Venue shuns Chortle award

The Stand has shunned its Chortle award for best comedy club.

Its Glasgow venue was voted best club in Scotland in the accolades announced last week.

But its director, Tommy Sheppard, says he disapproves of comedy awards.

His stance naturally ensured publicity for the club's achievement, and the Glasgow Herald reported the story yesterday.

He told the paper: "We eschew such industry competitions believing them to be self-important and irrelevant. We prefer to let the public make up their own minds."

However, the Chortle venue awards were selected by paying punters.

Sheppard also sniffed: "Unfortunately, this is a virtual award with no ceremony and no trophy which I can refuse to accept."

Published: 2 Mar 2002