WALKING into the Golden Fleece for a pint or a hearty pub meal, you’re immersed in the natural beauty of surrounding places.

The Harden pub - Telegraph & Argus Pub of the Week - is decorated with a series of colourful murals depicting local scenes, painted by talented young artist Georgina Hustler. The murals are part of a refurbishment at the 19th century pub which has re-opened with a new look and a larger bar.

Georgina, 23, from Eldwick has been busy during the pandemic working on various commissions. She has painted a rainbow mural at Airedale Hospital’s ITU ward, paying tribute to NHS staff working on the frontline, and has created these striking murals for the Golden Fleece. The paintings are of popular beauty spots including St Ives Estate, Cottingley footbridge and Coppice Pond.

The Golden Fleece is a cosy village pub, close to St Ives Estate, with open fires where you can curl up with a pint after a winter walk or bike ride in surrounding countryside. For al fresco dining and drinking, there’s a large, sunny beer garden with Yorkshire stone walls and a pretty lawn.

Nick Cummins has been the pub’s owner for nine years and is delighted to have it open again. “It’s really great to be back after all this time,” he says. “This is the only pub in Harden and is the hub of the community - we couldn’t wait for people to come in again. It feels like a fresh new pub to us.

“We have followed all Covid-19 safety and social distancing measures to the letter. The safety of our customers and staff is of paramount importance and we’re pro-active in making relevant changes when they become necessary.”

The pub serves hand-pulled real ales, and has an artisan gin and cocktail bar, and there’s a range of freshly-cooked dishes on the daily menu. Says Nick: “We pride ourselves in providing good quality, home-cooked, hearty pub food, with good portion sizes at affordable prices. We also provide a children’s menu. Popular dishes are our fish and chips, pie, chips and peas, sausage and mash, burgers, pizzas, pastas and a range of salads.

“In recent months the pub has undergone extensive refurbishment, including a new larger, modern bar to enable us to stock a wider range of drinks. We have a good selection of strong lagers and spirits to suit all tastes and generations. We also have a sports bar, with live Sky Sports on a large screen and a range old sporting memorabilia from times gone by.”

Popular with walkers and cyclists as well as locals, the dog-friendly Golden Fleece is more than a pub - it’s a community focal point. The pub sponsors Harden Cricket Club, Harden Gala, and the printing of local publication the ‘Tittle Tattle’. The pub has also traditionally held functions for charities such as Manorlands Hospice as well as other events.

Nick says the highlight of the renovation has been Georgina’s murals, which have been proving popular with customers since the pub re-opened last month.

The murals are of popular scapes and landmarks including St Ives Estate at Harden, Goit Stock waterfall at Cullingworth, Cottingley footbridge, Druid’s Alter rock at Bingley, Cockroft Fold at Harden and Coppice Pond near Bingley.

Georgina has also painted a Lancaster bomber that usually hangs as a picture on the wall, and a ram's head in reference to the pub's name. Nick is delighted with the artwork. “People can enjoy the work of this talented young artist and recognise local landmarks, while having a pint,” he says.

For Georgina, who last year graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in History of Art and Fine Art, it was her first mural. “Technically it was a big challenge, which excited me about the project,” she says. “We thought it would be a great surprise for the people of Harden - something to bring the community together after lockdown and celebrate the beautiful place where we live.

“It took around three months to complete and hopefully will be there for the long run. It’s a historic pub and this brings it to the present.”

Georgina created the Airedale Hospital mural after seeing an ad on Facebook. “Part of being an artist is giving back to the community,” she says. “Members of my family and friends have been helped at Airedale over the years - this was also a 'thank you' to the amazing staff. After the pandemic, a stressful, uncertain and challenging time for everyone, we agreed a rainbow would be a symbol of hope and overcoming trying times. And the bright colours will hopefully uplift people.”

Adds Georgina: "I believe art is a tool to reunite us, especially after lockdown.”

* The Golden Fleece is at Long Lane, Harden. (01535) 273970; Twitter: @FleeceHarden; Facebook: @thegoldenfleeceinnharden

* For more about Georgina’s art go to georginahustlerartist.co.uk, Facebook @georginahustlerartist; Twitter @ghustlerart, Instagram @georginahustlerart