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Striking mural of The Beatles icon Ringo Starr unveiled in Liverpool

A mural of Ringo Starr, commissioned by Liverpool artist John Culshaw, is unveiled on the gable end of the Empress Pub on Admiral Street in Toxteth, Liverpool, acrossthe road from the childhood home of the former Beatle on Admiral Grove. Picture date: Monday March 7, 2022.
A mural of Ringo Starr, commissioned by Liverpool artist John Culshaw, is unveiled on the Empress Pub in Liverpool (Reuters)

A large mural of musician Ringo Starr has been unveiled on the site of a former pub just streets away from the former Beatles' childhood home in Liverpool.

Created by artist John Culshaw, the colourful artwork covers the entire walk of what used to be the Empress pub in Toxteth, which Starr had paid tribute to on the cover of his first solo album in 1970.

Culshaw's choice of site was fitting since Beatles fans continue to regularly visit the site, even in the years after the pub closed down.

Ringo Starr speaks onstage during the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Los Angeles Convention Center on March 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Ringo Starr on stage at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Culshaw, who has also painted a number of football-themed murals across the city, sketched out the initial design in late February.

A Beatles-themed hotel has been rumoured for the building, but, according to Liverpool City Council planning documents, the former pub will be converted into housing.

A mural of Ringo Starr, commissioned by Liverpool artist John Culshaw, is unveiled on the gable end of the Empress Pub on Admiral Street in Toxteth, Liverpool, acrossthe road from the childhood home of the former Beatle on Admiral Grove. Picture date: Monday March 7, 2022. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
The large mural is situated across the road from the childhood home of the former Beatle on Admiral Grove in Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

Starr, 81, grew up on Madryn Street in the Dingle area, while his mother Elsie worked as a barmaid in the Empress pub on Admiral Grove.

The musician, who received a knighthood for his services to music in 2018, had celebrated the mural days before the finished project was completed.

"Verified As somebody said Ringo back in the Dingle," he wrote alongside a picture of the half-completed mural.

Read more: Ringo Starr on his best drumming moments, the one that's 'not bad'

The drummer, real name Richard Starkey, found fame and fortune in the Fab Four alongside guitarist John Lennon, bassist Paul McCartney and songwriter, guitarist and sitarist George Harrison in the 60s.

The group are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to popular music's recognition as an art form.

The music icon currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife of 20 years, Barbara Bach.

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