Call it a Cock & Bull story but a disproportionate number of British pubs, bars and taverns have ‘cock’ in their name. What’s up with that?

Ye Olde Cock

While we’re on the topic, why don’t these outwardly manly establishments have any femininely-titled counterparts, as in “hen”… what did you think we meant? Anyway, the real reason England boasts so many “cock” pubs has nothing to do with salaciousness, Beavis- er, faithful reader, but for now feel free to feast your eyes upon one of the better known examples: Ye Olde Cock Tavern, on Fleet Street in central London.

It’s uncertain whether the famed 17th-century diarist Samuel Pepys really “drank a cup of Cock ale” at Ye Olde Cock Tavern, though he was known to frequent a number of watering holes in and around Fleet Street. Modern-day publicans should have no hesitation when it comes to getting their Pepys on, however, because what happens at Ye Olde Cock Tavern STAYS at Ye Olde Cock Tavern. Credit photographers quite peculiar, David, and nikoretro for posting the images above at their respective Flickr accounts.

The Famous Cock

Note, if you will, that Pepys wasn’t just enamored of any type of ale. No indeed! The er, barley literate wordsmith expressed a specific hankering for “Cock ale”… not that there’s anything wrong with that. He wasn’t the only Brit-brew-bro to feel that way, either, although with the passage of time the cocks have fled from the beer barrels to the pub signs. Ponder on that if you will, while you ogle Flickr member Ewan Munro‘s shot of The Famous Cock (formerly The Cock, and before that The Old Cock Tavern) near Highbury & Islington station in north London.

Cock O’ The North

So, just what WAS this bewitchingly “cocky” beverage that had the perspicacious Pepys, pen in hand, popping into pub after pub? According to Hannah Woolley, who wrote “The Accomplish’d lady’s delight in preserving, physick, beautifying, and cookery” in 1670, the standard recipe for Cock Ale called for infusing a boiled cock in eight gallons of ale along with raisins, nutmeg, dates, mace, and fortified wine for about a week. And by “cock”, she means “rooster”… that’s almost a relief! Flickr member crabchick brings us this September 2000 image of Cock O’ The North (since renamed the Westbury Park Tavern) from the very cocky city of Bristol.

Cock & Crown

One might say Cock Ale was chicken soup for the drunkard’s soul, and you wouldn’t be far off the mark. Sure, pickling a whole chicken in spiced beer may be weird (not to mention being a gross violation of the German Beer Purity Law of 1516) but the restorative qualities of such con-cock-tions were rather well known by the late 1600s. Flickr member Tim Green snapped the Cock & Crown tavern in Crofton, West Yorkshire, late in 2014.

The Fighting Cocks

Them’s fightin’ words… or fighting cocks, which strikes us as being illegal, unpleasant, and a lyric from ELP’s Karn Evil 9. In any case, a pint of cock ale would really hit the spot iffen you was a’fixin’ to do some fightin’. A case of cock ale, on the other hand, might have you fightin’ to get up off the floor. Seems like a textbook example of the Fight or Flight reflex in action, and the action’s happening at The Fighting Cocks pub in Moseley, Birmingham. Snapped by Flickr member Elliott Brown in December of 2009, this Grade II Listed building dates from the dawn of the 20th century and boasts its own integral cock tower. Make that CLOCK tower, dangnabbit!

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Fully Cocked 10 British Cock Pubs Taverns

Following a Supreme Court of India ruling that bars must be a minimum of 500 meters away from highways, one intrepid watering hole wrapped itself in a 250-meter maze to effectively circumvent the law. Handed down earlier this month, the ruling has closed down liquor-serving establishments across the country prompting some to get creative.

Owners of the Aishwarya Bar in North Paravoor, a Kochi suburb, maintain: “We have done nothing illegal. The plot behind the bar also belongs to the owner and we have constructed an extended way to reach the bar. Now it is 520 meters from the highway. We are set to approach the circle inspector of excise with the new route map to authorize the reopening of the bar.”

Perhaps most remarkably: since the purpose of the law relates to walking distance (rather than linear), officials have given their blessing to this unusual solution — he intent of the legislation, after all, is to reduce intoxicated driving accidents. With that potential code violation remedied, the only accusation left leveled against the establishment related to changing around the property without a building permit, resulting in a small fine.

The solid-walled fence shaping the labyrinth was installed at minimal cost in a matter of days, expanding into adjacent property also owned by the bar’s manager. Pub crawlers, meanwhile, may find themselves somewhat lost when loaded, but at least there are no dead ends. However, bars like this one may still find themselves with fewer customers since the federal ruling also prohibits roadside signage directing drinkers to pubs. Other specific exceptions have been granted on a case-by-case basis, but this particular solution may lead to a series of similar approaches.

You’d never guess that there’s anything amiss at ‘The Press,’ a sandwich bar in Shanghai, unless you actually witnessed the surreal sight of someone pulling a lever on a vintage Coca-Cola machine and disappearing into it. The soda machine acts as a secret entrance to ‘The Flask,’ a contemporary lounge that forms a stark contrast to the brightly-lit sandwich shop.

