stanhoe.org

The Duck Inn is the new name for Stanhoe’s pub — formerly the Crown — landlord Julian Rivett said today.

Brewery chairman Nigel Elgood was influential in the choice, Julian said, adding that the simplest names are sometimes the best. Elgood’s has commissioned its regular artist to produce a new sign showing two ducks next to some water.

Julian said that he and the brewery had considered all the names suggested both through stanhoe.org and directly to him, and thanked everyone for their enthusiasm. “Mrs Rawlins even sent me a drawing for the Plucky Duck, showing a mother duck shepherding a string of ducklings in front of a van,” he added.

Given the number of duck-related names on the list, the chosen name seems likely to be popular. Less clear is who suggested it. Although the Duck Inn does not appear on our list, the Duck is in number one position — but it’s not credited to anyone.

So if you feel that the plain unvarnished Duck was your idea, please (tel 518 025). If no-one steps forward, it might just be a case of a free drink for anyone with a claim to a ducky name.

Opening by the end of June is still the plan, Julian said, as long there are a couple of dry days for the critical stage of installing the flat roof on the extension. If the builders can make the roof watertight by the middle of next week, he explained, interior work can then go ahead quickly.

Julian said that a couple of Stanhoe people had approached him about working in the new pub.