2023 event back in city's Queen Square

The Bristol Comedy Garden is returning this year, with headliners including Jack Dee, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe,  Dylan Moran and Alan Davies.

Also taking part in the event – the biggest comedy festival in South West England – are Nina Conti Tim Key,  Fern Brady, David O’Doherty, Jayde Adams, Phil Wang,  Bridget Christie,  Rachel Parris and Rosie Jones.

The five-night comedy extravaganza is returning to its roots in Queen Square – an impressive Georgian park in the city centr  where it first began in 2011, following two years on Clifton Downs. A total of eight mammoth mixed-bill shows will be staged in a big top there from June 14 to 18.

Newer acts will also get to appear on the prestigious stage including Ania Magliano, Kyrah Gray, Daniel Foxx and Sharon Wanjohi.

The show is run by siblings Will Briggs and Cass Randolph of 57 Festivals,  who run  similar events in Greenwich, Brighton and St Albans and are the step-children of late comic and promoter Malcolm Hardee.

Randolph says: ‘We’re very grateful to have been able to transform the festival into the open-air shows on the Downs. But it all began for us in Queen Square and we’re beyond excited to be heading back again, it’s like a cathartic full circle following the challenging pandemic years.’

Full line-ups and ticket links for the festival, which is sponsored by Heycar, are here.

Published: 17 Mar 2023