The most entertaining and reasonably-priced night out in London. (Comedy Store)

Member Name: BumpyBump

Product:	Comedy Store
Date:	08/10/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The price is really good for the amount of comedy you get.

Disadvantages: The seating is cramped and often with a poor view.

I have been to the Comedy Store in London on several occasions and I can promise that you are guaranteed a good night out with lots of laughs. You pay anything from £13 to £18 for your ticket and you get loads of entertainment for your money. There's the compere (sometimes someone you've heard of but sometimes not) and then you'll get about three or four acts (again, sometimes people you've heard of but usually not). In amongst the acts they often throw in a virgin, but they won't tell you who it is before they come on so you can give impartial appreciation throughout. But, I have to say, it is usually pretty obvious who the newbie is as they're generally not as funny. This is my experience, anyway.

The Store has one show every evening and then then two shows per evening on Fridays and Saturdays; one at 8pm and then one at midnight. The one at midnight is less busy and has a nicer, more relaxed feel about it for some reason. The Store itself (we're talking the London one here) does not have slopey seating but only has two height levels (the floor or a slightly raised platform) so, chances are, you'll be sitting directly behind someone and it can be difficult to see. The way to avoid this is to get there as early as possible and nab a seat at the very front (by the stage!) or at the front of the raised platform. These are the only two rows where your view will not be obscured by someone sitting in front of you. There is no allocated seating like you would get at the theatre so getting there early really is the only option. The queue starts early (up to two hours before the show starts) so you will have to be prepared to queue.

The other major drawback is that the seats are really narrow (far too narrow to really accommodate an average human being) so if someone quite large sits next to you then you'll end up with half a seat. There's not much leg-room either so unless you're quite petite you're probably in for a few hours of discomfort. Those are really the worst points though and I've always found the comedy enjoyable and distracting enough to make me forget about it.

The bar is open throughout the comedy, although you'll usually find it's at its emptiest when someone's on stage. They sell a variety of drinks and you can buy food and nibbles (chicken in a basket type stuff) which you collect from the diner area. Prices aren't that cheap for the drinks but what do you expect in central London? A word of warning - if you are drinking and sitting in the front 5 or 6 rows, you will almost certainly be heckled by the comedian if you get up and go to the toilet. Nobody will thank you for it either as you'll have to squeeze past several other customers to get out of the row. Again though, this is all bog-standard stuff for a comedy night.

All in all this is an enjoyable and reasonably-priced night out. Be sure to book early though, especially over Christmas time, as it sells out quite quickly.

Summary: Cracking way to entertain yourself and your friends for less than £20 each.