Welcome to the home of Bath Comedy - for the Spring time Bath Comedy Festival and year-round Bath Comedy events including Bath Comedy Club shows, July Edinburgh Preview season and many one-off specials.
Bath Comedy Festival 2023
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Bath Comedy Festival presents: Julian Clary & Ian Shaw - Sat 15th April 2023
Two of the most brilliant entertainers in show business, Julian and Ian have been misbehaving together for many years, and we are delighted to present a special one-off catch-up duo show of blues, gossip and filth at The Forum, Bath, devised specially for Bath Comedy Festival.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS and BOOKING
See the what's on calendar for full details of all Festival shows.
Bath Comedy Festival shows on sale now
Over 100 shows are now on sale - including many big names alongside the stars of tomorrow. Read the Festival overview/press release here.
April Fools' Gala - Reginald D Hunter revealed as headliner!
Book now for the big April Fools' Gala - starring Reginald D Hunter Ronnie Golden, Rowland Rivron, Helen Lederer, Frank Sanazi, Chris McGlade, Holly Leggett, Chris Lynam, Cerys Nelmes (MC)
A star-studded, proper variety show line-up to celebrate April Fools' Day in style!
There's a full three weeks of Festival fun to be had! Look out for the printed programme in the streets soon, but secure your tickets by booking online - see the events diary and details of all shows here.
Become a Friend of the Festival
The Festival is not regularly funded and relies on support from businesses' sponsorship and support from YOU too!
Join our merry band of Friends for an annual £75 and enjoy such benefits as:
- Invitations to exclusive VIP receptions
- 'Thank you' accreditations on our web site and printed programme
- Concession rate tickets for selected events
- Early notice of special events
- Membership of an exclusive group of donors whom, by their generosity, contribute to the long term success of the Festival.
Alternatively if you would just like to donate please use the other checkout link below - all contrbutions are very gratefully received and go towards bringing more laughter and fun to our city!
Bath Life Awards 2023
We're thriilled to be a finalist in the Bath Life Awards again this year, in the Event category
Bath Comedy also recently reached the top three in category at the 2022 Bath Business Awards - Tourism and Hospitality Resilience Award.
Nick Steel's Radio Interviews
Listen to a selection of Nick's recent radio interviews - click here
Nick says:
I'm always excited about what we have in store for the next Bath Comedy shows, and I'm so proud that we managed to not only survive the pandemic/lockdown periods, but also produce over 60 shows in 2020 and over 75 in 2021, when not much else was able to happen!
Bath Comedy recently reached the top three in category at the 2022 Bath Business Awards - Tourism and Hospitality Resilience Award.
WATCH THIS SPACE - MORE EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING VERY SOON!
See the what's on calendar for more details of all shows as they come on sale, including Bath Comedy Club nights and all Autumn Season tour shows and one-off events. We're already booking into next year and beyond...lots of excitement to come!
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ARTHUR SMITH OPENS NEW BATH COMEDY CLUB NIGHT IN BRISTOL
We're thrilled to announce the opening of our new and exclusive comedy club experience in Bristol - one Sunday per month we'll be presenting a top comedian plus local support in the gorgeous, intimate surroundings of the Stock Exchange Cocktail Club in St Nicholas Street.
Inaugural night was on 15th Jan, officially opened by veteran comedian, broadcaster and famously 'Grumpy Old Man' ARTHUR SMITH, with support from Jessie Nixon.
L-R: Colin 'The Gnome' Callan, Nick Steel, Arthur Smith, Jessie Nixon, Heather Mowat.
Photo by Kerrianne Gauld.
Next show is SUNDAY 12th FEBRUARY:
We present the supremely talented PAUL 'SILKY' WHITE - a "massively engaging guitar-playing stand-up whose instinctive rapport with audiences makes him welcome wherever he goes" - Guardian Guide (Pick of the Week).
Support from Ollie Young - one of the most promising of the new generation of Bath-based comedians
Tickets are £22 and include a free cocktail on arrival, and Indian snack. Doors open at 6pm for 7pm show start; finishes about 8.30pm - you can get home early on a "school night", or stay to hang out for a while. We think the cocktails are the best in Bristol, and there are Lost & Grounded beers on draught too.
