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The world’s first Punjabi pub signs designed by artist Hardeep Pandhal have been unveiled at Desi Pubs in the Black Country.

The signs can be seen along with a new series of artworks telling stories about migration, survival, love and food.

The artworks and signs have been created as part of a project by Creative Black Country, the local Creative People and Places programme.

A man in a blue jacket leans against a pub bar.
Photo by Photo © Dee Patel
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Photo © Dee Patel

In 1965 Avtar Singh Johal of the Indian Workers’ Association invited Malcolm X to Smethwick to highlight the segregation faced in pubs and bars.

Little did Avtar know that in the decades to follow the very pubs refusing entry to Indian workers would be saved by their entrepreneurship and the birth of the Desi Pub.

Since the 1970s Asian landlords in the Black Country have been salvaging the struggling pub trade by reinventing them for new communities.

It’s an East meets West story, where classic English ales, darts and dominos meet Punjabi food and Bhangra. And now, punters can enjoy their curry and pint with a side of creativity.

A stain glass window depicting the story of Malcolm X vising Smethwick.
Photo by Stain Glass window at The Red Lion. Photo © Steven Cartwright.
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Stain Glass window at The Red Lion. Photo © Steven Cartwright.

Landlords Amrik, Beera, Dal, Jeet, Jinder and Slack opened their pub doors to six artists, sharing their personal experiences over a pint.

Together these landlords and artists have created a new body of artistic work telling stories of migration from the Punjab to the West Midlands.

The Red Lion now boasts new stained glass windows featuring the Punjabi Workers Association and Malcolm X in the 1960s, and a large-scale mosaic mural depicting dancers and dhol drummers can be seen at The Prince of Wales.

Portrait photography is on display at the Ivy Bush, The Fourways, The Sportsman and Island Inn and a large oil painting of the landlords and staff can be seen at The Red Cow.

Pub sign for the Red Lion
Photo by The Red Lion's Desi Pub sign. Photo © Dee Patel
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The Red Lion's Desi Pub sign. Photo © Dee Patel

Alongside the artworks, the world’s first bespoke Punjabi pub signs are now in place.

Creative Black Country collaborated with Nottingham’s New Art Exchange to enlist Smethwick-born visual artist Hardeep Pandhal to create the images for the signs, which were then produced by specialist pub sign painter Andrew Grundon.

“These handcrafted pub signs are not only works of contemporary art but they are bold landmarks that unify the pubs and narrate this remarkable story,” said Creative Black Country’s Artistic Director Parminder Dosanjh.

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