According to the BBPA, what is the most common pub name in the UK?

The story behind the answer

Red Lion is correct because the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), which tracks pub industry data, consistently lists it as the most common pub name in the UK. The name stems from heraldry: the red lion is a prominent royal and noble symbol (think the “lion rampant”), widely used after monarchs like James I/VI and tied to many coats of arms. Pub signs historically used such symbols so even the illiterate could recognize them.

To remember: picture the classic red lion on a swinging sign—bright, bold, and everywhere. While Royal Oak (Charles II’s hiding place), White Hart (Richard II’s badge), and King’s Head are also historic and popular, none outnumber the ubiquitous Red Lion.