But who'd ever have heard about the Marquis of Granby if he hadn't got all those pubs called after him? (He was a military fella in the 18th century who pensioned off lots of his soldiers with pubs.)

God save us from jokey pub names, like the Ferret and Faggot and so forth. (But I think the trend for that might be dying off - near us a Tap and Spile on Stortford went back to being called The Half Moon, and the Firkin and Forest (or whatever) in Epping has gone back to the George and Dragon; and in Harlow they've reverted to the old name for what they tried to call he Pavilion, and it's the Willow Beauty again.

(On the other hand regulars change the name of pubs too - so The Rising Sun in High Wych - a lovely pub with sessions on most Sundays - is always referred to as Sid's, even though the former landlord Sid is long retired and he died a couple of years ago.)

(JohninKansas - it's just that I always feel the English traditions tend to get undervalued - especially by the English, so you could say it serves them right.)