Collectively known as The Flash and the Press, this hidden speakeasy by Alberto Caiola may not be the only such concept in town, but with the Coke machine and unexpected visuals, it adds another layer to the experience of accessing an exclusive-feeling ‘secret’ space.

Once you open the door to that machine, the fun, bright, upbeat environment of the diner melts away and you’re enveloped by a dark, angular elegance marrying traditional speakeasy details like oversized glass liquor bottles with modern aesthetics. The bar is dimly-lit and eclectically furnished to recreate the subversive, fly-by-night feel of the originals.

Another hidden speakeasy, this one in New York, requires a bit more of visitors in order to gain access – you have to meander up a winding path through a deserted building to reach what seems like an industrial wasteland. ‘The Night Heron’ was held illegally inside a water tower on top of a vacant building in Chelsea.

If knocking pack a pint in a subterranean Victorian urinal doesn’t sound like a good time to you, read on. Extensive renovations have transformed the most unlikely of settings into quirky and often beautiful places to have a drink, from dumpsters and sheds to historic bank vaults and gothic churches.

The Temple: Victorian Urinal Pub

Once dark, dingy and far from sanitary, a subterranean Victorian urinal is now a popular pub in Manchester, UK. One of the city’s smallest bars, the Temple nevertheless offers a vast array of foreign bottled beers. Meanwhile, in London, a urinal from the same era has now become an eatery after a $150,000 renovation.

Oran Mor Church Pub

Europe is brimming with former places of worship that have since been converted into private residences, hotels and more due to an overabundance of churches that just don’t draw the same crowds that they used to. The Oran Mor in Glasgow, Scotland is just one (particularly stunning) example, which has become one of the nation’s hottest nightspots after a major renovation that includes trippy murals painted all over the ceilings. This may remind some visit of the cultre of a Bratislava night if they ever went on a Bratislava stag do.

Woodhenge Shed Pub

It’s not hard to see why John Plumridge’s handmade backyard structure won Shed of the Year in 2012. After all, not many sheds are lined with hundreds of bottles of ale. Plumridge spent 4 years converting his Woodhenge Pub Shed into “a great venue for family and friends to party in.”

Dumpster Bar

Urban waste and a dumpster became a tiny, charming bar as part of the Foundation Projects by designers Rikkert Paauw and Jet van Zweiten. This adaptive reuse project shapes found materials into little dumpster houses that have practical purposes throughout the cities in which they’re built.

1926 Bank Vault, Chicago

A beautiful 1926 bank vault in Chicago with many of its historic features still intact – including that incredible door – is now known as The Bedford, a local kitchen and bar serving food and cocktails in a signature mix of German and Southern cuisine.

Hop On Inn: Double Decker Bus Pub

Named for its hop-on, hop-off rear platform, the Hop On Inn is a renovated 1966 London double-decker bus that now hosts a full bar downstairs and a lounge area upstairs complete with a stage and removable roof cover for live music. The bus, which once served Piccadilly Circus, is among the last classic Routemasters that were taken out of service in 2005.

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Holy Beer 12 Pubs Converted From Churches Urinals More

We’re gonna party like it’s 1959! Classic ceramic mugs celebrating the South Pacific Tiki have punched up pop culture from Waikiki to Wachee Weeki. Whether serving frosty, fruity tropical cocktails or simply glowering down from a collector’s mantlepiece, Tiki Mugs embody the exotic aura of post-war Polynesia filtered through the fonder memories of battle-hardened GI’s, the escapades of surf-soaked Gidgets, and the coco-nutty fantasies of armchair Gilligans.

Island Stylin’

(image via: A Mountain of Crushed Ice)

The tiki mug above appears to be an hourglass-shaped design by Daga that displays all the expected south-seas styling cues (fearsome face, glazed wood look, etc) along with the advantage of being skillfully and creatively photographed. Thanks to A Mountain of Crushed Ice, who not only know their way around a tiki mug but also exhibit due respect for the tiki drink in all its glory.

I’ll Never Lose My Fu Manchu

(images via: ModSquadPicking, Vintage and Retro, Ricekiller and 1-800-Bloody-Mary)

With a nod to Frank Black, we salute the Fu Manchu style tiki mug. Though possibly politically incorrect when viewed few the prism of modern societal norms and mores, the original Orchids of Hawaii, made-in-Japan, Fu Manchu Hi-Ball R-82 mug may have lacked traditional tiki design cues but benefits from long years of service at a variety of tiki bars, polynesian restaurants and south-sea themed watering holes.

Tiki Leilani

(image via: Dzamage)

Who was “Leilani” and who would name a tiki mug after her? Probably someone who could run faster than a thrown tiki mug. Short, stout, and apparently “much maligned by collectors” due to their mass-production commonality, vintage Tiki Leilani mugs offer good things in their small packages: bold pseudo-Hawaiian styling, high-relief castings, rich brown glazing and a smile that’s to die for.

