A commonly-repeated anecdote claims that the name is derived from an occasion when King James I of England, while being entertained at Hoghton Tower during his return from Scotland in 1617, was so impressed by the quality of his steak that he knighted the loin of beef, which was referred to thereafter as “Sir loin”.

A 17th Century pub has been left “devastated” by a fire, its owners said.The fire at The Sirloin in Hoghton, Lancashire, started at about 19:45 GMT on Saturday and took six crews a total of two hours to bring under control.The former coaching inn’s owners said no-one was hurt but the fire had “left the restaurant and pub devastated”.Hoghton is linked to an unconfirmed legend that King James I knighted a loin of beef during a visit.