Lathyrus Sun 18-Jun-23 13:59:33

I recommend the

Five Miles From Anywhere No Hurry Inn

Doodle Sun 18-Jun-23 14:01:00

As soon as I read the title I immediately thought of the Slug and Lettuce (I believe it’s a chain). Couldn’t believe anyone would call a pub that.

Lathyrus Sun 18-Jun-23 14:06:29

And there have (to no avail) been protests about

The Fawcett Inn

down in Portsmouth

Oreo Sun 18-Jun-23 14:06:42

There’s a lot of pubs rebranding themselves now as the slug and lettuce or rat and drainpipe or whatever.
Why is the Sir Walter Raleigh quirky? A well known figure in Tudor times and he came from Devon.
All the pubs I know have kind of normal names tbh so am waiting to see what posters come up withsmile

Oldnproud Sun 18-Jun-23 14:07:10

One that sprang to immediately to mind was the Wills O'Nats.

Thorntrees Sun 18-Jun-23 14:15:24

The pub we pass on the way to the garden centre is called ‘The Tiddly’

Elegran Sun 18-Jun-23 14:23:04

Not far from me is the Mid Yoken. When horses or oxen pulled the plough, this was the name of the pause by ploughmen in the middle of the spell of ploughing - both the middle of the day and the middle of the distance that had to be covered by the end of the day - a chance for men and beasts to eat and drink and rest a little. The pub itself has only been there since the seventies, but it marks the site of the previous steading where the tired team of beasts was unyoked and a new set yoked up to finish the job.

Elegran Sun 18-Jun-23 14:30:21

One near the old Edinburgh Infirmary used to be called "The Doctor's", partly as it was always full of thirsty doctors and medical students (both of whom seem to have an affinity with alcohol) Other drinkers also found it useful to be able to say truthfully "I have an appointment at the Doctor's"

Greenfinch Sun 18-Jun-23 14:30:45

One that was near us but has now gone was called ‘The Who’d a Thought it.’

MiniMoon Sun 18-Jun-23 15:12:43

Local to me are The Belted Will, The General Havelock and The Carts Bog Inn.

LRavenscroft Sun 18-Jun-23 16:22:26

Oreo

There’s a lot of pubs rebranding themselves now as the slug and lettuce or rat and drainpipe or whatever.
Why is the Sir Walter Raleigh quirky? A well known figure in Tudor times and he came from Devon.
All the pubs I know have kind of normal names tbh so am waiting to see what posters come up withsmile

I just thought it was rather noble, stylish and swashbuckling. 'I'm off to the Sir Walter Raleigh for a pint'.

1summer Sun 18-Jun-23 16:35:37

We have a pub in Stratford upon Avon - it’s the only pub to have a licence in two names.
It was known as the Black Swan since the 1700s but actors from the RSC years ago nicknamed it the Dirty Duck. This name stuck so they were allowed to licence it in both names.
It has both names outside. Said to be Dame Judy Denchs favourite pub.

tanith Sun 18-Jun-23 16:41:46

Spotted Dog
Ox and Gate

Two off the top of my head.

Kate1949 Sun 18-Jun-23 16:45:49

In The Black Country
The Struggling Monkey
The Struggling Man

merlotgran Sun 18-Jun-23 16:51:46

Lathyrus

I recommend the

Five Miles From Anywhere No Hurry Inn

I knew it well. It was our local.

Jaxjacky Sun 18-Jun-23 16:53:28

1summer

We have a pub in Stratford upon Avon - it’s the only pub to have a licence in two names.
It was known as the Black Swan since the 1700s but actors from the RSC years ago nicknamed it the Dirty Duck. This name stuck so they were allowed to licence it in both names.
It has both names outside. Said to be Dame Judy Denchs favourite pub.

We have The Mucky Ducky nearby in Winchester.

grumppa Sun 18-Jun-23 17:03:10

The Library, Cowley Road, Oxford. Another one providing a perfect excuse for for not rushing home: "I'm working late at the library."

1summer Sun 18-Jun-23 17:08:12

Jaxjacky

1summer

We have a pub in Stratford upon Avon - it’s the only pub to have a licence in two names.
It was known as the Black Swan since the 1700s but actors from the RSC years ago nicknamed it the Dirty Duck. This name stuck so they were allowed to licence it in both names.
It has both names outside. Said to be Dame Judy Denchs favourite pub.

We have The Mucky Ducky nearby in Winchester.

Also used to be a favourite of ours The Drunken Duck in Cumbria.

Kate1949 Sun 18-Jun-23 17:09:35

The Dirty Duck in Stratford is lovely.

Bella23 Sun 18-Jun-23 19:09:59

The Drunken Duck is still there.
The Mortal Man.
Two on a hill one The Top Tap and the other the Bottom Tap
The Struggler.
The Blackamoor, now changed

Georgesgran Sun 18-Jun-23 19:17:20

DD1’s happy place is The Drunken Duck Nr Ambleside. We used to buy her vouchers for birthdays and Christmas.

There’s a pub in Alnwick called the White Swan - known as the Mucky Duck. The dining room is a copy of that on Titanic, using exactly the same materials taken from her sister ship Olympic. Reviews of the food aren’t good, but impressions of the room are excellent - the closest any of us will get to a real Titanic experience.

Greenfinch Sun 18-Jun-23 19:17:54

The Molly Millar(the town witch) is now called The Station Tap. Something has been lost here!

Kate1949 Sun 18-Jun-23 19:20:42

Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory in Tipton.

MerylStreep Sun 18-Jun-23 19:23:56

An old haunt of ours was The Bread and cheese.