The most popular pub name in the UK is the Red Lion, with over 500 to 600 establishments estimated to bear the name. Often linked to heraldry or King James I, it is followed by other common, traditional names such as the Royal Oak, Crown (or Crown Inn), and White Horse.
The most popular pub name in the UK for 2025 remains The Red Lion, followed closely by The Royal Oak and The Crown/Crown Inn, with new data showing the Red Lion's popularity continuing to grow, often linked to historical royal heraldry, particularly from King James I. These names consistently top lists, though local variations exist, like The Railway in Manchester or The Prince of Wales in London.
The most common pub name in the UK is The Red Lion, with hundreds of pubs bearing the name, followed closely by The Crown and The Royal Oak, all stemming from heraldry and royal connections, with names often reflecting local landowners or monarchical symbols. Other very popular choices include The White Horse, The Swan, and names related to trades or local history, like The Railway Tavern.
The most popular name for a pub in the UK is The Red Lion, with hundreds of establishments sharing the title, followed by The Royal Oak and The Crown. However, "popular" can also mean the best-regarded or most famous, with specific pubs like the Crown Wharf in Staffordshire (Great British Pub Awards winner) or The Famous Three Kings in London (sports focus) gaining renown, while guides like the Good Beer Guide highlight top-rated pubs for real ale.
The 'Red Lion' is probably the most common name for a pub and originates from the time of James I and VI of Scotland who came to the throne in 1603. James ordered that the heraldic red lion of Scotland be displayed on all buildings of importance – including pubs!
On 9 February, 1946, Orwell wrote an article for the Evening Standard warmly describing his favourite pub, the Moon Under Water, a small backstreet establishment with no music, china pots with creamy stout and that crucial ingredient: a welcoming atmosphere.
David Smith is the most common name for UK adults, beating David Jones (2nd) and John Smith (3rd) Smith is the UK's most common surname: one in three of the top 100 most common adult names contain 'Smith'
What is the second most popular pub name in the UK?
Coming out on top was The Red Lion, with a whopping 517 pubs on our list going by this name, followed by The Royal Oak, with 403 appearances. Below, we've listed the most commonly found pub names around the UK and Ireland.
The Highwayman Inn on Dartmoor is considered to be the most unusual pub in Britain! The 13th century Inn has a beautiful interior, featuring secret passages and tunnels. The bar is designed to look an old wooden ship... although black section looks like a boot!
The original Pub was called a “Taberna,” or Tavern. Traveling through Roman controlled Celtic areas you could find a tavern every 20 miles on the roads built by the ever-expanding Roman Empire.
The Admiral Wells is a public house in Holme, Huntingdonshire, now in Cambridgeshire. Nearby Holme Fen is 2.75 metres (9.0 feet) below sea level, and the Admiral Wells claims to be the lowest pub in Great Britain.
Great Britain, now known as Airstrip One, has become a province of the totalitarian superstate Oceania, which is led by Big Brother, a dictatorial leader supported by an intense cult of personality manufactured by the Party's Thought Police.
'Moon' appears in the name of several Wetherspoon pubs, linking them with the ideal pub described by the writer George Orwell. He called his fictional pub 'Moon Under Water'. This pub was originally two shops, built in c1905 on the site of an orchard.
