Brian Epstein statue Liverpool City Centre location revealed

A statue of Brian Epstein is planned for the Liverpool city centre street where he had his business.

It is hoped the bronze of the late legendary Liverpool music manager – designed by sculptor Andy Edwards – will find a permanent home in Whitechapel, close to the site of the Epstein family’s famous NEMS store.

It was from there 60 years ago today - on November 9, 1961 - that the 27-year-old Epstein set out to watch a band play a lunchtime session at the Cavern Club in nearby Mathew Street.

The band was called The Beatles and in January 1962 they would go on to sign a management contract with the young entrepreneur.

An initial £60,000 fundraising target has now been reached by the Brian Epstein Legacy Project to pay for the statue – with money coming from Liverpool BID Company, the Cavern Club, a generous anonymous donor and dozens of smaller donations from home and abroad via a Crowdfunding campaign.

And a planning application has been submitted to site the statue, which depicts Epstein on his way to the Cavern with a management contract in one hand, in the key city centre location.

The full size statue has been sculpted in clay and it is hoped the finished statue, being cast at Castle Arts Foundry in the Baltic Quarter, will be able to be unveiled in the New Year.

Above: Sculptor Andy Edwards with a maquette of the statue and a bust of Brian Epstein. Top: detail of the full-size clay statue which will be cast in bronze

The project committee now plans to continue towards a larger £100,000 target to create a wider legacy in Epstein’s memory.

Along with The Beatles, Epstein’s stable of stars included Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, The Moody Blues and The Scaffold.

Tom Calderbank, who is leading the project, says: “I’m absolutely delighted our campaign has paid off. This is a tribute to the hard work, enthusiasm and tenacity of our committee who have spent five years working towards this goal.

“This will be another world-class addition to Liverpool’s Beatle statue trail and overall cultural offer.

“And we’re not stopping here. We’ll continue our fundraising efforts to secure a wider legacy by working towards the creation of a musical instrument library for underprivileged youngsters in the city, and other educational opportunities. We have other great ideas, so keep watching out for us.

“More than 50 years after his death, Brian’s impact on the world is still being felt in so many ways. We’re honoured and humbled to have played a small part in recognising that.”