Britain has a unique heritage in its Pub signs: a record of its history and the people who made it. Inn signs depict everything, from battles to inventions, from sporting heroes to royalty.
The origin of inn signs goes back to the Romans. The 'Tabernae' would hang vine leaves outside to show that they sold wine - in Britain, as vine leaves are rare (due to the climate!), small evergreen bushes were substituted. One of the first Roman tavern signs was the 'Bush'. Early pubs hung long poles or ale stakes, which might have been used to stir the ale, outside their doors. If both wine and ale were sold, then both bush and pole would be hung outside.
The naming of inns and pubs became common by the 12th century. With pub names came pub signs - as the majority of the population could not read or write. In 1393, King Richard II passed an Act making it compulsory for pubs and inns to have a sign (his own emblem the 'White Hart' in London) in order to identify them to the official Ale Taster. Ever since then, inn names and signs have reflected, and followed, British life at that time.
Before King Henry VIII and the Reformation, many had a religious theme, for example 'The Crossed Keys' the emblem of St. Peter. When Henry split with the Catholic church, names were changed from religious themes to 'The Queen’s Head', 'The Kings Head' or 'The Rose & Crown' etc as a sign of the allegiance to the king and the new Protestant religion.
The origin of the Queen's Head isn’t as gruesome as some might think—it has nothing to do with the beheading of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. The name probably derives from when the pub displayed a picture of Elizabeth I on its sign. You won’t find many Queen’s Head celebrating Elizabeth II just yet—modern protocol dictates that reigning monarchs should not be depicted on pub signs during their lifetime. Since the death of Her Late Majesty we are probably one of the first to name a Queen's Head after Elizabeth II.
Our logo is an adaptation of the portrait made by Mary Gillick for the first sovereign coins of Elizabeth II's reign. It depicts a youthful Elizabeth, symbol of hope and renewal after World War II. And thats what we want our place to be too: a place of harmony and hope.
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