The new sign covers Queen Victoria's portrait

"We've had no complaints yet," he said. "It's surprising, really.

"We wanted to try a different Victoria and she was the obvious choice. The only one we could think of, actually.

"She is probably as famous as Queen Victoria, if not more famous."

Mr Lynch was unapologetic about hiding the former ruler of the British Empire.

"We are keeping her warm and cosy up there," he said. "And anyway, she was starting to peel."

Juke box joker

Records by Victoria Beckham and the Spice Girls will feature heavily on the juke box, but customers who ask for a certain brand of lager are being disappointed.

"Everyone wants to know when we're getting Becks in," said Mr Lynch. "We're not."

He has started serving Sunday lunches in the pub, but had no plans to call it Posh Nosh.

"It hadn't crossed my mind," he said. "I suppose it's worth thinking about."

Mr Lynch had received no reaction from Mrs Beckham ... and none from Buckingham Palace.