Pub mosaic was meant as insult to Crown

AS Prince Harry led his bride-tobe into the Crown Bar yesterday, he might have watched his step if he knew how it came by its name.

Originally known as The Railway Tavern, it was renamed The Crown Liquor Saloon in 1885, but that was not a decision that was reached easily.

Belfast tour guide Sam McCallen said: “Patrick Flanagan was the third owner of the bar, he was a Catholic and his wife was Protestant.

“She wanted the Crown called the Crown, but he would only do that if the Crown was on mosaics on the entrance so that as punters came into the bar, they were walking over the Crown. It always gives visitors a giggle when they hear this.”