The New Courtyard bar in Liverpool city centre remains closed with no confirmed reopening date, weeks after it temporarily shut its doors for the BBC Comedy Festival. The venue, located on Roe Street and operated by the Royal Court theatre, has been listed as "temporarily closed" on Google, and its reservation system is not accepting bookings.
Closure and Initial Reasons
A note posted on the bar's front door and on the company's website previously stated: "NCY is currently closed until further notice." Last month, a spokesperson for the Royal Court theatre informed the Liverpool ECHO that the closure was to host delegates from the BBC Comedy Festival, held from May 13 to May 15, 2026. The festival featured talks, panel discussions, screenings, a short film night, and live comedy performances across the city.
Current Status
Despite the festival concluding, the bar has not reopened. The website notice remains in place, and Google still marks the venue as temporarily closed. The ECHO has contacted the Royal Court theatre team for an update on the bar's future. In August 2025, head of marketing Kofi Ohene-Djan described the New Courtyard as "a passion project for the team at the theatre." He added: "We hear a lot about cities losing their live music spaces and we know that what creative communities need is a place to work, to hang out and to perform. We have this empty space, and we want to create something a little special. We know that there are long-term ambitions for this site, but while it’s empty now, we might as well use it. It’s a space for everyone and somewhere to hang out."
Impact and Uncertainty
The bar, known for its "eclectic" atmosphere and al fresco courtyard garden that attracted theatre-goers, now sits empty with no indication of when it might resume operations. The Royal Court has not publicly addressed the prolonged closure beyond the initial festival-related explanation.
