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A Seaforth pub's rude-sounding name change has sparked a social media storm.

Builders have replaced the signs on the Doric pub in Seaforth with a new name - The Cock and Seaman.

The pub, in Doric Street, is being taken on by AtWill Pubs who run similarly named Merseyside pubs The Cock and Pullet in Oxton and The Cock and Donkey in Birkenhead.

Owners Edward Atkinson and Fred Williams started the company in 2009 with the purposes of reviving pubs which had fallen foul of restrictive brewery tie-ins and reopening them as "wet lead cask boozers of the Rovers Return and Queen Vic variety".

'Can't believe they've named it that'

The Cock and Seaman is the latest pub in their empire and is expected to open in two weeks.

Reaction to the name change was mixed with drinkers taking to social media at the news.

Avril Jones said: "Was shocked when I saw it! Why change it in the first place and to change it to this is just a laugh! It will always be the Doric and me and Dave x"

Michelle Dewsbury said: "I live in Doric St an it's all true can't believe they've named it that tho absolute joke"

Jily Kemp said: "Why change its name especially this one, joke!"

'Scouse sense of humour'

Mr Atkinson admitted that the new name was cheeky but hoped people would have a sense of humour about it.

He said: " Both Fred and I are Liverpool lads, and share the scouse sense of humour. However this is not to say that we don't take our pubs seriously. We have a passion for good pubs, quality local cask ales, and all that makes British pubs great: traditional features restored and enjoyed.

"We hope our pubs have reinstalled a sense of community, they have been a cornerstone of English heritage for thousands of years: the demise of the industry at the hands of the big pub companies has given us the drive to go it alone, and here we are with 13 pubs and we're still growing.

"The Doric (named after a ship itself), as The Seaman was formerly called, had changed hands several times over the last 10 years. The place needed so much doing to it. The community has been starved of a good local for too long.

"We have refurbished the entire pub from top to bottom. Local ales from Liverpool Organic down the road will be a permanent feature in there, along with guest ales from all corners of the country. We have invested our own money in the pub and are employing local management and staff- creating jobs, as we have done in every other pub we have.

'It is a serious pub when it comes to service'

"Our other pubs have taken influence from their locality when we've decided on names: The Cocked Hat Stockport for the area's hat making history, The Cock in Swine Swinton as the area used to be a huge pig farm back hundreds of years ago, The Cock o Rhudd Din in Ruthin after the old welsh words for 'red fort', so The Cock and Seaman made a lot of sense with the naval history surrounding Liverpool.

"We have ensured the artwork is traditional and in keeping with the rest of our pub group. Yes, I accept there is an element of humour in the name, if you have that sort of humour, but it is a serious pub when it comes to service, open fires, cask ales and a warm welcome.

"Let's not forget, pubs are meant to be fun places to be in. Scousers are known for our sense of humour, we hope The Cock and Seaman will be embraced and enjoyed by all who sail in her."