There aren’t any laws about what pubs can be called. THis is actually a bone of contention in England.
Many pubs are used as local landmarks and roads etc are named after them (eg The Nag’s Head Rd in North London, THe swan in Tottenham etc, not to mention the Swiss Cottage).
What had been happening is that these pubs were falling into the hands of chains who imposed their own Brand Name on them eg “rat and Parrot”. They were able to do this with no regard to local tradition or heritage.
Thankfully it seems to have stopped (people didn’t like it).
JD Wetherspoons are a comapny that are opening brand new pubs, and they can be quite imaginative with the name - usually reflecting either the local are or the buildings previous use. Dreadful dives inside though.
Ooh, hang on a minute… I wonder if it’s a typo: they meant to type “closed shop” - i.e. union regulations - would prevent people counting to 12 or something.
One pub name which is relatively common all over the country is ‘The Marquis of Granby’;
otherwise known as John Manners, this fine gentleman was Commander-in-Chief of the British army in the mid eighteenth century.
After the Battle of Warburg he bought pubs for all his disabled non-commissioned officers.
His generosity ruined him however, and he died in 1770 leaving debts of £37,000.
*“What conquest now will Britain boast,
Or where displays her banners?
Alas, in Granby she has lost
True courage and good manners”.
*
A man walks into the " George and Dragon" to be confronted by a very fierce and ugly woman behind the bar. She asks in a very aggressive tone " What do you want" and he replies " Can I speak to George please ?"
