MOVES to stop brewers giving their pubs trendy new names have been welcomed in Sussex.

The plans are included in a Private Member's Bill, which receives its second reading in Parliament on March 5.

It is being supported by the Licensed Victuallers' Association and the Campaign for Real Ale in Sussex.

The Argus reported last month how pub giant Vintage Inns caused uproar in Hassocks after deciding to change the name of the Friar's Oak.

Villagers, local historians and the parish council unsuccessfully campaigned to prevent the London Road watering hole becoming the Pilgrim Goose.

But if the Public Houses Names Bill becomes law, it would ban pub owners from changing names without regulars' permission.

Traditional pubs across Sussex have been given new names by brewers in a bid to draw in different crowds.

The Volunteer pub in Church Street, Brighton, which took its name from a nearby infantry barracks, was renamed the Mash Tun in 1996.

The George Beard in Gloucester Road, Brighton, was originally called The Eagle after a nearby iron foundry.

Roy Skam, the victuallers' legal and licensing chairman, welcomed the move.

He said: "They don't keep changing the names of churches, so why pubs? They are landmarks and people give directions by them."

Mr Skam, who owns the Lamb and Flag in Cranbourne Street, Brighton, added: "The thing is a lot of customers are against it. They don't like change for change's sake.

"But a lot of the pub brewers do it for marketing purposes. They like to get the young, trendy crowds in."

Peter Coppard, founding member of the Brighton and South Downs branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: "This Bill is a very good idea. A pub's name can be part of an area's history and there are so many in Brighton which just sound ridiculous now.

"A lot of these name changes also mean trendying up pubs and completely destroying what was a good local."

MP Ann Winterton, who represents Congleton, Cheshire and introduced the Bill, said: "The British pub is unique and part of the fabric of every community. Countless historic and much-loved names have already been lost forever."

David Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: "I get a lot of comments from the public about this issue. It's a pity when a long-established places with names that mean something to the area are changed.

"I think there's a backlash against this sort of thing and rightly so."

Simon Isaac, Vintage Inns' business manager for the South-East, said: "It's very rare that we do change pub names, but we've been amazed at the response at the Pilgrim Goose.

"It's a very busy pub now and we've had no adverse comments. The former landlord came down a couple of weeks ago and saw lots of the old regulars."

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