Click here for full details and booking. Advance booking recommended - only 50 tickets available!
Bath Comedy Club: Revolution - club night line-ups return in 2023
Bath Comedy Club: Revolution - the last Sunday of every month Upstairs at Revolution Bath.
Pre-show food available, 2for1 cocktails, tickets include free entry to the nightclub after the show - open til 3am!
Headline acts for the first three months of 2023 are:
29th January: Laura Lexx & Aideen McQueen
with Matt Alford, Tom Hutchinson and Tor Hudswell (MC)
26th February: Pierre Hollins & Dom Hatton-Woods
with Greg Winfield, Millie Haswell and Dani Johns (MC)
26th March: Paul Thorne
with Jasmine Morton, Craig Smalls and Daniel Dagger (MC)
See the what's on calendar for all show details.
Listen to Radio Bath's interview with Aideen McQueen.
Read Ralph Oswick's review of the last Bath Comedy Club: Revolution show.
Watch our video to check out just a few of the great acts appearing in Bath Comedy shows this season. See the Events Calendar for full details of what's on, and easy online booking.
BATH COMEDY CLUB: EDINBURGH PREVIEWS
Friday 22nd July
Bath Comedy presents a whole week of Edinburgh Fringe previews, starting with a double bill from the fantastic Dr Phil Hammond.
See both of Phil's shows in one night, at Bath Comedy Club: Wharfside a.k.a. Widcombe Social Club!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
There are two shows per night at Bath Comedy Club: Revolution from Sunday 24th to Wed 27th July, and back at Wharfside on Thurs 28th, with Chris McGlade's amazing show 'Forgiveness'.
BATH COMEDY CLUB: REVOLUTION
Sunday 29th May
Bath Comedy Club returns to Revolution this Sunday with a mixture of sneak Edinburgh previews and our local MC host with the most. Come and have a laugh, and find out what's in store for our summer season - exciting stuff!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
PAUL MERTON'S IMPRO CHUMS
Tuesday 7th June
Unique comedy based entirely on suggestions from the audience, the Chums' own finely honed improvisational skills and an almost manic compulsion to show off!
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL IS BACK!
After two years of waiting for the C word to go away...we're back!
BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL 2022
Sunday 27th March - Thursday 21st April
Have a Laugh in Bath as Bath Comedy Festival returns!
26 days of live comedy across the city, with lots of big names appearing, alongside the stars of tomorrow!
The annual event took a forced break during the pandemic but this year as the clocks change and the sun comes out again, Bath will be treated to performances from some of the biggest names in the comedy world, including Josh Widdicombe, Henning Wehn, John Moloney, Sarah Millican, Russell Kane, The Guilty Feminist, Jess Robinson, Ed Gamble, Jasper Carrot and Sandi Toksvig.
The festival will have audiences laughing their socks off in some of Bath's most iconic locations both big and small. Venues span the length and breadth of the historic city, including Bath Forum – Main House, Ballroom and Coffee House, Revolution Bath, The Saracen's Head, Widcombe Social Club, The Bell, Komedia, Rondo Theatre, The Raven and Walcot House.
Read the Festival Overview / Press Release - click here
The programme is still expanding, but most gigs are already on sale - see the what's on page for details of shows and online booking links.
BATH COMEDY CLUB - WHARFSIDE
Our Widcombe venue springs back into life and laughter!
Bath Comedy Club - Wharfside (at Widcombe Social Club), started up between lockdowns during the past two years, and proved so popular we're continuing the regular-irregular club nights year-round.
This week: Friday 18th February sees the return of the one and only Alan Francis, alongside two other great acts Carla Carzana, who was runner up in our annual New Act competition in 2018 and West Country favourite Tom Glover.
Join us for Bath Comedy Club - Wharfside this Friday 18th February - click here for details and booking.
STOP PRESS - STORM UPDATE: We're hoping the show will go on, despite Storm Eunice! If somehow the comedians can't make it we'll make a decision at lunchtime on the day.
