What The Comedy Store, Manchester does

The Comedy Store is a privately-held, single-site live comedy venue and entertainment operator trading since 1979 as The Comedy Store Ltd., based at 1a Oxendon Street in London's West End. The 400-seat venue runs a programmed calendar of headline stand-up ('The Best in Stand Up'), long-running improv (the Guinness World Record-holding 'Comedy Store Players'), an open-mic gauntlet ('King Gong'), new-material showcases ('Old Rope'), themed comedy-cabaret ('Cray Cray Cabaret!'), and short-format digital-native acts ('Shoot From The Hip'), supported by an on-site bar and diner.

The business sells paid attendance directly to consumers through its own website and, since September 2025, through a primary ticketing partnership with Universe/Ticketmaster that handles inventory, booking and wait-listing. Three monetisation streams are described: ticket transactions (typical prices £10–£15, with student/NHS concessions), on-site food and beverage sales before and during shows, and gift vouchers. A secondary, lower-volume channel monetises venue hire for corporate and private events, particularly groups over thirty.

Distribution is digital-first for tickets and physical for walk-up box office, with marketing concentrated on owned website content, organic social (X, Instagram, Facebook) and an email newsletter. The company has no disclosed parent, no outside funding, no AI/technology stack and is operated with a workforce of around ten employees — making it a lean, brand-anchored live-entertainment micro-operator rather than a scaled technology platform.

Name

The Comedy Store, Manchester

Legal name

The Comedy Store Ltd.

Website

https://thecomedystore.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Comedy Store is a privately-held, 400-seat live comedy venue in London's West End, operating since 1979, running flagship stand-up, long-form improv, open-mic and cabaret shows for individual comedy fans and corporate/private hire clients via its own website, Universe/Ticketmaster, and an on-site bar and diner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Comedy Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Comedy Clubs (Nightlife Venues) (MPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stand-Up Comedy Shows (MPAGACAA), Comedy Club & Showcase Nights (MPAGACAE), Comedy Shows & Spoken-Word Events (THAJAFAC)

Keywords

• Live comedy venue
• Stand-up comedy shows
• Improvisational comedy
• Comedy club entertainment
• Live entertainment venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to comedy shows including The Best in Stand Up, The Comedy Store Players, King Gong, and special events. Tickets sold through Universe/Ticketmaster platform with various price points.
2. Food and Beverage Sales: On-site bar and diner generating revenue from food and drinks sales before shows and during intervals. Customers can order food and drinks add-ons when purchasing tickets.
3. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers for gifting purposes, allowing recipients to book shows at their convenience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Comedy Store operates a 400-seat live comedy venue presenting multiple show formats including mixed-bill stand-up nights, weekly improvisation, monthly open mic, new material showcases, and cabaret shows. The venue supplements ticket revenue with on-site bar and diner service, sells gift vouchers, and offers private venue hire for corporate events and groups.

