What's On / Bristol Concerts, Theatre & Dance / comedy

Bristol Comedy & Stand-Up Events

upcoming event

Bristol's Comedy Scene

Bristol is an essential stop-off in the UK comedy circuit. The Comedy Box is probably the city’s most prolific stand up promoter, regular shows bring crowds to The Hen and Chicken, The Tobacco Factory and Colston Hall’s ‘The Lantern’. In summer The Comedy Garden in Queens Square brings a who’s who in British comedy with past guests including Stewart Lee, Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Watson and Shappi Khorsandi. The Loco Club (beneath Temple Meads train station) is home to occasional stand up nights promoted by Bristol Underground Comedy. In the city centre alongside the headliners found at Colston Hall and Bristol Hippodrome, Riproar Comedy host stand-up every Friday and Saturday evening.

Buy tickets for comedy events in Bristol

Our recent comedy recommendations

Lifelines of knowledge, community and safety in hostile times, queer bookshops have always been quiet powerhouses in the fight for liberation, long overdue their day in the sun. AJ West celebrates centuries of shelf-based salvation the globe over in this inspiring new work, launched in conversation with LGBTQ+ historian Jack Shoulder. How Queer Bookshops Changed the World with AJ West at Bookhaus.

Now THIS is how you do a Lynch screening: with the movers-and-shakers of Bristol’s improv scene serenading you Roadhouse-style, getting your Badalamenti juices flowing before Chris Isaak steals all the dark hearts in the singular nightmare of Fire Walk With Me. The keys to Season 3 lie within, don’t get burnt! DAVID LYNCH TRIBUTE: TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME + PRE SCREENING GIG at SouthBank.

A fascinating half-day symposium exploring how experimental darkroom processes inform the photographic practices of contemporary women, non-binary and trans artists. Expect lively presentations and discussions on techniques from cyanotypes and photograms, to printing on leaves, fruit and fabrics. Art of Experimentation: Alternative Photography at Bristol Folk House.

Free entry! Beyond the watermelon! Through five fruit-themed narrative slices, Ian Wellens’ uniquely ground-up approach elegantly and accessibly chronicles 150 years of Palestine’s past, while diving deep into the stories of its people, culture and land. He joins BPM for this book launch, talk and Q&A rolled into one. A History of Palestine in Five Fruits - Book Launch at Bristol Palestine Museum.

More Photos of Bristol Comedy & Stand-Up Events

What our editors say

“Looking for a good time and a hilarious night out to end the working week? You’ve come to the right place. Bristol's fresh new comedy club brings the best acts in the country and the region right to the city centre. Expect TV and radio sensations, local legends and touring comedians from the circuit, but above all, expect genuine laughs. We don’t do things by halves at The Gaffe. This is a top-level comedy night with a handpicked line-up, brought to you by the team behind, The Bristol Comedy FEstival, The Room Above (winner of the Chortle Award for Best Pro Comedy Night) and the White Bear Comedy Club.”
From: Saturday Night Comedy Headliners 9pm

“You’re in for a night of cutting-edge comedy. We aim to make our shows diverse and inclusive, with some names you already know, and others that should be on your radar. Since opening in January 2025, The Gaffe has featured:”
From: Saturday Night Comedy Headliners 7pm

“Looking for a good time and a hilarious night out to end the working week? You’ve come to the right place. Bristol's fresh new comedy club brings the best acts in the country and the region right to the city centre. Expect TV and radio sensations, local legends and touring comedians from the circuit, but above all, expect genuine laughs. We don’t do things by halves at The Gaffe. This is a top-level comedy night with a handpicked line-up, brought to you by the team behind, The Bristol Comedy Festival, The Room Above (winner of the Chortle Award for Best Pro Comedy Night) and the White Bear Comedy Club.”
From: Friday Comedy Club

“Join us on Thursdays for a great value night of local comedy from some of the best comedians in the South West. Bristol has an award-winning comedy scene for good reason: it’s packed full of talented comedians who live in or near the city, and it’s our job to cherry-pick the best of them for this banger of a Thursday night show, all for £5!”
From: Thursday Comedy for a fiver

“A brand new, new act, new material night at Seamus O’Donnell's The tickets are free, the bar is open and the laughs are rolling in for Stand up @ Seamus. Join us for a night of top local queer and queer-friendly comedy. Come and see comedians try out new jokes or even take to the stage for the very first time. You really never know what you might see at a new material night!”
From: Seamus Presents: Stand Up LGBTQ+ Comedy Night