'Farcical' reports about financial woes

A comedy club part-owned by Jason Manford has hit back at ‘farcical’ reports about its financial problems.

Today’s Sun newspaper claims that the comedian ‘turned to seedy websites to relieve his stress’ over business woes at the Laugh Inn in Chester.

The company that ran the venue did indeed go into voluntary liquidation, owing just under £500,000... but back in October. According to documents filed at Companies House, the biggest creditor was its own director David Coughlin, who was owed £300,000

Yet the club has remained open under a newly-formed firm – Jolly Good Comedy Club – and has credited Manford with helping them survive.

Co-owner John Locke added: ‘Without Jason's assistance, we would have closed over a year ago. We are obviously still trading and open and are actually beginning to see the light now.

‘Because of his help we are still open and keeping around 20 people  employed and entertaining lots of happy customers in arguably one of the best comedy clubs in the country.’

He said the money problems were caused by bills run up in developing the club, long before Manford came on board in December 2011, and added that Manford is not involved in the day-to-day running of the venue

He said that the club was now ‘seeing some growth’ after being plagued by the same problems of lower audience numbers and reduced spending that has already claimed several comedy clubs.

The Sun has been running revelations all week that Manford traded saucy messages with girls on an adult website. They have also now dubbed him ‘Jason Manhood’.

Published: 3 Mar 2013