Next show: Friday 4th March, starring Arthur Smith - (second time lucky this year we hope!) - and the inimitable Les Bubb in his Bath Comedy debut - an amazing comic-mime artist, UK's best, who has been appeared everywhere from Glastonbury to the BBC to a Harry Potter film!
Join us for Bath Comedy Club - Wharfside on Friday 4th March - click here for details and booking.
Other news - see below for our new Club venue at Revolution.
Bath Comedy Festival 2022 is happening! Sunday 27th March - Monday 18th April - events coming online over the next week - WATCH THIS SPACE!
BATH COMEDY CLUB - REVOLUTION
We're thrilled with our brand new Comedy Club venue!
Launched in Jan '22, Bath Comedy Club - Revolution brings together the best of local, national and even international comedians. The best of local aspiring comedians get to perform on the same bill as seasoned professionals, linking the world of established talent to the stars of tomorrow. We hope every show will have something for everyone and, for a straight £10 ticket, that Bath Comedy Club - Revolution will become as popular as its sibling Bath Comedy Club - Wharfside (at Widcombe Social Club), and appeal to students and younger comedy fans.
At the end of March, Revolution will host the Bath New Act Competition Heats for three weeks throughout Bath Comedy Festival.
Join us for the next Bath Comedy Club - Revolution on Sunday 27th February - starring the fantastic Mark Maier - click here for details and booking.
Bath Comedy Club - Revolution
Revolution Bath
2 York Buildings
Bath
BA1 2EB
click here for a map
BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL is proud to present
Permission To Laugh
A Special 16 Day Festival of Live Comedy across Bath
16th - 31st July 2021
Yes! We're allowed to laugh once more, and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy two weeks of top-notch live shows curated by Bath Comedy? Director Nick Steel says "We've tried to honour as many shows from the 2020 Festival-that-never-was as possible, including some big names alongside solo shows from up-and-coming comics and a competition to find the stars of tomorrow."
Stand-up and stand-out highlights at Widcombe Social Club include a work-in-progress show from 'German Comedy Ambassador' Henning Wehn, a by all accounts astounding show from Simon Evans (the content of which is a closely guarded secret!), and a fantastic Friday Night Live Line-up starring Arthur Smith, Silky, David Eagle, Yuriko Kotani and Carey Marx!
There's a unique crossover musical comedy treat in the shape of Ian Shaw, who explores the thrills, horrors and hashtags of living in the modern world, and several different walking tours of Bath brought to you by Arthur Smith, Show of Strength and Natural Theatre Company.
The Affordable Comedy Festival is back with a host of solo shows based at a new venue – the Forum Coffee House – where tickets are £5 in advance, or Free entry (pay what you feel) on the day! Witness works-in-progress from well-established comedians such as Alan Francis, Neil McFarlane & Alistair Barrie, or previews from the best of up-and-coming comedy stars including Bilal Zafar, Chelsea Birkby, Michael Akadiri, Drew Taylor and Sasha Ellen.
Also rising from the still-warm ashes of 2020 – the New Act Competition sees 100 contenders compete in ten heats held at Bath Brew House and a Grand Final at the Forum Ballroom including the presentation of the coveted Lovehoney Bath Comedy New Act Of The Year Award!
Here's to a triumphant return to (ab?)normality and a great big Bath barrel of laughs on the way!
Some shows are only just coming online, and others have had more tickets made available now restrictions are easing – keep your eyes on the What's On page for the ever-evolving line-up and ticket avails.
Rescheduling the Festival proper
Further to previous announcements, we are working on rescheduling as many of the posttponed 2020 springtime Festival's shows.
Soon we'll be announcing a "Permission To Laugh" comedy festival in July 2021, and in the meantime we'll be running Bath Comedy Club nights, with appropriate safety measures.
All tickets purchased for previously postponed Festival events remain valid for the rescheduled dates (or refunds are available if you can't make the dates). Bear with us while we reorganise!
If you'd like to read the 2020 Fest programme-that-would-have-been...click on the front cover image below to view the PDF. We will try to honour as many of these shows as we can as we get going again!
