No matter where you live in the UK, you’re very likely to know a local pub called The Royal Oak or The Rose and Crown.
But there’s one pub name that tops them all.
There’s over 600 UK pubs that bear the name The Red Lion, making the moniker the most common pub name.
But how did so many end up sharing the popular title?
Naming pubs first became commonplace in the 12th century, but seeing as most people couldn’t read or write, pub signs were introduced to display an image to represent the name of a pub.
In 1393, King Richard II passed an Act making it compulsory for pubs and inns to have a sign to identify them.
Many of the pubs from this time were called the White Hart - depicted by a white stag - which was King Richard II’s own emblem.
Ever since then, inn names and signs have captured a moment in history.
The origin of The Red Lion is frequently debated, with some believing it derived from John of Gaunt - a knight who died in 1399.
He was the founder of the royal House of Lancaster, of the Wars of the Roses, with a red lion featured in his heraldic coat of arms.
However, others say the name comes from Scottish King James VI - who went on to become James I of England, in 1603.
When he arrived in London, he reportedly ordered that the emblem of the red lion of Scotland be displayed on all buildings of public importance - which included pubs and taverns.
Lions signified royalty, history, power which were instantly recognised as highly important.
One woman, from Preston, in Lancashire, spent four years travelling around the country to visit all of the pubs called The Red Lion.
Completing her challenge in 2015, at the age of 59, Cathy Price had travelled more than 100,000 miles to have a drink in a whopping 657 pubs bearing the popular name.
However, a number of the taverns she visited have since closed.
She began the mission after joking with a friend to visit them all - but it was no joke for Cathy, who even wrote a book - The Red Lioness - about her adventure.
In each pub, she would order half a pint, a cup of coffee or a soft drink, asking the landlord or lady for an interesting fact about each venue.
Her quest was complete when she visited the final Red Lion boozer in Northmoor, Oxfordshire.
