What’s in a Birmingham Pub Name? 🐂

Birmingham is the UK’s second city and one that includes some excellent pub names. In the spirit of mine and my dear friend Sam’s book of London pub names and my subsequent blogs for Wolverhampton and Nottingham, I’ve decided to pick some of the most interesting pub names, mainly from central Birmingham and researched the stories behind their names. Let’s crack on with the show!

Actress & Bishop
6 Ludgate Hill, B3 1EH

We start this blog in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The Actress & Bishop is located in a former jewellery workshop which was converted into a pub in 1998. The name appears to come from the old punchline “said the actress to the bishop” when telling a slightly blue joke. This inspired Brian Bollard to write a comic titled “The Actress & The Bishop which began in the 1970s. The US equivalent of this is the phrase “that’s what she said” which of course was made famous in the American version of The Office.

Bear & Staff
Selly Oak, B29 6ND

Heraldry is often depicted in pub signs and here is another classic example. The bear and staff are famously the symbol of the Earl of Warwick and therefore pubs on his land would have used this pub sign. This pub in Selly Oak still remembers this tradition, even if Birmingham and the surrounding areas were carved out of Warwickshire and Staffordshire to make the county of the West Midlands in the 1970s.

The Briar Rose
25 Bennetts Hill, B2 5RE

Our first Wetherspoons of this blog, The Briar Rose remembers a series of paintings by Birmingham-born artist Edward Burne-Jones. Born in 1833, he met William Morris at university and the two men decided to dedicate their lives to art. The paintings in question are themed around the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty.

The Figure of Eight
236-239 Broad Street, B1 2HG

I can’t do a blog about Birmingham and not mention the fact that Birmingham has more canals than Venice! Indeed, the canals are behind the name of this Wetherspoons. Given Birmingham’s central location in the country, the canal network is centred here, making a figure of eight.

The Flapper
Cambrian Wharf, Kingston Row, B1 2NU

Icons of the Roaring 1920s, flapper was the term used to describe the subculture that existed amongst young women at the time. They often bobbed their hair and listened to jazz music. Indeed the pub sign depicts a black and white painting of a flapper. The pub is a live music venue, which might explain the name.

The Head of Steam
37 Temple Street, B2 5DP

Hinting at Birmingham’s industrial past, The Head of Steam is a craft beer pub that opened in 2018. A Head of Steam is the force when steam is put under pressure, given Birmingham’s role in the Industrial Revolution, the name is a nice nod to the city’s heritage.

The Jam House
3-5 St Paul’s Square, B3 1QU

Opened by Jools Holland in 1999, this music pub is located in the Jewellery Quarter. A fairly straightforward name given the pub’s focus on live music, where jamming is the term used by musicians when improvising together.

The London & North Western
New Street Station, B2 4QE

Birmingham’s newest Wetherspoons pays homage to the railway company which built the original station in the 1840s and 1850s. The company lasted until the amalgamation of the railway companies in 1923 into the “Big Four” when the LNWR became part of the London, Midland & Scotland Railway.

The Old Contemptibles
176 Edmund Street, B3 2HB

I love this name. The Old Comtemptibles is the nickname given to the British Expeditionary Force or the BEF during the First World War. Led by Sir John French, they were responsible for delaying the German advance at Mons at the start of the war. Their actions led to Kaiser Wilhelm II ordering his generals to wipe out the “‘contemptible little army”. The nickname stuck and those heroes became known as The Old Comtempibles. So much so, that the service medal is named after them, alongside this pub next to Snow Hill station.

The Old Joint Stock
4 Temple Row West, B2 5NY

This pub and theatre is located on Temple Row, opposite Birmingham Cathedral. The building was originally built in the 1800s as a library for the cathedral but was subsequently turned into the Old Joint Stock Bank. The pubs remember the former use of the building and the dining rooms include the former Manager’s Office.

The Patrick Kavanagh
142 Trafalgar Road, B13 8BX

Located to the south of the city centre, this pub remembers the Irish poet and novelist who lived from 1904-1967. His most famous work is Tarry Flynn. Interestingly the actor Russell Crowe is a fan of his works, quoting one of his poems when he won Best Actor at the 2002 Oscars.

The Square Peg
115 Corporation Street, B4 6PH

The main Wetherspoons in Brum has a very unusual name. Most Spoons are named after local interests, such as a location, person or tradition. This one is a bit more unique, however. This pub is located in the old Lewis’s department store, and when observing the plans to convert the block into a pub, the company’s owner, Tim Martin remarked that it looked like a square peg in a round hole. The name stuck and it has been called this ever since.

