Ken Dodd Happiness Centre plans approved

Work on a new multi-million-pound centre dedicated to the life and career of the late Sir Ken Dodd is expected start next year after planning permission was granted by Liverpool City Council.

The Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre will stand on the site currently occupied by the Courtyard Bar & KItchen next to the Royal Court.

The new four-storey building, operated by Liverpool’s Royal Court as an extension of the theatre, will become a permanent home to the late legendary funnyman’s archive and Happiness exhibition currently showing at National Museum Liverpool.

It will also celebrate all forms of comedy and humour and provide opportunities for people to take part in a wide range of programmes, workshops and sessions with comedy, humour, health and wellbeing at their heart.

And there will be a 100-seat restaurant on site along with new offices and dressing rooms for the neighbouring theatre.

It is hoped building work will start in 2025 with the centre ready to open its doors in 2027 to mark the centenary of Doddy’s birth.

And Liverpool residents are now being asked what they would like to see included in the new building.

The £15m project is being designed by Stirling Prize winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), who previously worked on the extensive refurbishment of the Royal Court, while funding for the project is coming from a number of sources, primarily the Sir Ken Dodd Charitable Trust.

Royal Court chief executive Gill Miller said today: “‘We’re delighted to announce planning approval for this iconic legacy to Liverpool’s greatest entertainer, Sir Ken Dodd.  We’ve been working with Lady Dodd from the beginning of the design process to ensure that the building reflects Ken’s mantra that ‘Happiness is the greatest gift that we possess’.

Above: Anne, Lady Dodd outside the Royal Court. Top: An architect's image of the new Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre. Image courtesy of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.

“There is no better city than Liverpool to create a centre for happiness and wellbeing in, and we are looking forward to delivering a unique building for the city that epitomises happiness.

“Our plans for the world’s biggest tickling stick will become a landmark for the city attracting tourists and visitors from near and far, putting a smile on everyone’s face. This is a wonderfully positive project for the city and much needed in these uncertain times.’

And Anne, Lady Dodd added: “I’m thrilled that my dream of creating a legacy to celebrate Ken’s life has reached such a landmark stage. I think the building looks fantastic and I know Ken would be delighted at its location, just a stone’s throw from his favourite building in the city, St George’s Hall.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying working with Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre and architect Paul Monaghan of AHMM and very much look forward to getting on with the next stage which will include planning a programme of events and activities to inform the design of the inside and outside the Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre.

“Ken spent many happy hours entertaining thousands in the Royal Court Theatre and I know he would be delighted that his legacy building links to the theatre he helped to save back in 1979.”

Meanwhile two events at the theatre will celebrate Doddy this autumn.

The Variety Film Club will screen Lady Dodd's film The Real Ken Dodd – The Man I Loved (2023) on October 24. Tickets HERE.

And on October 27 is the annual Happiness Show. More details and tickets HERE