Adam & Eve, Paradise, nr Painswick GL6 6TN - Glo'shire Pubs & Breweries

The booklet ‘Gloucestershire Inns’, published in 1924, gives the following account: ‘When King Charles I was directing the siege of Gloucester he spent a troubled day or two at Painswick, that charming Cotswold town; and chancing one fine morning to look up the valley toward Sheepscombe, he remarked that the scene, one of the most beautiful in England, came like a glimpse of Paradise into his hunted life. Hence the name Adam and Eve, as now distinguishing the little inn that finds itself snugly seated in the midst of Paradise, anticipating that Paradise to which all good travellers are bound, we trust.’

The Adam and Eve was originally called the Plough Inn. It is on a sweeping bend of the A46 Cheltenham to Stroud road and with the traffic levels experienced these days it seems incredible that the inn once sought the hospitality of passing motorists. The lack of parking no doubt attributed to its demise. It is now a private residence and home to a vicar who has placed an illuminated cross on the old pub sign. An amusing tale (but not confirmed) is that prior to 1928 when the Adam and Eve served Godsell’s ales from Stroud a makeshift sign was put outside proclaiming “Adam & Eve… God sells Ales!” The pub sign and old photographs of the Adam & Eve are on display at the Royal Oak at Painswick.

Courtesy Michael Wilkes

The Citizen: December 21^st, 1971: ‘The Rat of the Week’ – Mr Reginald Dudenet, licensee of the Adam & Eve Inn at Paradise would like to meet up again with ‘the rat of the week’ – as he described him – and, in any event, extend him a seasonal greeting. “The character helped himself to our collecting box for the National Children’s Home & Orphanage from the window sill”, he said. “We have no idea how much was in it, but it was pretty heavy.” He said a report had been made to the police.