Interesting
Pub Names
Most
English pubs have traditional names that often go back centuries some of which
have lost their origins in history. Many are named after things in nature such
as plants and animals that were important to the agrarian country that we were
in the past. The Hollybush and the Pear Tree are two such names. Swans,
Greyhounds, Fox & Hounds, Talbots and Lamb & Flags are names of pubs
that can also be found all over the country.
The
way of life from years gone by has also given rise to names such as The Hope
& Anchor, The Wicket, The Bankhouse and The Plough. Other pub names have
historical and Royal significance such as The Crown, Royal Oak and The Kings
Head and some have names that are taken from their location or prominent
buildings such as The Castle and The Globe.
Sometimes
Landlords change the names of pubs when they take over a place in an attempt to
bring new life into the pub and change it’s image. New names can be quite
inventive on occasion, but recently I came across an excellent possibility for a
new and creative name for a pub. On a televised quiz show one of the contestants
said his local pub was called the “Gymnasium.” I don’t know if he
was
joking, but a pub with such a name might well attract a lot of customers that
might otherwise not go to pubs. You would get people finding the name in the
phone book or similar places and they might decide to try out the new “Gym”
that they have discovered. When they get there they find their mistake, but
decide that as they are there they might as well stop for a drink anyway.
With all this
health and fitness craze that seems to be sweeping the country many people would be
tempted to go down to the “Gym.”
Imagine the typical beer bellied hen pecked
darts player going out for the evening.
“Where are you going tonight dear?”
“Down
to the Gym.”
“That’s alright then as long as you get plenty of exercise and you are not
going out drinking.”
“Yes dear. Now where did I put my darts?”