When it comes to comedy and evening entertainment in Brighton, you don’t get much bigger or better than Komedia, the legendary venue of Gardner Street that’s had locals rolling in the aisles since the year 2000.
Komedia Brighton
Komedia
Komedia, Brighton
Saying Brighton wouldn’t be the same without Komedia sounds like a bold statement. Yes, there are other excellent venues to choose from and admittedly, Komedia can’t match the sheer magnificence of the Brighton Dome. But when it comes to comedy, this former supermarket sweeps away all competitors to occupy the upper echelons of the south of England’s entertainment scene. And don’t just take our word for it; Komedia has been named Best Venue in the South a record 15 times at the Chortle Comedy Awards.
Ever since Komedia was established in 1994, with a former Georgian billiard hall in Kemptown to call home, it quickly grew a reputation for its exciting programme promoting promising talent from the national scene. Look back on the careers of household names like Graham Norton, Johnny Vegas, Al Murray, Alistair McGowan and The League of Gentlemen, and you’ll see Komedia crop up as a common pitstop on their collective path to stardom.
It’s hardly surprising that Komedia’s popularity skyrocketed; even if you didn’t recognise the names on the bill, you were pretty much guaranteed an excellent evening of entertainment. In fewer than five years, Komedia needed a bigger home and they moved to the former Tesco supermarket right in the heart of Brighton in 1998, where it remains today, cemented in the hearts of comedy lovers of the region.
Over the years, Komedia has attracted comedy acts ranging from Harry Hill to the weird and wonderful world of The Mighty Boosh. However, it’s the homegrown Krater Comedy Club, which books talented acts from around the world and the rising stars of the stand-up circuit, that you should try and get tickets for. A Krater Comedy Club night consists of up to five acts, and a freshly prepared meal, all for less than £25. It takes place every weekend in the downstairs main space.
On the last Thursday of the month, Comic Boom books some of the biggest names in the business. Meanwhile, Bent Double takes place on the first Sunday of every month welcoming the LGBT+ community with a top-class night of comedy.
The Studio is Komedia’s smaller secondary space that’s popular for live music and local comedy acts. We don’t want to denigrate the Studio; it’s a fantastic venue in its own right and has become a veritable hotspot for fantastic shows, particularly during the Brighton Fringe festival and The Great Escape, that stand out in the Brighton culture calendar.