The most used pub name in England (and the UK) is The Red Lion, with over 500 estimated locations. It is a traditional name, frequently linked to the heraldic symbol of John of Gaunt or the ascension of James I, who ordered the emblem to be displayed on important buildings.
The most common pub name in the UK is The Red Lion, followed closely by The Royal Oak and The Crown/Crown Inn, with hundreds of pubs bearing these royal and heraldic names, reflecting centuries of British history and monarchy.
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!
England's oldest pubs often boast debated claims, but top contenders for the oldest include The Old Ferry Boat Inn (Cambridgeshire, c. 560 AD), The Porch House (Gloucestershire, c. 947 AD), and The Bingley Arms (West Yorkshire, c. 905-953 AD), with other historic inns like Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (Nottingham, 1189) and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (St Albans) also frequently listed as some of the nation's most ancient drinking spots.
And, if you asked many people, all around the UK, what is the smallest pub, they might say 'The Nutshell' in Bury St Edmunds which is in fact correct as it has a Guinness World Record to prove it. The building which The Nutshell occupies today is around, or over 300 years old, and used to be a little newspaper shop.
The biggest pub owner in the UK is Stonegate Group, operating around 4,500 managed and leased pubs, including well-known brands like Slug & Lettuce and Walkabout, following its major acquisition of Ei Group in 2020, making it the largest pub company by site numbers, according to sources from TDR Capital and Stonegate Group.
The most photographed pub in England—can anyone think why?! 😉🏰 Why not pop in for some lunch today and see for yourself 🍽️ 📍The Greyhound Inn, Corfe Castle. Where historic charm meets superb dining.
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.
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 Turk's Head is a traditional pub name that refers to ancient conflicts, Crusader and otherwise, with Turks and Saracens. This 1765 alehouse is dubbed 'Lower' because there was once another Turk's Head higher along Shudehill.
The Farmer's Dog is a pub and restaurant next to the Asthall barrow roundabout on the A40 road in West Oxfordshire near Burford, owned by television presenter Jeremy Clarkson, featured in his "Clarkson's Farm" series.
Neve Baker-Wright took over the lease of The New Inn in Folkingham, Lincolnshire, after the previous landlords suggested she submit a business plan. The teenager worked as a waitress in pubs from the age of 14 but was unsure what career path to follow after finishing her A-levels.
Stonegate mulls £1b sale of 1,000 pubs. Stonegate is believed to be accelerating plans for a £1b sale of more than 1,000 pubs. Over the weekend, the Sunday Times reported Britain's biggest pub company is looking to offload roughly a quarter of its 4,300-strong pub portfolio in an effort to reduce debt.
