# Pub/tavern names: The This and That
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 25, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699 "2011-10-25T02:18:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/1 "2011-10-25T02:18:43Z")
E.g.
The Owl and Thistle
The Crown and Sceptre
The Pig and Whistle
The Duck and Slug (one of my favorites)
The Hammer and Anvil
I’ve always enjoyed these names. If you know some more, especially if they’re real places, and it pleases you to share…
Seems like a British custom. Any examples in non-English?
---
### Author:  [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/2 "2011-10-25T02:41:53Z")
Not to kill the discussion, but Wikipedia has a great entry:
> **[Pub names](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pub_names)**
>
> Pub names are used to identify and differentiate traditional drinking establishments. Many pubs are centuries old, and were named at a time when most of their customers were illiterate, but could recognise pub signs. The use of signage was not confined to drinking establishments. British pubs may be named after and depict anything from everyday (particularly agricultural) objects, to sovereigns, aristocrats and landowners (shown by their coats of arms). Other names come from historic events, li...
---
### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/3 "2011-10-25T03:25:00Z")
There used to be\* The Fox and Newt\* in Leeds. (It may still be there, but I doubt it.)
---
### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/4 "2011-10-25T03:48:22Z")
[The Old Dun Cow.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlpQjTGwmu8&feature=related) 😉
[Starts at 0:50]
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/5 "2011-10-25T05:02:30Z")
Y’know, “The This and That” would itself make a pretty good pub name. I’m not sure what the sign would show, though.
---
### Author:  [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/6 "2011-10-25T05:18:24Z")
The Publican.
---
### Author:  [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/7 "2011-10-25T05:19:28Z")
I used to hang out at the Lair.
---
### Author:  [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/8 "2011-10-25T11:24:41Z")
> [@](#):
>
> If you know some more, especially if they’re real places, and it pleases you to share…
Here you go, the [Frog and Radiator](http://www.inapub.co.uk/pubs/frog-radiator/london/SE100RA/25300.aspx) it’s a real place and it’s been there (and called that) for as long as I remember, some new chain pubs use daft names presumably for “character” like [this place](http://www.slugandlettuce.co.uk/milton_keynes/).
---
### Author:  [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/9 "2011-10-25T11:38:47Z")
[“The Frog and the Peach”](http://www.frogandpeach.com/) is still one of the best restaurants in NJ.
---
### Author:  [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/10 "2011-10-25T12:35:16Z")
The longest pub name in England (at least in London) used to be _The Ferret and Firkin in the Balloon up the Creek,_
---
### Author:  [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/11 "2011-10-25T12:39:51Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#):
>
> Not to kill the discussion, but Wikipedia has a great entry:
>
> [Pub names - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pub_names)
Yeah, I saw that. But I’m interested in what the Teeming Millions can tell me. Not the Wikipedian Millions. Call me sentimental.
---
### Author:  [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/12 "2011-10-25T12:45:13Z")
I like “The Case is Altered”. It’s quite a common name for a pub but always strikes me as quaint.
---
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/13 "2011-10-25T12:48:44Z")
Used to be a _Grog and Tankard_ in Glover Park in DC.
---
### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/14 "2011-10-25T14:04:09Z")
Washington DC had The Hawk and Dove, but I believe it is closing (has closed?).
---
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/15 "2011-10-25T14:06:15Z")
> [@madmonk28](#):
>
> Washington DC had The Hawk and Dove, but I believe it is closing (has closed?).
It’s going to reopen [under new owners](http://dcist.com/2011/08/hawk_n_dove_to_close_in_october_re-.php).
---
### Author:  [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/16 "2011-10-25T14:18:05Z")
Though their names all lack a definite article, I’m a frequent customer of [Longman and Eagle](http://longmanandeagle.com/), [Owen and Engine](http://www.owenandengine.com/), and [Bangers and Lace](http://bangersandlacechicago.com/) in Chicago.
---
### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/17 "2011-10-25T14:25:48Z")
When I first visited England, I was surprised to see a pub called the [Hope and Anchor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_and_Anchor,_Islington), as that’s the [state flag of Rhode Island](http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/ri_flag.htm), where I was born and raised… obviously both must be based on some age-old heraldic device (although it’s kind of cool to imagine Rhode Island taking its state flag from a pub sign).
---
### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/18 "2011-10-25T16:08:55Z")
In LA, there’s The Cat and Fiddle, which has a hilariously bad sign that for some reason I can’t find a good photo of with a Google image search. And of course there’s always Pig ‘N’ Whistle.
---
### Author:  [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/19 "2011-10-25T16:12:01Z")
> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> It’s going to reopen [under new owners](http://dcist.com/2011/08/hawk_n_dove_to_close_in_october_re-.php).
I’m glad, it is a GREAT name for a pub in DC.
---
### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699/20 "2011-10-25T16:53:01Z")
I’m special for not noticing Pig N Whistle was named in the OP. Now I need another example to offset the Duh moment, except now I can’t think of any. ☹
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pub-tavern-names-the-this-and-that/600699.md?page=2)