Funny Pub Names

Will and Guy are building a collection of amusing names for bars, drinking
houses, pubs, boozers, call them what you will.  Our only criterion is
a pub sign that raises a smile.

• 
  Funny, Amusing, Hilarious and Strange Pub Names
• History of Pub Names
• Let Us Preserve Old Pub
  Names
• Funny Pub Cartoons
• Humorous Names

Funny, Amusing, Hilarious and Strange Pub Names

When younger, Will and Guy were regular pub goers, and the names of pubs
were often a source of some amusement.  While listening to the BBC news the
other day we heard that the American Embassy in Baghdad had hired an
Englishman to create and make a pub sign for the embassy bar.  We think it is
to be called "The Bolt Hole" an apt and amusing name.

This led us to research "funny and amusing pub names"
particularly in the UK and in Ireland.

History of Pub Names

Originally, public house names reflected the history of the country or the area in
which they were sited.  Names from the past tended to be patriotic or royal.
Common names in the UK include:

• The Crown - this is representative of the King or Queen.
• The Red Lion - this pub name became popular when James I ordered red
  lions to be displayed outside all public places.
• Royal Oak - this only became popular after Charles II escaped during
  the English Civil War by hiding behind an Oak tree.
• Swan - a symbol used commonly in the coat of arms. All swans [the
  birds] are owned by the Queen and protected by law.
• White Hart - this was the heraldic symbol of King Richard II.
• 
  Duke of Buckingham - named after the Duke who was murdered in Old
  Portsmouth in 1628.

Let Us Preserve Old Pub Names

Many of the old tavern names are in danger of disappearing as large
conglomerations buy up pubs and change their names to "modern" equivalents.
Throughout Britain "Harvester" pubs, "Slug and Lettuce" and "Beefeater" pubs
can be found, owned by these big groups.

Will and Guy bemoan the loss of the heritage connected with the old
names.  Many of these inns can still be found when travelling around Britain
and Ireland.

Will and Guy have started a collection of funny pub signs to
bring a smile to your face.  Here is a list of the best pub names that
we have discovered.

• The Idle Cook - Idle, Bradford, Yorkshire
• Bucket of Blood - Phillack, Cornwall
• *The Fawcett Inn - Portsmouth, Hampshire
• *The Ram Inn - Newark, Nottinghamshire
• Moderation Inn - Reading, Berkshire
• *The Pub with No Name - Priors Dean, Hampshire [known by locals as
  The White Horse Inn]
• The Vat and Fiddle - Nottingham
• The Happy Medium - Chichester, West Sussex
• The Hung Drawn And Quartered, London
• *Hole in the Wall - Southsea, Hampshire; *Caernarvon, north Wales;
  Little Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire; Waterloo, London; Lowside, Bowness
  Windermere, Cumbria [Hole Int Wall]; and several other venues.
• Bank Tavern, Keswick, Cumbria
• The Bleeding Wolf, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire
• Blooming Fuchsia, Ipswich, Suffolk
• The Cow and Snuffers, Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales
• Drunken Duck, Hawkshead, Cumbria
• Mad Dog, Odell, Bedfordshire
• The Quiet Woman - York [The sign being a woman carrying her own
  severed head]
• Nobody Inn - Doddiscombsleigh, Devon
• One that almost got away: The Cemetery in Rochdale, Lancashire.
• The Tap Shop, Mid Calder, West Lothian, Scotland.

* These pubs have been visited by Will.

Another Tranche of Amusing Names For a Boozer

We think these are good pub names, if Will and Guy were to open a new
hostelry, this would be our short list of tavern names:

• Devil's Punchbowl
• The Elusive Camel
• The Hung Drawn And Quartered
• The Fawcett Inn
• Dirty Nelly's
• The Hairy Lemon
• The Three-Legged Mare [Known locally as The Wonky Donkey]
• The Hog In The Pound
• Pig and Whistle
• The Roaring Donkey
• Spread Eagle
• Dirty Dick's
• Filthy Mc Nasty's
• Bread of Heaven

More Funny Names of Public Houses

We are absolutely sure there are other, perhaps funnier pub names, and we
would appreciate a photo or an e-mail so we can add to the collection.

For example, Lisa reports there was a 'The Goat & Tricycle' in
Bournemouth.

Another interesting project would to go inside and research funny names
for individual bars.

Group Therapy - An Unusual Sign For a
Boozer!

Message for the wife:  Just off for my group therapy!

Alternatively, Wife Takes
The Initiative

Crèche for Husbands

More Funny Bar Names

A Very Nice Cat!

This Pub Name Seems to be 'The Plough'

Guy thinks that it should be called 'The Pits'.  Will thinks it must
have a peculiar clientele.

See more funny bar names.

Funny Pub Cartoons

Footnote:
Please send us your funny pub names,
we particularly like signs from far flung places.