Paint the Town Red is said to have its origins from a drunken night out in 1837. The slightly eccentric Marquis of Waterford and his aristocrat friends went on a spree through Melton Mowbray after a few too many ales at the races, painting buildings, and a few locals, with red paint. This included an inn, the Swan Porch (now called the Swan Inn) and one of the toll gates as well as the unfortunate toll keeper!

The Marquis was a notorious hooligan and renowned for such behaviour in the area. To his friends he was Henry de la Poer Beresford, to the public he was ‘The Mad Marquis’. His unruly behaviour resulted in the famous saying which we all know today but few know the story behind it.