Red Lion v White Hart

by Steve Cunningham< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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WHAT is the most popular pub name asked Arsenal. The Red Lion, came back the speedy and unanimous reply.

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Boring�name isn'it But there's a good reason for its popularity and why it's closely followed by the White Hart.

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��Londonstills.com

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Let's look at some more pub names:

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The Cat, considering its popularity as a pet is a comparative rarity as a pub name. Variations, such as Black Cat, Old Cat, Cheshire Cat or Cat's Whiskers are slightly more common.

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The Elephant and Castle is an old favourite, steeped in history and mystery. The origins can be traced back to the crest of the Cutlers' Company which has been used by them since 1622.

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The King's Head is one of the most common names, linked with its feminine version, the Queen's Head. Specific names, such as the old queen, Victoria, can be found all over the land, notably in that East End community well known to soap fans.

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Man on the Moon is an interesting one and can be found in several places. Some commemorate the lunar landing of 1968; some refer to the nonsense rhyme; and others have signs depicting a man with a bundle of sticks. This is thought to refer to the Biblical character referred to in Numbers 15:32-36 who disobeyed the law regarding Sunday and was consequently sentenced to a perpetual moon-day.

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The Air Hostess at Tollerton in the Midlands depicts a woman from the unPC days when flight attendants were picked for their model looks and known as trolley dollies.

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The Lamb and Flag beloved of the characters in Private Eye's Dear Bill letters, is a Biblical reference to an heraldic sign referring usually to the Knights Templar.

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The Marquis of Granby, ever a popular name, is named after the colonel of the regiment who gave his soldiers such good pensions that many retired, bought pubs and named them after him.

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Another hero was Henry Cooper, the heavyweight boxing champ. A pub honours him on the Old Kent Road, London. Nearby is the Frog and Nightgown. Any ideas on how that got its name Likewise another London pub, the World Turned Upside Down

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Most towns have one called The Railway. It was the trend as the iron road was built in the mid 19th Century. Many also have a Rose and Crown - but only in England. This pub sign indicated loyalty to the crown. Most show the Tudor Rose, half-red and half-white.