LAUGH OUT LOUD: THE BEST COMEDY CLUBS/NIGHTS IN KENT
With live performance heading back to the county in a big way for 2022, we wanted to highlight some of the places you can see some great comedy
There’s nothing quite like two grown adults bickering in front of a crowd, especially when one of them is clearly being ‘the d*ckhead’.
It really does something for the collective, binding people together in pure loathing for said d*ckhead, hoping with every fibre of their being that the person on stage tears them limb from limb, verbally, of course.
And with live performance heading back to the county in a big way for 2022, we wanted to highlight some of the places you can witness such a phenomenon... as well as some great comedy.
NEW ARRIVAL: THE COMEDY NETWORK AT REVELATION ASHFORD
The team at Revelation Ashford have launched a brand-new comedy night for 2022, hosted in their stunning venue.
Working with the Comedy Network – known for pushing some of the hottest comedians on the circuit, including Russell Howard, John Oliver, Harry Hill, Bill Bailey, Lee Mack, Stewart Lee, Greg Davies, Al Murray, Noel Fielding, Ross Noble, Lucy Porter, Chris Ramsey, Roisin Conaty, Joe Wilkinson, Richard Herring, Dave Gorman and Jenny Eclair – Revelation will host monthly gigs kicking off on January 21st with TV regular Sara Barron, renowned impressionist Luke Kempner and Garrett Millerick, whose 2018 breakout show Sunflower became one of the best-reviewed and most-talked-about shows of the Edinburgh Festival.
QUICK Q&A: SUNDAY ROAST
Sunday Roast has been whipping up audiences into a slathering frenzy for a couple of years now. Starting out in Canterbury, the team have also taken their gig to Margate and have other locations on the horizon. Having pulled in some massive names and given a platform to local artists alike, we asked them to explain themselves.
When and how did your night start?
We started back in 2019. We saw local students performing stand-up and pulling decent-sized audiences into tiny venues and realised that there wasn’t an outlet for these people to perform at a ‘professional’ show in the city. It just made sense for us to book ‘TV headliners’ and put them on the same bill as our incredible local talent.
What has been the biggest and best gig so far?
Our personal favourite has got to be when the incredible Sam Campbell (@mcdonaldscomedy) blessed us with a 20-minute spot as a special guest.
Every gig feels like the biggest as the night continues to grow – but by definition probably our first night with Jamali Maddix.
Can you describe your main venue?
Our venue is a big ballroom in Canterbury city centre. For a large room, it still feels very intimate as we set out the audience in a horseshoe around the performer. It’s a great space to watch comedy and enjoy a cocktail.
What shows have you got coming up in 2022?
We’ve got some incredible line-ups in the works for 2022, including Rosie Jones, Ed Gamble and Nick Helm… and loads more.
THE HA HA WALL, THE WASTELAND BAR, MARGATE
In the basement of The Libertines’ Albion Rooms Hotel, who knows what you might find? Well, actually, it’s The Wasteland Bar, which hosts The Ha Ha Wall (taken from the band’s song of the same name) comedy night, which grows in popularity with every gig. Usually compered by comedian Paul McCaffrey, the night has already hosted the cream of comedic rising talent, including Carl Donnelly, Tom Ward, Fiona Ridgewell, Lloyd Griffith and Rachel Fairburn.
HEADING WEST: OUT OF BOUNDS COMEDY
Taking its gigs to venues across the likes of Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and West Malling, Out of Bounds started in 2006 and has continued to bring down the house and the top comedians from across the UK. There always seems to be a gig going on somewhere and, if you’re lucky, you might get to see a Joel Dommett, Milton Jones, Paddy Lennox, Romesh Ranganathan or Lucy Porter pop up.
TEACHER’S PET: FUNNY RABBIT COMEDY, CANTERBURY
Headed up by Oliver Double, who has been at the University of Kent since 1999 teaching and researching comic and popular performance, the Funny Rabbit Comedy Club offers a great stage for local newbies and national oldbies (yes, it’s a f*cking word!) alike. You will find dates and tickets through the Gulbenkian theatre.
LITTLE GEM: FOLKESTONE COMEDY CLUB
You’d think they’d be more obvious about what they do, right? The Folkestone Comedy Club is a little gem, bagging up some of the most unbelievable acts to have ever played in a bowls club. From big hitters like Andrew Maxwell, Tony Law and Jon Richardson to Kent’s very own Harriet Kemsley, this is the little club that gets sh*t done, bruv. We also like the fact they operate a, in their words, ‘strict no d*ckheads policy’.
KEEP AN EYE ON...
Ha Harbour Comedy Club at The Oak Hotel in Ramsgate; the Flying High Comedy Club by Sheppey’s Adam Morrison (we interviewed him before, we can confirm he’s funny) at The Aviator in Sheerness; and the Much Laughter Comedy Club, which had a cracking reputation at Baltic House in Faversham but is moving home for 2022.
