Forum Topic

The Duchess - what's in a name?

I have followed the many iterations of this pub ever since it first became my local under its original name "The Queen of England". I always thought it was a master-stroke to latterly call it "The Duchess of Cambridge" as one day the actual current holder of that title would indeed become Queen and the pub could revert to its original name. . By doing the renaming now  they have rather jumped the gun - I hope it manages to thrive far into the future  whatever its name. God save the Queen!

Bruce Hammal ● 40d16 Comments

The people who renamed it the Duchess of Cambridge were a lovely couple who had some connection with the Bree Louise near Euston, and they gave it that name for exactly that reason.

Andrew Jones ● 39d

RIP the Bree Louise. A victim of HS2 / Euston Station re-organisation / vandalism. An essential watering hole for london football fans for decades, returning from trips ooop north  As for the Duchess rename - a bit of a strange one however they clearly know what theyre doping and have made a real going concern out of a problem site... good luck to themTalking of names changes and difficult sites- anyone been to https://www.theblack-rabbit.co.uk/ on the site of the previously named Oak/seven stars?

Tim Garfoot ● 34d

Interesting about the new place where the Oak was.  I'll need to check it out.The Oak W12 must have been there for at least 12 years...? It was in a mini-chain along with The Bird in Hand in Brook Green and another pub called The Oak in Notting Hill.  The latter two have been recently sold off to separate new owners.  The Bird in Hand still has the same name and the W2 Oak is now the New Oak.

Michael Robinson ● 34d

ps.  I've just taken a look at Google street view and in 2014 it was the Oak, in 2012 the Grand Union and in 2008 The Mulberry.

Michael Robinson ● 34d

I don't really understand this mania for changing pub names. Didn't do the Hole in the Wall (or whatever it was called before it closed for good) any favours. I can understand a rebrand if the pub had a particularly bad reputation under previous management but constant name changing undermines customer loyalty and causes confusion. Is there some tax or other corporate reason for doing this or is it just consultants trying to justify fees?

Andrew OSullivan ● 33d

The people who took over the Queens Head and changed its name back to the Hole in the Wall did so, they told us, because Google maps had the Queens Head down as “permanently closed” and they, the new owners, didn’t have the ability to change that.  So they had to change the name.

Helen Pickering ● 32d

They changed the name and all the branding. You just open google maps,selct pub and select an edit and change what you want to change and submit changes. For a name change you submit photo evidance. They could have changed permantly closed in mins under operating status. Oh well

Julian Pavey ● 32d

Every time the "Queen of England" was relaunched the pub  was painted a different colour.As I recall For a while it was the "Stamford" and was painted green, then It became "The Brook" and the geen was covered by a coat of blue.( I have to confess this may have been the other way round.) At one point it was "The Atlantic" (why was never revealed) and this brought with it a particularly offensive maroon. At some point it became "The Queen" again at which point things returned to unmemorable anonymity. I honestly could't tell you what the colour scheme has been since its most recent transformation into "The Duchess" but I look forward with interest to seeing its latest metamorphosis.

Bruce Hammal ● 32d

Did it also have  incarnations as “Pacific Bar and Grill” and “Cafe Med”?

Andrew Jones ● 32d

You're quite right Andrew - I am mixing up my oceans!

Bruce Hammal ● 31d

It is a busy time for pub renamings in W12 as the Brewdog pub is now The Bush Tavern (now owned by Bird House Brewery in S London), the Pocket Watch on Uxbridge Rd is now The Hawthorn (I think that changed name a year or so ago) and the Queen Adelaide on Uxbridge Rd will be relaunching as the Talli Queen next month.  The theme for the latter appears to be a pub specialising in Indian food.

Michael Robinson ● 31d

We can only imagine what fate awaits the royal boozer in Albert Square....

Bruce Hammal ● 31d

I'm a bit sceptical about this claim. Although the verified ownership of the business might have been with the previous tenants and the new owners couldn't log in to change it - Google is constantly checking the accuracy of its listings from other sources. For instance online feedback for the business would have triggered a reindexing. It might have happened immediately but I'd be surprised if it took much more than a week.

Mark Evans ● 29d

It's very easy to change and does not take long Even the public can log in to your Google account The General Public (Users and Local Guides). Who they are: Any everyday Google Maps user or Local Guide.What they can doSuggest edits like a closed status, a new phone number, a relocated address, or changed hours. How it worksSearch for the place on Google Maps, tap Suggest an edit, and submit the proposed change. Google decides whether to accept the public suggestion based on trust, automated checks, or confirmation from the owner.As the new owner,you just notify google

Julian Pavey ● 29d

Ironically, the Google listing shows that the Hole in the Wall pub is now permanently closed.

Mark Evans ● 28d

Of course, The Oak was once called The Seven Stars. If you look up, the name is still visible. And the opposite corner is Seven Stars Corner(where the date agent is).

Jason Hallsworth ● 25d