The Trocadero
Temple Street, B2 5BG

A Spanish-inspired name on this occasion. Trocadero is the name of a fort near Cadiz in southern Spain which was captured in battle by the French in 1823. This victory was honoured by the building which now sits opposite the Eiffel Tower across the Seine in Paris. The name was taken on by several hotels and restaurants across Britain, including this pub on Temple Street.

So there you have it, some of Birmingham’s most interesting pub names. Have I missed an obvious one? If so, just let me know and I can always add it in!

My thanks to Danny Curtis for letting me use his great photos for this blog!

JP

My Ideal Pub 🍺

Inspired by George Orwell’s equivalent essay for the Evening Standard in 1946, which describes his ideal pub. I thought I would pen some of my own characteristics of what I would consider to be the 21st-century equivalent.

Interestingly, his ideal pub would be called the Moon Under Water, although as he was to reveal in his essay such a pub did not exist to his knowledge at the time. Tim Martin of Whetherspoons fame liked that name so much, he named many Spoons up and down the land the same, including the one in my hometown of Wolverhampton.

There are many elements of a pub which I would share with Mr Orwell, including the patrons being comprised largely of regulars and the need for the pub to be near a bus stop but tucked down a side street. Some of the best pubs I know meet this criteria, including The Pride of Spitalfields or The Swimmer at the Grafton Arms, which I was drinking in just the other day.

In terms of its history, my ideal pub would have a quirky name which no doubt I would have researched for my book ‘What’s in a London Pub Name?‘. Perhaps something like The Old Wulfrunian. It must also be at least from the Victorian era, ideally with a famous patron having once drunk there, in London pubs this will usually be Charles Dickens!

Decor is important in a pub. For me, carpets and curtains are essential, ideally with low lighting. A pub should be a cosy place, it is in essence an alternative living room. Therefore I share Mr Orwell’s requirement for a good fire to be burning in winter. Alas, these days I find too many of today’s pubs have wooden flooring and big glass windows. While I acknowledge it might be easier to clean, there is something which is lost from the atmosphere of a pub when there are lots of hard surfaces for noise to bounce off. I would also include some tasteful pieces of memorabilia for decoration. For instance, I like how Sir Ian McKellen has a couple of Lord of the Rings props in his pub, The Grapes in Limehouse.

And what of the beer that would be available? There’s such a kaleidoscope of beers available these days, but you need a good mix. In my pub, on tap I would have a pale ale, an IPA, a premium lager, and a Belgian Trappist beer, ideally Tripel Karmeliet and Guinness, plus a good sweet cider. On cask, I would have a rotation of local ales, but wherever this pub is, I would have Banks Mild and Bitter, just so I can have a sip of the local brew from my hometown.

Food is also an important element. For me, lunchtime would see homemade cobs and sausage rolls available. The fillings would be thick and chunky, imagine a cheese and onion cob, with the fillings being at least a centimetre deep. For dinner, I would make my pub a desi pub as I love Indian cuisine. The set-up would be similar to many pubs in London which have a Thai kitchen, notable examples in London include The Kings Arms in Waterloo, The Churchill Arms near Notting Hill Gate and The Faultering Fullback in Finsbury Park.

What entertainment would I have? Well in one corner there would be a free jukebox quietly playing the tunes the masses want to queue up. You know the ones I’m on about, the ones that have every chart hit going back to the 1950s. In fact, one of my favourite memories is when me and my mates were 18 and drinking in Wolverhampton. It was a Saturday night and we queued up “Daddy Cool” by Boney M on the jukebox. We waited an hour and a half and were about to head to Blast Off when it came on as we walked out. The whole pub got up and danced. A lovely memory.

In addition to the jukebox, I would have a quiz machine in the other corner. Now a dying breed, the quiz machine has an element of gambling to it but also a test of your knowledge which will keep you going back for more. I actually can’t remember the last time I saw one but they were a key part of pub entertainment in the 2000s. As landlord, I would also have a pub quiz once a week. Plus there would be a selection of board games for customers to wile away the hours.

Of an evening, a live band will be there one or two evenings a week to keep the patrons entertained, ideally a jazz band playing standards to add to the atmosphere. I’m thinking along the lines of The Palm Tree in Mile End. This contravenes Mr Orwell’s desire for it to be quiet enough for talking but I think for a couple of hours a week, it makes a difference and can bring the punters in if you are struggling for locals. I would not have any TVs in my pub, however. I believe that pubs are at their best when we can socialise and converse without the distractions of live sports or the news. They should be places for us to catch up and have human interaction, all the more important in the age of screens I would argue.

Mix these elements together and to me, you have the perfect pub! What would be in your ideal pub? Let me know!

