Beatles enthusiasts were thrilled with a “never been seen before” snapshot of Paul McCartney that surfaced recently.

The photograph, which captures McCartney after his Beatles era, wasn’t one that was well-known to fans previously.

It came to light when a person who worked at Abbey Road studios stumbled across the image and shared it on the r/Beatles subreddit.

The employee’s post read: “I worked on an album for an artist in Abbey Road a few years ago, and I saw this picture of McCartney getting his lunch in the canteen hung on the wall in the same canteen, I also haven’t seen this picture available anywhere on the Internet so enjoy!”.

Reddit users have since lauded the individual who posted the photo, claiming such discoveries are what draw them back to the fan forum.

One fan expressed their excitement, writing: “I’ll say it again, this is why I love this sub. I’ve been a fan for a big chunk of my life and I’m constantly seeing photos of these guys that I never had before.”

Another fan added: “Have a look on Pinterest – I thought I had seen most photos of The Fabs in my 50 years, and close to a thousand books, but I have spent several evenings on Pinterest going through the inexhaustible amount of Beatles photos on there.”

While many admired the rare find, some fans couldn’t help but comment on McCartney’s choice of food in the photograph.

Fans were thrilled by the photograph showing Sir Paul McCartney carrying an impressive assortment of drinks, prompting a wave of humorous and speculative comments.

One user wrote: “That’s a lot of beverage! Milk, juice, cocktail?” Another chimed in with their guess, saying: “I think the bowl in the front corner of the tray, the one with the dollop in it, may be chilli or stew with sour cream? Either way, very liquidy!”.

The puzzle of why McCartney was seen with such a drink selection possibly got solved as some sharp-eyed Beatles fans noted Linda McCartney in the background.

One observant fan wrote: “It looks like Linda is behind him in line. Our chivalrous lover boy Paul is taking care of the order.” Another agreed, adding: “Somewhat explains the amount of beverages.”

McCartney will be commemorating this segment of his musical journey, with a special 50th-anniversary release of Venus and Mars having been launched today (March 28), and reflections on his time with Wings to be revealed in an upcoming autobiography slated for release later this year.