Laugh it out in London's Comedy Clubs
The British sense of humour has been long celebrated for being dry, sarcastic and generally the best in the world. So it’s only fitting that the British comedy circuit is thoroughly alive and kicking, and indeed currently flooded with talent. This poor mass of talent traipses up and down the UK, doing shows every other night in venues big and small, exhausting themselves out, before finally arriving in London, home of the best comedy clubs. If your not up for sharing the mike at a karaoke bar and you've already swung back a few pints at a local brewery, a comedy show in London is a great option for side-splitting entertainment. Here are two of the best places to some laughs in London?
Text by Sophie Carville
The Comedy Store
It’s got a few sister clubs, this one, and the Comedy Store has a history dating back to some of the earlier British comedians who changed the face of British comedy and introduced an alternative vibe. It’s been going since 1979, and it’s in the heart of Soho, which essentially means that back in the day it was a properly seedy joint, above a strip club. Now, of course, Soho is clean and pretty and popular, and somewhere that you’ll almost definitely end up visiting as a tourist, so if you fancy an evening full of chuckles then this is the place to come. You can try and queue up outside on the quieter nights, or give them a call or book online beforehand. The improvisation nights are, in the their own way, the most impressive, because they really show that these comedians can perform on demand.
Comedy Store, www.thecomedystore.co.uk, Tel: 020 7930 2949, 1a Oxendon St, Piccadilly Circus, London SW1Y 4EE.
Tattershall Castle
If you fancy something a bit more atmospheric you could give the Tattershall Castle a go. No, it’s not an actual castle; it is in fact a boat, moored up on the Thames on the Embankment, conveniently next to the tube stop and the bridge over to Waterloo station if you need that. The Tattershall has become very popular with after-work drinkers, but only over summer – otherwise you’re just going to get cold and possibly wet. On nice days, it’s a lovely place for a drink outside, watching the other boats go by. On the other hand, the Tattershall has a huge and rather luxurious below-deck area, which, on certain nights, is used as a venue for comedy nights. The one to go for, probably, is the Monday Club comedy, held on the first Monday of every month, and for a staggeringly cheap £10 per ticket is a great night. It has many different comedians – usually a mix of unknowns and then a Star Guest – for you to laugh at. Or with. Whatever.
Tattershall Castle, www.thetattershallcastle.co.uk, Victoria Embankment, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HR, Tel: 020 7839 6548
So if you want to experience a properly British night out – one that doesn’t involve binge-drinking and being sick in alleys at 2am before haggling in a slur with illegal minicab drivers, that is – then you could do a lot worse than head for one of the comedy nights. There’s a lot of different types, from quick stand-up, to improvisation nights, through to the shows of the more well-known comedians. If you want to get a cheap ticket, to get a taste for it, then you’ll probably be there for the unknown stand-up nights. This is very hit and miss; but bear in mind that everyone going up there knows that they’re likely to be heckled to hell, so they’re really being very brave. And hey, if they’re truly awful, then you can enjoy another British pastime: cruelly mocking people with the rest of a mob. Fun times.