History of the Pig'n Whistle

Another story has it that the symbol of the pig and whistle was used as tavern signs because so many people were unable to read and the sign stood for food and drink. In looking for a reason for the pig and whistle sign, we find that pig means meat or food, as mentioned before, a drinking cup. Whistle is referred an early Anglo-Saxon as the mouse or throat. Hence the expression “Wet Your Whistle.” Such as the following expressions: “They did not only moisten their pates, but there whistles, too”; “Let’s have another drop to keep my Whistle wet”.

We are unable to say at what date the sign was first used, but as early as 1554 a drinking vessel was called a piggen.

Due to the similarity in the sounds of the words “Piggen” and “Peg” some people say that “Peg and Wassail” was the original of Pig’n Whistle. On this assumption we find that “Peg” and “Wassail” both are the names of old English drinks.

Over 150 years ago there was a tavern in England called Pig’n Whistle. It became quite famous for serving food and beverages to the hungry and thirsty travelers of that date. Pig’n and Whistle was opened in Atlanta April 1, 1928 about 27 years ago. Our first consideration has always been to serve the very best food and beverages at the lowest possible cost to our customers. In the past 27 years we have served over 16 million meals or sandwiches too many thousand satisfied guests. The meaning of the words “Pig and Whistle.” And there colloquials are far too numerous to mention, but to us the sign of the pig and whistle means “Good Food and Beverages, served quick as a pig’s whisper in congenial, comfortable surroundings.”