Sadly, such a pub does not exist to my knowledge, but there are so many excellent pubs out there, I’ve previously blogged my favourites in the cities I know best, which are London, Wolverhampton and Nottingham. Enjoy!

What’s in a Nottingham Pub Name? 🏹

Nottingham is such a brilliant city and one I love dearly given I went to university there. Given I’m here for the weekend, I thought I’d get around to writing about the etymology of its excellent pubs. Often we don’t realise the history that is soaked into the names of our local pubs but they often speak to characters, customs and curiosities from the past which are remembered in the names of inns and taverns across the land. Researching their etymology, you can find a treasure trove of trivia.

In a previous blog, I’ve covered which pubs are my favourites in Nottingham so the focus here will be on just the names. If you’re curious about this then you might like my book which focuses on London pub names, where many popular names from across the country are covered.

Like my blog on the etymology of Wolverhampton’s pubs, I’ve focussed mostly on city centre pubs, with one exception but if you have a request for one elsewhere in the city, let me know and I will do some research and add it in.

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem
Brewhouse Yard, 1, Nottingham NG1 6AD

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem claims to be the oldest pub in the country, opening in 1189. It’s etymology appears to give this claim some credence, however, this claim is disputed at the pub was previously called The Pilgrim in the 1700s. Nonetheless, the first confirmed use of Ye Olde Trip dates from 1799. The story goes that during the Crusades, Richard III raised his banner in Nottingham at the pub, which is built into the cave network beneath Nottingham Castle in 1189 before heading off to the Holy Land.

Vat & Fiddle
12 Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB

The Vat is the tap room of the Castle Rock Brewery which sits a minute’s walk away from the city’s train station. The name here is rather excellent as locals will know that HMRC had an office just around the corner, meaning it’s a rather cheeky nod to taxes!

The Ned Ludd
27 Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6DA

Ned Ludd is a legendary character whose name is given to the Luddite movement. Allegedly, he was a weaver who destroyed two knitting frames and thus the story and the movement grew from there. I do doubt that any Luddites will be reading this blog post however!

Fothergills
5-7 Castle Road, Nottingham NG1 6AA

Watson Fothergill (1841-1928) was an architect who has designed over 100 buildings in Nottingham. Primarily using a Gothic Revival style, his signature style is using primarily red brick, incorporating bands of blue bricks. Examples include is own office (which is Grade II listed) and the building which the pub bearing his name now sits.

The Joseph Else
11-12 South Parade, Market Square, Nottingham NG1 2JS

Nottingham’s branch of Whetherspoon’s, like most Spoons across the land, takes its name from a local figure who is important to the city’s history. In this example, Joseph Else was the principal of Nottingham’s School of Art in the inter-war years. He is responsible for sculpting the lions which adorn the entrance to the city’s Council House which sits in front of the pub in Market Square.

Ye Olde Salutation Inn
Hounds Gate, Nottingham NG1 7AA

Like the Trip and The Bell, the Salutation claims to be Nottingham’s oldest pub, with parts of this pub dating from 1240. The name has a religious connotation as the full name of the original pub was “The Archangel Gabriel Salutes the Virgin Mary” and a salutation is the greeting that Gabriel gave to the mother of Jesus. At the time, this sort of name was typical of guesthouses of friaries and other religious institutions.

Pit & Pendulum
17 Victoria Street, Nottingham NG1 2EW

The Pit & The Pendulum is a short story written by Edgar Allen Poe in 1842 and was later adopted into a film in 1961. The story covers the torment suffered by a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition in the 1500s. This seems apt as the pub has a gothic theme, with dungeons and candles decorating the pub.

The Loxley
24 – 26 Victoria Street, Nottingham NG1 2EG

Of course, one of Nottingham’s pubs refers to its most famous son. I am obviously talking about Robin Hood. One of his aliases was Robin of Loxley, which this pub has taken for its own name. Loxley itself is actually a village in South Yorkshire.

The Lord Robert’s
24 Broad Street, Nottingham NG1 3AN

Many pubs across the land are named after famous military commanders. In this example, the pub remembers Field Marshal Lord Frederick Roberts VC who was one of the most successful leaders of the Victorian era, serving as commander in chief in India before leading British forces during the Second Boer War. He died of pneumonia aged 82 in November 1914 after visiting troops on the frontline as the First World War was in its early stages.

The Thurland Hall
Thurland Street, Nottingham NG1 3DR

Thurland Hall was the country home of the Earl of Clare which stood nearby in central Nottingham during the 1500s. The pub sat on the site of the old hall when it was opened in 1830, however when the railways came in the following decades, the pub was compulsorily purchased and moved to its current site.

