Stumbling down to central London on a Friday night, the atmosphere is electric. Amongst all the buzz and excitement lies The Covent Garden Comedy Club. Buried under the Arches next to Charing Cross station, this comedy club is a hidden gem.

 

If you’re looking for an alternative cheap night out, this might be the place for you.

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The comedy club opened in 2002, hosted at London’s infamous gay club ‘Heaven’. The show runs from 8-10 pm every Friday and Saturday night, and will set you back £19 (£12 for students). The night normally consists of four acts, from up and coming comedians to familiar faces such as Jack Whitehall and Rob Beckett.

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When you arrive on Friday evening it’s a brisk 10-minute walk from Covent Garden station and you’re in the midst of London’s bustling nightlife. The roads lined with eccentric bars, all ages celebrating the end of the week. As you enter the club there’s a rustic vibe to the décor. Brick walls and sultry lighting envelope you as you descend underground to the venue. The music has a 1920s flapper-esque vibe, that is jolly, but not obnoxious. The venue is cute, just 200 seats, a welcome break from the mass of people outside.

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Before the show begins there is a five-minute warning, so naturally, everyone makes a mad dash to the bar for their pre-show drinks. At £4 for a vodka mixer, the prices are a London students twisted view of reasonable. The host for the night begins the show by introducing the acts and teasing the crowd, testing the waters. This evening’s host (MC) is John Meagher, an Irish comedian who was nominated for the BBC new comedy award. The MC’s are switched every weekend at the comedy club, but John’s charming nature and witticisms really set the ambience for the night.

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The night opened with Michael Albanese. The New York-based comedian took to the stage with unbridled confidence, a trait seemingly compulsory in the American populus. “I used to think,” he begins, “I came from a poor family, but as I’ve got older I just come to realise I come from a cheap one.” Michael’s anecdotal and relatable style shows a natural wit particularly playing on his American exuberance.

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Following from the first act, Danny McLoughlin, a British comedian from Sheffield, has a similar take on comedy. A more British, cruder style, but still relatable and full of anecdotes. It appears as if Danny has no filter daringly interacting with the crowd, no holds barred.

 

This audience participation is an important component of the shows. On one occasion he calls a man in the front row a “nonce” pointing out that his girlfriend looks more than a few years his junior. A gentleman in the front row, Nick, was asked to take his feet off the stage. He flat out refused. Danny then targeted the audience member saying: “we all know what rhymes with Nick.” Danny was the most risqué’ act of the evening, toying with the audience at any opportunity.

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The night concluded with Otis Cannelloni, a mature comedian from London, who uniquely mixes a hybrid of magic and comedy. His act can be described as nothing short of lunacy, with constant one-liners that leave you confused as to whether to cringe, or crack up laughing. “A goldfish had a three-second memory...imagine that...now imagine it again,” are the sort of Dad jokes Otis was paining, and yet delighting his audience with.

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The diversity of the acts, young and old, Londoners and otherwise created a vibrant show that almost anyone could appreciate. Each week, the comedy club tries to re-create this balance of comedic styles, giving a mixture of comedians a well-deserved platform.

 

The Covent Garden Comedy Club is a delightful night out for anyone who is looking for a change from Ministry of sound or your local Wetherspoons. The tastefully provocative tone was complimented with a wicked sense of humour, appealing to younger generations and their affinity to crude sarcasm, and non-conventional topics. The club was packed all night, energy high, 200 people in the euphoric limbo between laughing and crying for two hours.

 

If you’re on a budget, it’s a night out for under £30. If you’ve got a quick sense of humour, and aren’t called Nick, you’re guaranteed a great night.