From Red Lion to Lion Rouge – Yorkshire pubs change names for Tour de France
All 19 pubs in and around the market town of Otley have translated their names into French for the big event, displaying two meter wide banners with the French equivalent of the pubs’ names. Names such as the Le Cygne Blanc (White Swan) and Le Taureau Noir (Black Bull) will adorn pub facades.
The move, organised by the Otley Pub Club, follows a well established tradition of the town’s pubs changing their names for big events. In 2011 all the pubs renamed themselves ‘The Yorkshire Princess’ to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton whose family came from Yorkshire. Before that it was The Queen’s jubilee and before that the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Greg Mulholland MP, president of the pub club, said: “Otley is a famous cycling town and a famous pub town and it is right that the pubs will be getting involved in this once in a lifetime event. It is very appropriate and a bit of fun that the pubs will all sport their French names to say Bienvenue á Otley.”
The pub names in French
The Bay Horse - Le Cheval Bai
The Black Bull - Le Taureau Noir
The Black Horse - Le Cheval Noir
The Bowling Green - Le Terrain de Boules
The Cross Pipes - Les Pipes Croisées
The Fleece - La Toison
The Horse and Farrier - Le Cheval et Maréchal-ferrant
The Junction - La Jonction
The Manor - Le Manoir
North Bar - Bar Du Nord
The Old Cock - Le Vieux Coq
Otley Tavern - La Taverne D’Otley
The Red Lion - Le Lion Rouge
The Roebuck - Le Chevreuil
The Rose & Crown - La Rose et La Couronne
The Royalty - La Royauté
The White Swan - Le Cygne Blanc
The Yew Tree - L’If Arbre
Whitakers Arms - Les Armoiries De Whitaker
