A well known statue that has stood in the centre of Newcastle for years was nowhere to be seen on Thursday
16:13, 17 Jul 2025Updated 16:15, 17 Jul 2025
The empty space the where Man with Pigeons statue normally is(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
It’s a local landmark that many of us walk past two and from work on a daily basis, but on Thursday a famous Newcastle statue was nowhere to be seen. However, don’t panic just yet, as it’s not disappearing altogether and instead will soon have a new home in town.
While you might not notice him when you’re wandering through Eldon Square, the ‘Pigeon Man’ has been in the shopping centre for years, most recently in the Hotspur Way area close to the escalators near Boots and John Lewis. The bronze statue, Man with Pigeons to give it its proper name, was created back in 1976 by artist Andre Wallace and originally positioned in Old Eldon Square, before being moved inside to Eldon Square.
So it came as a bit of surprise to ChronicleLive when we noticed that the man and his pigeons had vanished, with no explanation as to what had happened to them. However, before you start to worry, a source for Eldon Square confirmed to us that he WILL be back and, in a full circle moment for the sculpture, will actually be going back to its old stomping ground of Old Eldon Square.
The move for Man with Pigeons comes amid a busy pell for Eldon Square. After the old Next shop shut down last week, there were queues of people lined up outside on Tuesday morning, to be the first to set foot inside the retailer’s brand new store in the old Debenhams building. The launch of the new Next came weeks after there was high interest in the opening of high end jewellers Jewells in June.
And, then looking towards the end of 2025, later this year Eldon Square will welcome world famous darts and cocktail bar Flight Club to a vacant unit on the lower floor of the Grey’s Quarter dining area and huge new entertainment space Freight Island, which will occupy the top floor and roof terrace of the old Debenhams building.
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