DAYS:Bar's 40 years of quiet success

There is a village in England said to be haunted still by a religious woman who died after a family member cut off her head with a sword, as the tale goes. The woman, who was later called the Quiet Woman and has since helped pilgrims find her shrine, reportedly carried her head from the spot she was decapitated to the altar of a local church, spawning the logo for many pubs to come later.

In the village of Halstock in Dorset, England, the Quiet Woman House is said to be the spot where she was killed.

The name hopped the pond 40 years ago and found its way to 3224 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. Judith's tale is just one of the stories about how the Quiet Woman restaurant and bar in Corona del Mar got its name, but it's the one owner Lynne Anthony Campbell is sticking with.

After a trip to Europe researching the name, Judith's story is the one Lynne Campbell and her husband and business partner Sean Campbell found most relevant. Lynne Campbell said founder Eldridge French opened the bar after serving in World War II, recreating a pub he may have spent time in while overseas. But Lynne Campbell said French had told her once he wasn't sure about her story, but failed to offer his own version.

This month and next the restaurant is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a series of live music events, dinners and specials. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday, the restaurant is offering wine and small plate pairings, and live bands will play for the later crowd. On Tuesday night, Long Beach-based band Dumb Luck played the stage. The restaurant's house band will play on Halloween and on Nov. 7, a U2 tribute band will take over.

Since the Quiet Woman opened in 1965, it's not only been a spot for dining, but it's been on the radar as a popular hotspot for the late night crowd and live music. Lynne Campbell said although many chefs she's met think of the bar as a necessary evil, the Quiet Woman staff welcomes the bar crowd.

"We grow our next generation of dinner customers," she said.