The south west of England has long been a hotbed of comic talent and Bristol welcomes major touring comedians as well as offering a platform for emerging amusing talent.
You’ll find a wide range of venues, from large auditoriums to smaller rooms in pubs to watch your favourite comics in.
So get ready to discover where the laughs are at with our guide to finding the best comedy in Bristol.
The big Bristol comedy venues
Colston Hall
Colston Hall (c) Frances Taylor Photography
As Bristol’s largest concert hall, Colston Hall is renowned for its music, but also puts on shows by big touring comedians (the likes of Billy Connolly and Jimmy Carr for example).
They have two venues that host comedy, the largest being the main hall which has a capacity of 1834 and brings in the best names in comedy. Their smaller venue is The Lantern, which is a 250 seated capacity and tends to host the up and coming stars and intimate tours (e.g. Eddie Izzard’s Force Majure tour).
The venue will also be 150 years old in 2017, and there’s a campaign to raise £45m to undertake a major refurbishment – find out more.
Getting there: Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR
Colston Hall – The Lantern (c) Chris-Cooper via Colston Hall
Jongleurs Comedy Club – Bristol
Watch some of the best comedians, at this Bristol branch of one of the most established names on the comedy circuit.
They always have three top acts on the bill, and you can check in advance who is likely to be playing, along with an experienced compere to warm you up and introduce the comedians.
Seating is allocated so you can arrive at your leisure.
And if you want to keep the good times going afterwards – there’s free entry into the host nightclub.
Getting there: Pryzm, Canons Road, Bristol, BS1 5UH
Opening times: Friday & Saturday nights. Doors open 7pm doors, 8pm start.
Bristol Hippodrome
Bristol Hippodrome auditorium (c) Bristol Hippodrome
This is where the West End shows come on tour and they also host many of the major comedians throughout the year.
Their majestic auditorium seats a bumper 1,951 people, so you can see the likes of Bill Bailey, Michael McIntyre and Russell Howard appearing on their national tours.
Getting there: Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol, BS1 4UZ
Michael McIntyre has appeared at the Bristol Hippodrome
The Redgrave Theatre
In the grounds of Clifton College (alma mater of John Cleese no less), this lovely theatre puts on a variety of shows, including stand-up comedy.
The 315-seat theatre was opened in 1966 by actor and former student, Sir Michael Redgrave, and renamed in his honour after his death in 1985.
Getting there: Percival Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3LE
(c) The Redgrave Theatre
Comedy nights in Bristol
Riproar Comedy
Riproar Comedy Audience (c) Riproar Comedy
You can see some of the best comedians in the country at this established comedy club.
There are usually three comics on the bill, along with a compere who holds it all together.
You can also see some of the newest talent taking their first comedy steps – and they’ll tell you who is trying new material or a first timer.
They usually have shows on a Friday in the cafe bar and on Saturday in the upstairs club (Stand Up and Boogie – they’ll put on a disco after the comedy).
The upstairs venue takes 220 people and you can book just for the comedy, or you can book a meal as well.
Getting there: Above Steam Cafe Bar, First Floor, 15 Union Gate, 63 Union Street, Bristol, BS1 2DL
Opening times: Friday and Saturday nights: 6.30pm doors open, 8.30pm start
Milo McCabe as Troy Hawke at (c) Riproar Comedy
The Comedy Box
A stalwart of the Bristol comedy scene, running comedy shows since 1994, the Comedy Box has produced and promoted hundreds of major names in British comedy over the years.
Run by promoter and founder, Steve Lount, the current home venue is the Hen & Chicken in Southville.
If you like really listening to the acts, you’re in luck as you won’t find large, rowdy parties at these gigs – they’re banned.
Getting there: Upstairs at the Hen & Chicken: 210 North Street, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1JF, (Also – Tobacco Factory Theatre: Raleigh Road, Bristol, City of Bristol, BS3 1TF_
Chuckle Busters
These comedy producers put on shows at two main Bristol venues. The Wardrobe Theatre and The White Bear pub.
They feature a mix of headline acts along with the cream of local comics as well, and the likes of Russell Howard, Seann Walsh and Josh Widdicombe have also performed.
Bristol’s comedy festivals
If you want to catch some of the hottest names in the comedy world, then head to the Bristol Comedy Garden.
The laughs are in the open air in Queen Square, usually at the end of June/beginning of July (see website for dates).
They also have street food, pop-up bars and music to keep you entertained.
If you like silent, visual and classic on-screen comedy, then the Slapstick Festival, which has been running since 2005, is a January highlight.
The not-for-profit event uses archive film, alongside live musicians, to bring the silent era to life, including talks, live performances and workshops.
Comedian Russell Howard hails from Bristol (c) Bristol Hippodrome
Bristolian belly laughs – comedians from the city
- Famous for his smooth comic timing and debonair good looks, Hollywood superstar, Cary Grant, was born in Bristol in 1904. He was known as Archie Leach back then, but soon became enthralled by the theatre after working as a call boy at the Hippodrome.
- Comic films include: His Girl Friday (1940), Bringing up Baby (1938) and The Philadelphia Story (1940).
- Original Monty Python member and writer of the classic sitcom, Fawlty Towers, John Cleese remains a Bristol City fan after going to school at Clifton College in Bristol aged 13.
- One of the biggest stand-up stars of the 1990s, Lee Evans, was born in Aconmouth, Bristol – before moving to Essex aged 11.
- Little Britain stars, Matt Lucas and David Walliams, both attended the University of Bristol. However they actually met at the National Youth Theatre in London.
- Ricky Gervais’s writing partner, Stephen Merchant, was born in Bristol and his accent has been used to much comic effect in their show, Extras.
- TV star and stand-up legend, Bill Bailey, played a massive homecoming gig at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium, the first comedy event to be staged at the football ground, in 2010.
- Stand-up star and panel game regular, Russell Howard, was also born in Bristol, and also studied econimics in the University of West of England based in the city.
Why not linger a little longer
Along with the laughs we’ve found plenty going on in the biggest city on the west coast – in fact here’s 20 things to do in Bristol to get you started.
And with that in mind, we’ve also got some great hotels in Bristol should you want to make your trip a little longer.
Bristol Balloon Fiesta Morning Launch (c) Gary Newman
Want to find more UK mirth?
We’ve now got lots of comedy tickets for gigs up and down the country if you’re looking for laughs.
And here’s our guide to some of the best comedy clubs in London.
We’d also love to hear where your favourite comedy clubs are – let us know by leaving a comment below.
The post A City With Funny Bones: Comedy in Bristol appeared first on lastminute.com Blog.
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