Plans approved for major new London comedy club

Big Belly get a licence for a seven-night venue

Plans have been approved for a major new purpose-designed comedy venue in London.

Operators of the Big Belly club in Vauxhall have been given the go-ahead to open a 325-capacity seven-nights-a-week space on the South Bank.

As well as the regular stand-up programme, the company also plans workshops and courses covering comedy, improv, podcasting, writing and stage tech.

Based in the Southbank Central Development – an office, residential and retail black close to Oxo Tower – the proposals are for a ground-floor cafe bar, open to everyone, as well as a comedy club. The application was to close at 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight on weeknights – but extended by an hour in the summer.

In their licensing application, Big Belly described themselves as a ‘comedy club, creative talent incubator and training centre’ and said they wanted to bring ‘a little slice of New York style comedy club to the bustling arts hub that is the Southbank.’

They said the site would be ‘hosting international acclaimed comedians, while at the same time fostering and incubating local creative talent.’

The company, which says only that the new venue is ‘coming soon’ has applied for a 499-capacity venue – as anything larger requires more specific licensing to stage theatrical productions or live music. However, Chortle has been told that it will comprise e 325 seats over two rooms.

Twenty local residents and the ward councillor voiced objections to the application, citing concerns about noise, congestion, public nuisance, rowdiness, crime and disorder.

One neighbour said: ‘Comedy clubs are by their nature boisterous, and an alcohol licence past midnight will promote open season for noisy and antisocial behaviour.’

Several nearby residents sent an identical letter to the Southwark licensing committee which said, in part: ‘A large comedy club of this nature is completely inappropriate for this area. Two or three hundred drunken revellers hitting the streets at 1am will cause major noise and other inconvenience to local residents.’

Liberal Democrat councillor David Watson said: ‘This application should be refused. The new premises would impact negatively on efforts to prevent crime and disorder, public nuisance and protect public safety.’

Police initially had concerns about the club, but later withdrew them after Big Belly agreed to tighter licensing conditions. The site was previously a Beer Hawk bar.

The club has already started a mailing list for its new venue on its website.

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Published: 14 Jun 2023