Maori Wowie

(images via: Chez Marianne, MsRudeGirl and Kitsch Kaboodle)

Otagiri Mercantile Company, or OMC for short, was a Japanese-based manufacturer of ceramic tiki mugs, bowls and other kitchenware items. Their mid-1960s tiki mugs are popular collectibles that have stood the test of time. The “Maori Tattoo” mug above is one of OMC’s better-known patterns, distinguished by a detailed matte-finished body sandwiched between a dark, wood-like base and rim.

What About Tiki Bob?

(images via: The Tiki Chick and Shop Goodwill Auctions)

What’s the deal with Tiki Bob mugs, anyway? The proto-happyface smile is anything but traditionally toothy and the pale-faced plainness of the design somehow doesn’t seem tiki-ish at all. Bob’s got one thing going for him, however: many consider “him” to be the first mass-produced tiki mug.

Sonny Bone-Nose

(images via: Dad’s Dish, Jenn Bennett and Mr. Bali Hai)

Better known as “Mr. Bali Hai”, this multi-toned (and multi-boned) heads-up display is tough to find complete with its mildly macabre twin-straw-hole skullcap. Sort of a Indiana Jones’ Temple of Doom meets Gilligan’s Island thing, with a dash of Night of the Living Dead thrown in for good measure.

No Mistaking Miss Tiki

(images via: Deland Tiki and ZeeJunkHunter)

Could this be the Polynesian fertility goddess? The big round belly and burgeoning breasts scream “female!” and the contorted facial features just scream, period… and by “period”, we don’t mean anything in particular. Originally made-in-Japan by Orchids of Hawaii, these model R76 tiki mugs purport to depicting “Lono, the God of Peace and Prosperity,” and are almost as scary as your mother-in-law in a grass skirt.

Westwood Ones

(images via: (Retro)Radar and VintageRambler)

The Westwood company imported tiki mugs in large and small sizes between 1960 and 1975. Often featuring coffee-cup style handles, Westwood’s offerings were typically lightweight due to thin-wall casting and their designs tend to be low-relief with minimalist graphics. Westwood tiki mugs are popular due to their wide range of bright colors that add life to many tiki mug displays.

PMP Up the Volume

(image via: MyLittleThriftStore)

Sometimes called the “Praying Tiki” mug as when viewed from behind it the tiki god appears to be kneeling, this popular style is one of several similar designs from PMP, or Paul Marshall Products. Like the aforementioned Maori Tattoo or Peanut design, this mass-produced and easy to buy in bulk tiki mug is finished in easy-to-grip matte glaze with contrasting glossy glazes on the base and top rim.

Mt Fuji, Omaha

(images via: Vintage Coffee Mugs and Tiki Central)

“Omaha” may sound close to Okinawa but it’s an unlikely place to find South Pacific cultural relics… or is it? Not at all! Hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, Nebraska’s largest city was once home to the Mt Fuji Inn and its Mai Tai Lounge, from whence these jade green Moai tiki mugs came.

Goodbye, Columbus

(images via: BadCatBoutique and B & C Emporium)

A massive swath of midwestern America basked in the afterglow of World War II and the boom in all things South Pacific. Take the legendary Kahiki Supper Club, a Polynesian hotspot the graced chilly Columbus, Ohio, from 1960 to 2000. The “Kahiki Mug No. 1” above evoked the mysteries of Easter Island with a nod to classic Hawaiian bamboo carvings.

Jolly Green Giant

(images via: Chez Marianne)

Laugh and the world laughs along with you… including the jolly green tiki mug holding the joy juice! This vintage OMC tiki mug‘s got all the design cues turned up to 11, highlighted by a rich green glaze even The Hulk’s mother would love.

Ivory & Ebony

(image via: Elle Kate Taylor)

Just like Seinfeld’s cookie, black & white CAN get along – remember the cookie! These two variations on the Moai theme evoke the natural look of carved palm wood and chiseled black basalt. Under the skin (glaze, whatever) though, they share the same fired ceramic core construction and hold similar amounts of tropical cocktail goodness.

The Hangover, Part R71

(images via: Papernest)

The model R-71 “Ku” tiki mug from Orchids of Hawaii never goes out of style – thanks to its timeless tiki awesomeness! Is it smiling, frowning, or a little of both? Contemplate the meaning of life, love and the motives of the ancient island gods while sipping a nice Hawaiian Punch from this bad boy.

Pro & Kon Tiki

(images via: TikiHunterInc)

He may not have been “The Most Interesting Man in the World” but Stephen Crane led a darned interesting life highlighted (we assume) by a two-year marriage to “sweater girl” actress Lana Turner. Crane’s other Hollywood interest was the Luau, one of the first Polynesian-themed restaurants and a Rodeo Drive celebrity hotspot. Crane later partnered with Sheraton Hotels to create a chain of Kon Tiki and Ports of Call restaurants known for bold tiki tableware (such as the mug above) provided by Stephen Crane Associates.

(image via: Design Toscano)

They say once you go tiki, there’s no going back and if you’ve already gone full Hawaiian tropic, the only way to go now is to go big. Take the titanic tiki poolside table above… if you can do it without inducing a hernia. Inspired by the work of artist Trent Smith, this wood-grained designer resin table is the perfect support for a tropic cocktail or two. Now that’s what I call a Big Kahuna!