The Royal Hotel has been crowned the most popular name for pubs in Queensland, according to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation with a couple of Douglas Shire region drinking holes getting a tick in the top 5.

The Exchange Hotel in Mossman might not be the pub it once was, but it is among the more popular names of hotels across the State, coming in equal fourth with the Australian with 10 hotels named Exchange.

And, in Port Douglas, The Central gets the nod, at number 5.

Of the 1,401 active commercial hotel licences in the State, 23 have the name Royal Hotel, and a further 12 have a variation of Royal Hotel in their name.

Queensland’s second most popular name for pubs was the Grand Hotel, with 17 venues across the State carrying the lofty name.  

Coming in equal third were the Commercial Hotel and the Railway Hotel with 15 venues each. 

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington, whose portfolio includes the Office of Liquor and Gaming, said the list provided an opportunity to reflect on both the history of Queensland hotels and their role in society today. 

“Even though many hotels have undergone extensive renovations in recent years, at their heart they have remained the same for generations, as a place to share stories and forge friendships,” the Attorney-General said. 

“When it comes to names, the number one choice is certainly a toast to tradition, and we have Royal Hotels from Brisbane to Beenleigh, and from Toowoomba to Thursday Island. 

“But pub names can also reflect the location, a famous person such as the Prince of Wales, or even a significant event or development.