Customers at the Open House pub can be forgiven for seeing bright colours and strange shapes after a few drinks.

The newly-refurbished pub in Springfield Road, Brighton, is teaming up with a group of locally-based artists to decorate the walls with paintings and fill the garden with sculptures.

It is hoped to change the art on display every three months, transforming the pub into a watering hole with its very own gallery space.

The Open House, formerly The Springfield, is the latest pub to be given the 'Zel treatment' by trendy Brighton-based pub chain Zelgrain.

The company already has 22 pubs and bars across the area and was keen to use the Open House as a showcase for everything it stands for.

With the company offices directly above the premises, it was also important to show guests visiting the firm the very best of what Zel could offer.

Darren Elliott, manager of the Open House, said: "There's no good local residents' pub around here. We wanted somewhere that would attract a good cross-section of the community which has a lot of artists and musicians. We wanted to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere."

Smarting from recent criticism that Zel pubs destroy the character of the traditional boozers, the pub chain endeavoured to blend the new with the old and to retain as many of the original features as possible.

Mr Elliott approached the Fiveways Artists' Group which pioneered the idea of opening up artists' house to the public during Brighton Festival.

The art group agreed to provide a constant supply of art work to be displayed in the pub in return for sponsorship during the festival itself.

The sentiments behind the open house scheme also helped when Zel decided to come up with a new name for the pub. Mr Elliott said: "The Open House is not a particularly trendy name. It's not far different to a traditional pub name.

"It ties in with our links with the art community and sums up what we are all about. We want people to feel at home here."

Fiveways Artists' Group was delighted when the pub asked whether any of its 100 or so artists would be interested in displaying work within the community.

Linden Handcock, sponsorship secretary of the group, said: "It's something we have been looking for a long time. It's a wonderful opportunity to display our art.

"It's far more interesting to have work by local people on the walls than Athena prints. It's far more relevant and helps the pub become part of the community."

Mr Elliott was keen to point out the gallery space available will not be restricted to members of the art group.He said: "A lot of staff working for us are artists and students who will also be keen for space to show their work. We want to showcase all local work.

"It will be a bit like a pub with art gallery but with more emphasis on the pub. We don't want it to be clinical like an art gallery."

Although the Open House does not have a full entertainments licence, it is also hoped to organise low-key gigs with local jazz and folk musicians. The pub is due to officially open on Friday.