Bath Comedy Festival - Crowd Fund launched
It was incredibly sad to have to postpone 2020's springtime Festival, and particularly bad timing just as we were launching the biggest and best line-up to date. Bath Comedy Festival has suffered a huge financial blow from the effects of the pandemic – as you can imagine, such short notice meant that most of this year's non-refundable budget had already been spent.
We're determined that the Festival will get through this crisis, avert disaster and resurface in as many ways as possible. To this end we've set up a GoFundMe crowd funding campaign, from which every single penny raised will go to paying people and getting our house in order so that we may again present something that everyone in Bath can be proud of, and that everyone involved with will enjoy!
Over the years we've been able to bring an amazing number of top line acts to Bath, whilst encouraging new talent and championing women in comedy.
Let's hope we can all get back together sooner rather than later and let the laughs flow once more!
To donate to the fund, click the image below or follow this link to the GoFundMe page: http://www.GoFundMe.com/Bath-Comedy-Festival
Thank you to everyone for your help and support, keep well and we'll all be laughing again soon!
Bathtime Comedy Festival
In loo (sic) of a physical Festival, we bring you a series of BathTime Comedy Festival messages, from comedians and patrons:
Our friend and patron Arthur Smith started us off with this message from his bath:
We've set up a special YouTube channel - please visit this channel to view all the BathTime videos, which include messages from Simon Evans, The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre and others, plus a series of missives from a certain Lord Rivington, who bears a strange resemblance to comedian Alan Francis...
Please follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and share our announcements and latest news.
Bath Comedy Festival 2020 - POSTPONED
Following the latest advice from the Government on public gatherings, we have decided to postpone Bath Comedy Festival until later this year. We are working to move the 300+ comedians, 170+ event festival sponsored by Lovehoney.co.uk, provisionally to September 2020.
Our Festival director Nick Steel says: "It is with much regret and sadness that we have taken the decision to postpone the 12th Bath Comedy Festival, but along with many other event organisations, we must honour our duty of care to audiences and performers alike. We worked incredibly hard to bring these amazing names to perform in our beautiful city, and will be working even harder now to ensure we can still provide much needed entertainment to The City of Bath with a rescheduled event later this year. In these difficult times, comedy is more important than ever and we want to bring laughter back to this city as soon as possible. Our thoughts are with everyone who is being affected by this situation."
We will be consulting closely with venues, artists and management, working with sponsors and partners, and will issue updated information as and when the situation becomes clearer, performance by performance. Tickets already purchased will remain valid for any rescheduled performances once the new dates have been announced, and optional refunds will be available via box offices.
Bath Comedy - pre-Festival shows
We are delighted to present a variety of comedy, music, cabaret and food events throughout the year, not just within the springtime Festival itself.
Next up is a return of the ever-popular Bonkers Burns Night at Widcombe Social Club on Saturday 25th January, featuring a fabulous three course supper with all the trimmings, entertainment from stars of The Comedy Store Players and 'Whose Line Is It Anyway', MC Jacky McSween and virtuoso multi-instumentalist John Sampson!
Our favourite 60-seater room upstairs at the Ring O Bells is one of the most intimate comedy venues around. With the pub under new management there's great beers and pub food available downstairs. Come and see the latest refurbishment of this amazing small space as we present two great shows in February - Silky on Tuesday 19th, and Catherine Bohart: Lemon on Wednesday 20th Feb.
Bath Comedy Festival New Act Competition 2019 - David Eagle wins the Lovehoney Newcomer Award
This year's New Act Competition saw a total of 120 long-listed contenders battle it out over twelve heats and two semi-finals, with 10 finalists reaching the Grand Final, judged by a panel comprising comedy industry heavyweights including Graham Smith, Alan Nixon and Jill Edwards, guest judge and master comedian John Moloney plus Bath Comedy Festival Director Nick Steel. Here are the results:
First place: David Eagle
Second place: Martin Durchov
Joint Third place: Chelsea Birkby
David Eagle receives the coveted Lovehoney Newcomer Award, a cheque from Bath Comedy Festival for £250, plus at least two paid appearances at next year's Festival.
