Impressive armed forces style mural adorns pub that's spent years helping military charities
A Stourport pub has become the focal point of the town after a military themed mural was painted on its walls.
Maria and Andy Gooding, of the Black Star Pub celebrate their nine year anniversary next month and as it is located next to the cenotaph in Stourport, they have always had a lone soldier painted at the front.
Now they have done even better courtesy of artist Gaz Way who has covered the Mitton Street hostelry with the mural, which includes RAF fighter planes, tanks and images of all of the armed forces in its design.
Gaz, who used to run Beards Ink tattoo studio in the town is a self taught artist and spent around 23 hours in total painting the pub, working to a remit which was to reflect the location of the pub and done in time for Remembrance Sunday.
The artist still does private tattoo work but said he wanted to branch out and when he was asked by Maria and Andy to help out, didn't hesitate.
He said: "These two have done a lot for charity, not just military charities but others and they have been a real presence both in the pub and in the town since they took over the Black Star nine years ago.
"I was only too happy to put the work in and work to the designs they wanted – I think and hope the result is pretty spectacular and there has been plenty of positive feedback both in shops and in the pub where I have had to refuse many drinks being brought me.
"It was a really enjoyable thing to do – I had been looking to expand the artwork and don't run an open tattoo studio now although I still keep the shop on for private work."
Maria said: "It is a wonderful piece of work, Gaz has it spot on to what we wanted and it has become a real talking point in the town.
"We are looking forward to welcoming everyone next month for our anniversary party then marking Remembrance Sunday in November in a pub that is really fir for the occasion."