Kean’s Head
46 St Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA

Edmund Kean (1787-1833) was a famous Shakespearean actor of his day and started his stage career aged four playing Cupid. He would end up appearing at the Drury Lane Theatre many times and also performed in Paris and America. However, a tumultuous private life limited his career as he committed adultery and his wife left him. He was subsequently booed and pelted with fruit when he appeared on stage after this.

Tap & Run
Main Road, Upper Broughton, Melton Mowbray LE14 3BG

While not in Nottingham, given we’re in the East Midlands I couldn’t resist including this excellently named pub. Tap and run is a cricketing term when a team is batting and the batter gently hits the ball and picks up a run. This makes sense when you know that the pub is owned by England bowler Stuart Broad. Sadly the pub was devastated by a fire in June 2022, however, the pub has risen from the ashes and reopened a year later.

What’s in a Wolverhampton Pub Name? 🐺

While I’m back home for a few days, the etymologist in me has gotten the better of me and following the publication of my book “What’s in a London Pub Name?” which looks at the stories behind London’s pub names, I decided to look into the names of some of the pubs in my hometown. I’ve already blogged about My Favourite Pubs in Wolverhampton, for those who haven’t seen! Plus if you enjoy this you might also enjoy the blog I’ve done on Nottingham’s pubs too.

I’ve focussed on city centre pubs but if you have a request for one elsewhere in the city, let me know and I will do some research and add it in.

Let’s get cracking!

The Billy Wright
 9 Princess Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HW

Most Wulfrunians will be familiar with Billy Wright (1924-1994), who made 490 appearances for Wolves and 105 for England in the 1940s and 50s. He was captain of England for a record 90 games and led his country into three World Cups. His legend lives on not only by having a pub named after him but also one of the stands at the Molineux bares his name.

The George Wallis
11-15 Victoria Street, Wolverhampton WV1 3NP

George Wallis (1811-1891) was an artist who was born and raised in Wolverhampton but moved to London in the 1840s. He was Deputy Commissioner of the Great Exhibition in 1851 and he became the Senior Keeper of the Art at the South Kensington Museum, which nowadays is called the V&A. A number of his works are still in the V&A as well as the Wolverhampton Art Gallery. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery, which is just up the road from where I live in London.

The Giffard Arms
64 Victoria Street, Wolverhampton WV1 3NX

This pub building dates from the 1920s but there has been a pub on this site for centuries, which will have been around the time my Dad was drinking in here! In all seriousness though, the name comes from the Giffard family whose aristocratic links also go back centuries. Their home of Chillington Hall sits just outside of Wolverhampton.

The Great Western
Corn Hill, Wolverhampton WV10 0DG

Tucked away underneath the railway station, the Great Western gets its name from the railway company which used to run services into Wolverhampton Low Level station (the building of which survives as a banqueting hall and the trainline is now part of the Midland Metro). As such the pub honours its railway tradition by being stuffed with memorabilia.

Hogshead
186 Stafford Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1NA

A Hogshead is a size of cask which was used for carrying alcohol. Four Hogsheads would make an even larger cask called a tun, which Wulfrunians will know there was a pub called the Three Tuns on the Stafford Road. So the Three Tuns would be the equivilent amount of liquid as 12 Hogsheads.

Lych Gate Tavern
44 Queen Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1TX

Located next to St. Peter’s Church right at the heart of the city, the Lych Gate Tavern is a great addition to Wolverhampton’s nightlife since it opened in 2012. However, the building itself has a much richer history with the rear dating from the 1500s and the Georgian front of the building from 1724. Now a Lychgate is the covered gateway which is over the entrance to a churchyard. Historically, there would have a lychgate outside the pubs front door.

The Moon Under Water
53-55 Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1EQ

As mentioned in “What’s in a London Pub Name?”, the Whetherspoons in Wolverhampton, takes its name from a 1946 essay that George Orwell wrote for the London Evening Standard where he describes his ideal pub, which he would have called The Moom Under Water. Tim Martin liked this so much that several pubs in the chain have the same name.

The Posada
48 Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1DG

This beautifully decorated pub gets its name from the Spanish for tavern and dates from 1886.

Royal London
4-6 Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1LX

The Royal London pub is located in the Royal London Mutual Insurance Building which was built in 1902. The building was refurbished in 2000 with the upper levels being converted into flats. Apparently, one of the shops elsewhere in the building used to be home to Snape’s Tailors, who made Norman Wisdom’s suits for when he was on stage.

The Sunbeam
10 Victoria Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1LD

This recent pub near the city’s train station gets its name from the car and motorcycle manufacturer which used to be based in the city. Founded by John Marston in 1888, the company made vehicles until the 1970s. The factory building survives on the other side of the city centre and has recently been converted to apartments.