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The pub dates from 1913. The outside is most attractive, the ground floor being faced with deep green glazed bricks. There are two entrances, both with mosaic floors. Enter by the main (middle) one and straight ahead is a truly remarkable room, the Jug Bar. This would have been mainly for off-sales but it has bench seats either side so you could have a swift one before returning home. There are also beautiful screens dividing this bar from the others, replete with elegant leaded glass and carvings. The only other room like this that I've come across, albeit on a much simpler scale, is at The Walnut Tree, Broads Green, Essex.

To the left of the main entrance, and with its own splendidly tiled side entrance, is the lounge. This, clearly, used to be two rooms (the Private Bar and the Saloon) and the wall could easily be replaced (the separate door to the Saloon survives, albeit blocked up). There is lovely tiling here up to dado level plus original tiled fireplaces. The public bar to the right of the entrance is, as it should be, plainer with lino floor and some original etched windows.

There used to be a separate games room at the back but, sadly, this was opened out a few years ago to become an extension to the lounge.

All the rooms are served by a splendid island bar with original counter and fittings.

One drawback of The Painters is that it doesn't serve real ale, though being an Irish-run pub, the Guinness is well presented. Just down the road, the Good-Beer-Guide-listed Bricklayers offers two Everards beers and three changing guests.

Paul Ainsworth