Mural at Hyde pub to lost friends and regulars

A Hyde pub is remembering friends and regulars they have lost with a new beer garden mural.

Licensees at The Queens put the call out on social media for artists to submit their ideas for a mural on the rear boundary.

The chosen artist, Mia Pike, then set about transforming the wall using a range of paints and techniques to create a bright and inviting space for customers.

Licensee at The Queens Gaynor Duffy said that she had been inspired after seeing numerous murals across Manchester and wanted something similar for her pub.

“I was inspired by all the murals I’d seen in Manchester City Centre,” said Gaynor.

“Having a blank wall was quite dull and uninteresting, I wanted something different, unusual and also to advertise the products.

“It’s a talking point other than the recent 18 months we’ve been through with Covid and we wanted to bring a smile to people’s faces.”

The piece features a Queen Bee and Manchester Bee, tying in both the name of the pub and its Mancunian links, as well as a ‘sea of beer’ and various Joseph Holt’s products.

However, the main attraction is the memorial tree, which has been painted to allow people to remember friends and family who used to drink in The Queens that have passed away.

Gaynor and Mia

Gaynor explained: “When I’ve worked in pubs and visited other pubs there’s usually a memorial plaque somewhere of someone that has drank in that pub for a number of years and when I came to the Queen’s there was nothing.

“I’ve only been here four years but we have lost a few people. 

“Rather than trying to do individual plaques we came up with the tree.

“It says ‘Absent Friends’ and anyone that wants to can come and put a relative or a family member on or even a friend that has visited us, can do so.

“They don’t have to be a regular, but it’s something that they can remember other people by.

“We had a young lad come in who wanted his grandad’s name on the tree.

“I gave him the pen and said you write it and his mum burst into tears. People will say they remember him. It’s just a nice touch and gesture for people that are no longer with us.”

The mural was painted by Salford University Fine Art student Mia Pike, 22, who took around a month to complete the work.

It’s only her second commission and Mia said that she really enjoyed the experience.

She said: “They wanted to include the Manchester bee and the beers that they use by Joseph Holt. Straight away I thought it would be a mint idea to have the lake of beer so everything would flow together because I hate for things to look like stickers and static. I knew I wanted to include the bee by making it a queen bee to link with the pub name, so I just thought genius! I’m doing that.

“This was all hand-painted. I’d love to learn how to spray paint in the future but this was all hand-painted. 

“It took me longer than average due to Covid and it was hard getting here some times, so it took about a month. It’s been a process but I’ve enjoyed every minute.”

She also had special praise for the regulars at the pub, who had given her plenty of encouragement.

“They’ve been so friendly, genuinely. It’s felt like a second home for a month. I’ve felt so welcomed and the community here is amazing, they’ve always supported me and cheered me on during it.”

You can check out more of Mia’s work on Instagram at @MiaPikeFineArtist