Some of the puniest shop names in the North East have been shortlisted as part of a UK-wide competition to try and find the best business name in Britain. 

The list, which has been created by language learning platform, Babbel have analysed TikTok, Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook to shortlist the UK shops - with clever or amusing puns in their names that are most frequently celebrated on social media.

This week, it has now listed the 120 most popular shop name puns, sub-divided into 12 regions across the UK.

Now, to celebrate this peculiarly British form of retail-linked, linguistic wordplay, Babbel is inviting the UK public to vote for its favourite.

The search is hosted on the Babbel website at https://uk.babbel.com/shop-pun-competition.

In the North East, the best names have been shortlisted to Amy's Winehouse (Wine, Sunderland), Sofa So Good (Sofa Store, Durham), Sushi Me Rollin (Sushi, Newcastle), and Lino Richie (Flooring, Newcastle).

The Northern Echo: Amy's WinehouseAmy's Winehouse (Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

Noël Wolf, Linguistic and Cultural Expert at Babbel, said: “The linguistic phenomenon of the pun is a play on words that transcends cultures, but it undeniably holds a special place in British hearts.

"The history of puns in the UK is steeped in tradition, dating back through centuries of literature, comedy, and everyday conversation.

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"The beauty of a pun lies in its ability to exploit the versatile vocabulary and multiplicity of meanings of English - the prevalence of the pun in Britain is a testament to the flexibility and richness of the English language.

"Puns serve as a reminder that language is a dynamic and playful tool that can be harnessed to entertain, educate, and connect people. Whether in casual conversations, literature, or advertising, puns have the ability to captivate our minds and elevate our communication.”

And here's the full North East list for the funniest business name: 

● Tan Solo, Tanning salon, Sunderland

● Amy's Winehouse, Wine shop, Sunderland

● OnlyTans, Tanning salon, Durham

● The Tees’pot, Tearoom, Middleton-in-Teesdale

● Sofa So Good, Sofa store, Newton Aycliffe

● Morgan Treeman, Tree surgeon, Morpeth

● The Mule on Rouge, Café, Berwick-upon-Tweed

● Sushi Me Rollin’, Sushi, Newcastle

● Aye Phones, Mobile phone shop, Sunderland

● Lino Richie, Flooring, Newcastle