Whether you want to see your favourite comedian or be the first to hear up-and-coming talent, these venues have it. Here’s our pick of the five best clubs in the UK:
1. The Glee Club, Nottingham
Big and bold and packed with talent, Glee Clubs aren’t one-off intimate venues, but they’re where the pros turn up time and again. And Nottingham’s is considered the go-to comedy spot in the East Midlands.
In a prime place canalside, its two upper floor auditoriums play host to fresh-off-the-Fringe acts as well as comics doing their UK tours. Credit to the management for making the rooms individual and giving the downstairs area a vintage feel. Comedy shows run here on Fridays and Saturdays, so book into our central Nottingham hotel to be less than half a mile away.
2. The Stand, Newcastle
It’s spread from Scotland down south to Newcastle, so you know The Stand is Edinburgh Fringe-worthy. The club’s best known for Red Raw, the beginners’ open mic night that’s launched some of the best in the business. And with pro shows through the week, including a midday kids’ comedy event on Sundays, this club will sort your funnies out quickly.
If you’re coming for a weekend show, then book ahead. Probably around the time you book your hotel. And there’s no reserved seating, so groups should get in early – doors open at 7pm – if you want to sit together.
3. Frog and Bucket, Manchester
This is the place where John Bishop got his first break, at the Monday amateur night ‘Beat the Frog‘, where the audience decides which acts stay and which aren’t worth the £3 entry fee. Students get in free on Mondays, by the way, but just remember this is an over-18s venue. There’s no heckling, and the cabaret-style layout gives a cool, personal feel.
Definitely book ahead, especially if you want to get into the Friday and Saturday Barrel of Laughs events. You’ll wine and dine at table while 4-5 acts off the UK and international circuits do their stuff. Then dance away to cheesy disco into the night. Our Manchester Ancoats hotel is practically round the corner, so bed’s nearby.
4. Up The Creek, Greenwich
This intimate Comedy Club boasts fabulous line-ups and a unique atmosphere. With shows taking place on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, it’s best to visit the club during a weekend visit to Greenwich. Thursdays are blackout night, when 15 acts take to the stage with just 5 minutes on the clock. Tickets start at just £5. Keep Up The Creek in mind if you’re arranging a birthday, stag or hen party. Hens even get in free!
5. Banana Cabaret, Balham
If you’re staying in a South London Travelodge, be sure not to miss the Banana Cabaret held every Friday and Saturday. Running for 30 years, many a famous comic has performed in the back room at The Bedford Pub, where the cabaret is still held. Tickets cost from between £11 and £16 and in the past great comedians such as Al Murray, Katherine Tate and Rob Brydon have all taken to the stage. The Balham comedy festival, organized by club owner David Vickers, is also an unmissable event, held between the 10th and the 18th of July.
