A couple for the pot; along the lines of the pub called 'the office', there used to be a pub in Oldham called 'The Doctor Syntax'. Hence 'I'm going to be late, love, I'm at the Doctors; nothing serious, just feeling a bit wobbly...'. Another one was on the road from Saddleworth to Huddersfied, called 'The Floating Light'. Difficult to see how this pub on the top of the moors had anything to do with water, until you realise that the Stanage canal tunnel runs underneath from Diggle to Marsden. The tunnel has no towpath, so the boats were 'legged' through the tunnel, and the tow horses would be walked over the hills to meet the boat at the other side. They would stop at the pub for refreshment on the way. Must be a song in this somewhere..
Tim from Bit on the Side