Why not pop in for a pint at your old local, Ringo?

Jan 11 2008 by Mike Chapple, Liverpool Daily Post

Linda Kelly

LINDA KELLY is hoping that Ringo Starr will be making another Sentimental Journey as well as opening Liverpool’s 08 celebrations.

The landlady of the Empress, in High Park Street, Dingle, knows the pub holds a special place in the heart of the former Beatles drummer, who grew up in the area.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed as it would be great if he decided to call in,” said Linda, whose pub is full of Beatles memorabilia and which has been visited by hundreds of curious Fab Four fans from all over the world.

No-one would be surprised if Ringo did decide to drop in unannounced as the popular alehouse does have particular significance in Mop Top folklore.

Starr, aka Richard Starkey, was born on July 7, 1940 in the front room of 9, Madryn Street, which is just around the corner from the Empress.

His mum, Elsie, is said to have once served as a barmaid here and he regarded it as his local in formative years with bands such as Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

How much he loved the pub would become evident two decades later with his first solo album after the Beatles broke up. Released on March 27 1970, Sentimental Journey featured his versions of old “classics” which he said reminded him of the singalongs every night round the piano in the Empress.

To emphasise the point, the album’s cover was a picture of the pub with images of family members looking out of the windows.

“I’m not really sure if Ringo was or would ever be able to come back to visit the pub after he became famous,” said Linda. “But his son, Zak, paid a special visit when he played at the Summer Pops. Someone rang me up to say he would be coming. But I’d popped out for an hour or so and by then he’d been and gone.”

She added: “I hope that something like that doesn’t happen again this time!”

READ more from Mike Chapple about the Empress in Day Six tomorrow.