IT'S not the first time in recent years that there have been some funny goings on down that part of Mathew Street. But now it is time for the gags to begin.
We believe this space could become one of the finest comedy rooms in the UK
Laughterhouse Comedy has converted legendary music club Eric's into Liverpool's first standalone, stand up venue and will open its doors to a whole new breed of jokers next month.
The idea of Eric's becoming a comedy club has raised a few guffaws already, with one of the original club owners, Ken Testi, quipping that it was never anything but.
All joking aside, Liverpool, with its self proclaimed status as the UK's capital of comedy, has somehow missed out on a Jongleurs or Comedy Store of its own. Laughterhouse is one of Liverpool’s most successful live comedy promoters, and Laughterhouse Mathew Street, as it will be known, is promising "all the best headliners from TV and the national comedy circuit".
Chris Cairns, MC of the new Slaughterhouse Mathew StreetThe new 200-seater venue, in a prime nightlife spot, sits somewhere, capacity wise, between its small cellar at The Slaughter House and its large scale Philharmonic Hall promotions.
Paula Harrington, Laughterhouse owner, said: “We are delighted to be opening a purpose built comedy venue on the world famous Mathew Street. We believe this space could become one of the finest comedy rooms in the UK and it is a perfect sister venue to our successful Slaughter House venue."
Eric’s was the epicentre of the city's 1970s music explosion and the launchpad for OMD, Echo and the Bunnymen, Deaf School, The Teardrop Explodes and Elvis Costello. The bill also featured The Clash, Blondie, The Ramones, The Slits and The Sex Pistols.
2011: Plan to reopen Eric's greeted with anger and dismay
But now, 35 years after closing, a different species of punter is sought. "The venue is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate group bookings, yet is intimate enough to ensure an idea comedy atmosphere," it says here.
Upcoming acts include Jo Caulfield, Mat Richardson, Phil Nichol, Tanyalee Davis, Tom Stade and the club’s resident MCs - Neil Fitzmaurice and Chris Cairns.
Laughterhouse Mathew Street has partnered with restaurants Olive and Piccolino to offer scoff while you scoff. Following each comedy show, there will be a disco and musical turns until the early hours.
Laughterhouse Mathew Street will be opening on Friday, 27th November.
Neil Fitzmaurice said: "I'm delighted and proud to have played a part in the growth of Liverpool's finest comedy club. Since 2008 Laughterhouse has provided the very best in comedy to the good people of Liverpool and I'm delighted to see Laughterhouse further cementing its place as one of the UK's top comedy clubs."
