Arts & Culture

Comedy is regaining its live foothold in small towns like Devizes, with renowned comedians gracing tiny stages in old school comedy clubs up and down the country.

The Bear Hotel’s Cellar bar consistently plays host to the Moonrakers Comedy Club, who in turn bring in national-level acts to this small Wiltshire town. Performers such as Nathan Caton, Hal Cruttenden and Patrick Monhan have all had Devizes in stitches, as well as venues up and down the country.

Devizes as a town seems to have a knack for pulling in big name artists, whether it be drama, comedy, music, art, film or any other media. The next name to grace the town is Mock The Week’s Zoe Lyons, who won the Funny Women Competition in 2004 and her debut Edinburgh show was nominated for the ‘if.comedy’ newcomer award the following year. In 2008 she won the coveted Dave’s Funniest Joke of The Fringe Award, so as you can see, a fairly accomplished comedic force. Zoe is performing on 3 December with Andrew McBurney, another award winning comic, at the Cellar Bar.

But it’s not just stand up comedy that the Bear Hotel showcases. The upstairs dining areas have hosted shows of their own.

It sounds a little odd, but have you ever wanted to dine at Fawlty Towers? Or amongst the cast of Black Adder?

The Bear Hotel has welcomed company’s that produce shows that put you right in the heart of your favourite sitcom. They have had actors portraying Basil and Manuel chasing each other around the dining room, shouting the well known phrases, and grand period experiences tinged with the typical misfortune of the Black Adder series.

In 2016, the ‘Allo ‘Allo dining experience is coming to the Bear Hotel and promises all the thrills and spills of the series, as you help the actors hide ‘ze British airmen from ze Germans’. It’s completely mad but fun and engaging, with a three course meal included in the price and well worth going along to if you get the chance on the 23 January.

If all that isn’t enough to get your comedy buds tingling with excitement, we aren’t sure what will! The Bear Hotel offers comedy fans the chance to see acts you would normally only see on TV or at Fringe events north of Hadrian’s Wall, and see them right in front of you. Literally within spitting distance (spitting on the acts is very much frowned upon though…)

You can find out more about the Bear Hotel and Moonrakers Comedy club on their facebook pages;

/moonrakerscomedyclub

/TheBearHotelDevizes