h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My parents live in the country, you can tell as the village pubs are called The Turf, The Horseshoe and the Black Bull. There is also a Railway Inn, which confuses me as it is no where near where the line used to go. Apparently Black Bull is to Scotland what Red Lion is to England, all over the shop. Probably say something about national leanings

V confused as the lion rampant is to Scotland what the three lions are to England(!)

V confused as the lion rampant is to Scotland what the three lions are to England(!)

It could all be a clever marketing ploy. Your average Middle Ages English peasent, being horribly oppressed by the Nobility would see the heraldic designs, quite often involving lions, and think, "Hmm, the Red Lion, I'm gagging for a pint" Meanwhile, your equivalent Scots peasent is half way up a hill, in the driving rain, trying to drag a cow out of the mud when a randy bull arrives to undo his labours (so to speak), Hence he thinks, "Sod this I'm off down the Black Bull" as you would.
It's either that or English drinkers really want to be Scots, as any good drinker should.

Thanks for all of the information re pub names. It really is an interesting subject.

There is a web site on English pubs but unfortunately they do not give the history of pub and inn signs (an opening for some of you aspiring authors)

The original name is often changed through the ages. For example there is a pub in Surrey which when it first opened in Victorian times was called "God Encompass Us" as a sop to the local temperance movement. The locals started to call the pub "The Goat and Compass" which was shortened to "The Compass"- not all rhyming slang comes from the cockneys.

Anyway, nobody has yet explained why "The Blue Anchor"

Well, would you drink in the Pink Anchor?

Munchkin, not even slightly bored

there was blood on the sadle,, and blood all around ,with a great big puddle of blood on the ground , a cowboy lay it it all coverd with gore and he aint gonna ride his pony no more,,,,,,,,

from the "bucket of blood saloon, in virgina city neveada, usa.

here in hangtown/placerville cal. usa we have a saloon with the name of,,"the liars bench" cute lol bill placerville california u.s.

Go out of towns into the backwaters of Englands green and pleasent land and you start finding some pretty alarming pub names:

for instance

The Black Boy - featuring a grinning black child..quite innocent huh?

Well try The Foolish Endeavour featuring two village idiots attempting to wash a small black child white...hmmm

Then of course they are just the plain odd...

The Freddy Mercury??

Also, has anyone noticed the annoying propencity for new pubs to have the word "bank" in their names? Obviously due to the large number of bank branches closing down and being turned into pubs and what have you.

There's a pub in Guisborough called "The Abbey", but I'm guessing it never was one; we already have Gisborough Priory and I think that one monastic building is enough for any small town.

I don't know it's name but an ancestor of mine used to own a pub in Paisley Abbey. Just a random fact, but I like it.
Back to pub names. There is a part of Paisley known as Abbotsinch. There is a pub of the same name, and you don't want to see it's pub sign.
I also saw a Harry Flashman themed pub once, but I'm sure you are fed up of my pub related ramblings now.