Product overview

The Comedy Store London is a comedy venue offering multiple show formats: its flagship 'The Best in Stand Up' (mixed line-up shows on Thu/Fri/Sat), 'The Comedy Store Players' (improv comedy every Sunday), 'King Gong' (open mic night), 'Old Rope' (new material night), and 'Cray Cray Cabaret!' (comedy and music). Additional offerings include a Beginners Comedy Course, food/drink service, gift vouchers, and special charity events. The venue operates as a single-location entertainment venue rather than a SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Best in Stand Up Flagship mixed line-up stand-up show featuring five world-class comedians per performance; runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with two Saturday slots.
• The Comedy Store Players Weekly improvisational comedy show by the resident troupe (Josie Lawrence, Richard Vranch, Lee Simpson, Ruth Bratt) who create scenes and songs from audience suggestions every Sunday evening.
• King Gong Monthly open mic night on the last Monday of each month welcoming 30 budding new comics on stage each show to attempt five minutes against a hostile crowd and judging panel.
• Old Rope Legendary new material night with monthly residency hosted by Tiff Stevenson featuring cameos from established and emerging comedians testing new work.
• Cray Cray Cabaret! Comedy and music show held every other month, featuring top headliners, a house band and comedy talent, hosted by Phil Nichol (£15 standard, £11 concessions, £10 students).
• Shoot From The Hip Award-winning, TikTok-viral improvised comedy show featuring chaotic games and unscripted performances, recognised by Metro, Evening Standard and Time Out.
• Beginners Comedy Course Educational program for aspiring comedians to learn stand-up comedy basics, delivered from the venue by resident comedians.
• Food and Drink (Bar and Diner) On-site bar and diner service available before shows and during intervals; can also be added as a pre-purchased add-on when buying a ticket.
• Gift Vouchers Purchasable gift vouchers that allow recipients to book shows at their convenience; redeemable against any standard ticketed show.
• Private Venue Hire Private hire of the 400-seat venue for corporate events, parties, product launches and special occasions; quoted on a per-event basis for groups over 30.
• Charity Shows Special charity events with proceeds donated to charitable causes, including 'Laughter is the Best Medicine' shows supporting medical charities in Gaza and the West Bank.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years of continuous operation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universe/TicketmastercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2025Primary ticketing partner since September 2025. Handles all ticket sales, booking management, and waiting lists for sold-out performances.
• Shakespeare's GlobeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Comedy Store Players have performed at Shakespeare's Globe annually since 1998 as part of their touring schedule.
• National TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Comedy Store Players have performed on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre.
• Mic and Couch EntertainmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents Anirban Dasgupta Player show - ticketing handled through their platform rather than Comedy Store directly.
• Zeppelin EntertainmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresents Kunal Kamra Hindi language shows - ticketing handled through their platform.
• Medical Charities in Gaza/West BankminorOthers'Laughter is the Best Medicine' charity show - all money donated to medical charities working in Gaza and West Bank.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Glee Club: The Glee Club is a UK comedy club chain with venues in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Oxford. Offers mixed-bill stand-up shows, comedy courses, and bar service. Comparable as a multi-format comedy venue operator serving regional UK markets.
• The Stand Comedy Club: The Stand is a UK comedy club chain with venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Leeds. Comparable multi-location comedy venue operator with similar show formats, food and drink service, and ticketing approach.
• Jongleurs Comedy Club: Jongleurs is a UK comedy club chain that operates multiple venues offering stand-up, improv, and cabaret shows with on-site food and drink service. Direct competitor to The Comedy Store in the UK live comedy venue market with similar ticketing, F&B, and corporate hire models.
• Comedy Cellar: The Comedy Cellar is an iconic New York comedy club in Greenwich Village operating since 1979, famous for stand-up performances and as a setting for comedy specials. Comparable as a globally recognized intimate comedy venue with similar heritage positioning and mixed-bill programming.
• Hot Water Comedy Club: Hot Water Comedy Club is a Liverpool-based comedy venue with multiple weekly shows, comedy courses, and a streaming platform for live recordings. Comparable UK comedy club operator with similar mixed-bill and educational programming.
• Leicester Square Theatre: Leicester Square Theatre is a West End venue hosting comedy, cabaret, and live shows with a comparable 400+ seat capacity. Direct competitor for London comedy-goers and corporate event hire in the same neighborhood as The Comedy Store.
• Soho Theatre: Soho Theatre is a London venue presenting comedy, theatre, and cabaret programming with on-site bar and food service. Comparable as a London-based intimate venue offering stand-up and alternative comedy formats with similar target audience and ticketing approach.
• Frog and Bucket Comedy Club: Frog and Bucket is a long-running Manchester comedy club offering stand-up, new material nights, and open mic formats. Comparable regional UK comedy venue with similar programming structure and live entertainment focus.

Broad incumbents

• Laugh Factory: Laugh Factory is a US comedy club chain with multiple locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Comparable as a multi-venue comedy club operator with similar stand-up programming, food and beverage service, and brand-led positioning.

Others

• Ticketmaster UK: Ticketmaster is The Comedy Store's primary ticketing partner as of September 2025, providing distribution and booking infrastructure. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but materially shapes the venue's audience acquisition and pricing dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/comedystoreuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheComedyStoreUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/comedystorelondon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-comedy-store-manchester

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Comedy Store, Manchester