IT'S been The Royal Hotel since 1864, but now Queenscliff's most iconic pub may be forced to take a new name.
Under the Victorian Business Names Act 1962, the pub's owner Stephen Wilson cannot re-register his pub by the time-worn moniker.
- TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
- Should Royal hotels change their names? Click to vote now
- Have Your Say now in the form below
According to the Act, names which "are capable of suggesting a connection with a member of the royal family when the connection suggested does not exist; or that royal patronage has been received when this is not the case" are not permitted without special approval from the Minister for Fair Trading.
The loophole came as a surprise to Mr Wilson when he attempted to re-register his lapsed business name.
"We are in King St, Queenscliff, Victoria and thus are feeling very connected to the monarchy," Mr Wilson said.
The Royal is Australia's most popular pub name with 131 drinking holes named after our blue-blood heritage - and that's not including those with Royal in a longer name, such as Royal Mail or Royal George.
While Mr Wilson will seek special permission to reclaim the pub's rightful title, he had some sage advice for other Royal owners.
"Don't let your business name lapse ... or one can assume that in the future we will have 131 Republican hotels."
