The Pig & Whistle Story, A British Tavern

The Pig &  Whistle is a popular name for British pubs, and like any good tale there are a few stories about the origins of the name.

In the old English breweries, The Pig & Whistle was an integral part of the code of conduct for the brewery labourers. 

A barrel of Guinness was known as “the pig” and the brewery labourers were heard to whistle while they worked in order to make it known that they were actually working – and not (as was the temptation) drinking on the job. 

A keg was also known as the pig, and since it was the chef’s responsibility to replace the keg in taverns of old, he too whistled to avoid suspicion that he was sampling the brew.  A simpler explanation comes from “take ‘a pig” – a Sussex drinking vessel shaped like a pig; added with the expression “wet your whistle” – meaning to have a drink, and there you have it; Pig & Whistle. Whichever meaning you fancy – The Pig & Whistle Tavern is a the perfect spot to catch with friends and family for a chin wag while enjoying traditional English fare and speciality beers.