Club forced to shut as laughter is too loud

A small south London comedy club has been forced to close after neighbours complained about the volume of laughter it created.

Council officers served a noise abatement warning on the Manor Arms pub in Clapham after residents protested. If the landlord persisted, he could have faced prosecution.

The weekly Comedy Pit club was held in a marquee behind the pub, which is in a residential street, but it only ever attracted small audiences.

Promoter PJ Scott said his case wasn't helped by veteran open-spot comic Jimbo, who reduced a boy to tears by saying Father Christmas did not exist.

"A man came round to complain that his son was crying in his bed because he could hear Jimbo's routine about there being no Santa." he said. "But that didn't stop him - as soon as the father went, he carried on."

The closure will not affect Scott;s other Comedy Pit venues in South London.

Published: 6 Jan 2004