Neptune Theatre changes name

THE Neptune Theatre is to be renamed in honour of Brian Epstein, the former manager of The Beatles.

Council leader Joe Anderson received permission from Epstein’s family to call the venue - The Epstein Theatre - on the day work began to restore the Grade II listed building, which has been closed to the public for the past five years.

Liverpool City Council had dedicated the theatre to his memory in 1997, to mark the 30th anniversary of his death.

Councillor Anderson, who has made the £750,000 theatre revamp a priority since being elected in May, said it was fitting the much loved venue would now carry his name and act as a permanent tribute to a man who helped establish Liverpool as a music mecca.

Councillor Anderson added: ‘’Brian Epstein was to many the 5th Beatle but he was also a brilliant entrepreneur who put many Liverpool acts on the road to success. He arguably did more than anyone to stamp the city so emphatically on the world map, an achievement which today generates millions of pounds for our tourism economy.

‘’I’m delighted Brian’s family have accepted our request to rename this venue The Epstein Theatre as it gives Liverpool its first real opportunity to officially say thank you to one of our greatest sons for his unique contribution.

‘’For our Beatles industry this development means Liverpool has a new attraction and a new story to tell and for the city we will soon have a new theatre with a world famous name which will hopefully make it a commercially more attractive business to market and operate.’’

Merseyside-based Nobles Construction began on site today (Thursday, 7 October) to work to restore the Hanover Street venue after Liverpool City Council settled a leasing dispute with landlord, David Ramsey.

Work on the 97-year-old Grade II-listed site, which has lay derelict since 2005, will be completed in February next year, allowing the city council to hand the theatre over to a full-time operator.

The restoration will see the 400-seat Edwardian venue fitted with new mahogany front doors, crystal chandeliers and modernisation features such as disabled toilets and wheelchair accessibility throughout the Theatre ), while the ticket office and bar will be removed for a future operator to fit out.

Peter Linford, director at Nobles Construction, said: ““It’s the people’s theatre and we’re looking forward to harnessing that reputation and delivering somewhere that the people of the city can be proud of for many years to come.”