Names of Taverns, Bars, and Inns

[Templetroll]

In my homebrew the one place had a sign with the blade of an axe stuck in the top of an old helmet. The inn was called the "Retired Adventurer"

 

[francisca]

Every campaign I run has a tavern called "The Tumble Inn", if not a chain of them. It's named after an actual place in Whiting, IN.

 

[lordbasl]

Partying with the Inn Crowd

In my Traveller game, I had a chain of seedy starport taverns called "Godowns" --- it was the kind of place where illicit adventure-seed deals deals would "go down." Think Tatoonie Cantina.

In an old Cyberpunk 2020 game, there was a club called "Arnie's" where all the staff had body mods to look like Arnold Schwartznegger's various famous action heroes. Imagine Conan serving drinks and Col John Matrix as a bouncer....

In my current D&D campaign, there are several taverns of reknown: the Lusty Hussy ("Where everyone knows you're laid!" to paraphrase Cheers) being the current party's favorite. Another place is "Here There Be Flagons," "Hair of the Bard" ("best bards in the entire Barony"), Flaming Mari's, and Your Death ("We're going to Your Death. Want anything?").

 

[Krug]

Since in those days most folks were illiterate, didn't they just call a name by the picture they hung out front? So [Adjective] [Noun] would probably be the easiest fit.

 

[glass]

The "[Adjective][Noun]" structure is probably directly linked to the Prancing Pony, at least subconciously.

Not in my case. At least, not directly: I've never heard of The Prancing Pony.

But let's not forget that a lot of English pubs, the closest real-world tie to D&D taverns (and the inspiration of the Prancing Pony itself), have names of a similar structure.

True. Within a couple of mile of where I live, there is The Open Arms, The Corner Post, and The Burnt Post (as well as The Cheylesmore and The Festival).


glass.

 

[Zander]

In the Thrud comics, the tavern is called The Hobbit's Armpit.

In my homebrew, I have a famous inn called The Dungeon & Dragon which is just up the street from its equally famous rival The Luncheon & Flagon.

In the UK, there's a chain of pubs called Hobgoblins where they serve Hobgoblin Ale http://www.wychwood.co.uk/wychwood_hobgoblin.htm. There's also a horror themed pub called The Black Widow. I believe it's part of a chain as well.

 

[Hand of Evil]

One I always have, The Piss sPot


See the Seventh Sanctum http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=tavernname

The Beautiful Grimoire
The Blessing and Cauldron
The Book and the Wineskin
The Cast Sword
The Cheap Prayer Tavern
The Corrupt Minotaur Hall
The Cup and the Potion
The Cursed Amulet Bar
The Earl's Alehouse
The Full Flask Tavern
The Gleaming Sword
The Happy Conjurer
The Imp and the Fish
The Joyous Naga Bar
The Needy Bird's Alehouse
The Prayer and the Scripture
The Sword and the Wineskin
The Wandering Monkey
The Zestful Angel
The Zestful Fox's Inn

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

The last Cthulu game we played we came into The Seventeen Tentacled Monstrocity and Whistle. It had a symbol; a bunch of tentacles swarming over a plate of wholesome food and dipping into a beer.

Admittedly I was playing a drunk, insane scottish teddybear armed with two bazookas.



It was a strange, strange Cthulu game.

 

[Rel]

You want Inn and Tavern names? Well just flip open your handy DMGII to page 98 and there's a chart all set to go for you. I'll gen up a few just for kicks:

The Sleeping Tankard
The Red Dwarf (I crap you not)
The Tipsy Elf
The Welcome Pirate
The Wet Bucket (this one strikes me as funny)
The Sleeping Orc
The Twisted Wench (now we're talkin!)
The Dripping Dog (ew!)
The Dizzy Thug
The Drunken Gnome
The Scurvy Thug
The Black Wench
The Tipsy Dog
The Sleeping Pirate
The Rusty Orc
The Thirsty Priest (I like this one)
The Scurvy Horse
The Blue Dragon
The White Giant
The Drunken Dragon


Not too bad for a random generation system. In my campaigns I've tended to have at least one dockside tavern called "The Stinking Anchor".

 

[Arnwyn]

In my game(s), there is always a tavern called "The Bloated Corpse".