L to R: Chelsea Birkby, Martin Durchov, David Eagle, Geoff Whiting (Mirth Control), Nick Steel, Elaine Sosna (Lovehoney).
Photo by Lloyd Ellington
The announcement was live-streamed on Twitter - click here to watch the video
All the finalists were given a goody bag containing items from Principal Sponsor Lovehoney and Festival Sponsor Bath Ales:
L to R: Chelsea Birkby, Martin Durchov, Nathan Eagle, Michael Cummings, Alex Prescot, Paul Hilleard, David Eagle, Nick Steel, Saban Kasim, Fran Kissling, Will Hall, Jenny Laville, Geoff Whiting, Elaine Sosna
Photo by Lloyd Ellington
Read the British Comedy Guide report here
Lovehoney Best Joke Award 2019
This year's Lovehoney Best Joke Award was presented at the end of the Festival's Closing Gala Show at the Apex Hotel, to Bill Clarke, the man behind local favourite character Bill Smarme, for the best innuendo-laden joke of the Festival.
The joke in question was made off the cuff when talking about the weather, with a cheeky wink in the direction of Festival sponsors online sex toy retailers Lovehoney:
"…of course we did get some snow…you know what it's like – one day you've got a full 12 inches, then the next day it's all gone".
Nick Steel said "We are hugely grateful to our sponsors Lovehoney and I'm delighted to award the 2019 Lovehoney Best Joke Award, for best innuendo-laden joke, to Bill Smarme, a.k.a. Mr Bill Clarke."
The award was presented at the end of the Festival's Closing Weekend Gala at the Apex Hotel Bath's Conference Centre venue, on stage with a line-up of some of the stars of the evening which included comedians John Moloney, Fred MacAulay, Alan Francis, Emily Rose Simons and Pete Latham.
L-R Richard Longhurst (Lovehoney), John Moloney, Nick Steel, Emily Rose Simons, Fred MacAulay, Alan Francis, Barnaby Power, Bill Clarke
Photo by Louisa Gummer
Bill Clarke a.k.a. Bill Smarme, pictured with the Lovehoney Best Joke Award 2019
Photo by Nick Steel
Bath Plug Award 2019
This year's Bath Plug Award, which acknowledges significant achievement or contribution to comedy, was presented to comedian, broadcaster and "famously grumpy old man" Arthur Smith.
Left: Jem Roberts, Arthur Smith, Nick Steel; Right: Arthur Smith & The Smithereens
Photos by Louisa Gummer and Nick Steel
The presentation took place at one of the festival's most popular core venues, Widcombe Social Club, at the end of a moving performance of Smith's show Syd. Accompanied by The Smithereens, the show tells the story of Arthur's father Syd, a POW and PC, on night duty in 1950s London - an ordinary man who lived through extraordinary times.
To present the medal, co-organiser of the Bath Plug Award, author and historian Jem Roberts, was joined on stage by Festival Director Nick Steel, who said the award was "also a personal thank you for all the years of laughter and support, as a friend and as a patron of the festival."
Previous recipients have been Terry Jones, Peter Richardson, Barry Cryer and Rachel Parris.
Bath Life Awards 2019 - Winner
We are delighted to announce another award win for Bath International Comedy Festival in partnership with Visit Bath - the Arts category of the 2019 Bath Life Awards!
Bath Business Awards 2018 - Winner
We are delighted to announce Bath International Comedy Festival in partnership with Visit Bath was awarded the Leisure & Tourism Award at this year's Bath Business Awards. The awards are run by Bath Chronicle and the Leisure & Tourism award was presented by Tarquin McDonald, Chief Executive of Bath Rugby, who sponsored the award, at a ceremony held at the Pavilion hosted by TV star Martin Roberts.
L-R Tarquin McDonald (Bath Rugby), Les Redwood (Visit Bath), Ralph Oswick (Bath Comedy), Martin Roberts (Homes Under The Hammer), Nick Steel (Bath Comedy)
Check the what's on diary for event details and online booking links.
Sign up to the e-mailing list to be among the first to know what's happening. There is an archive of the 2019 festival and year of shows here.
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