Æ News Release – Stand Comedy Club to open in Newcastle

Jan 24 2011 | By More

Plans for “the best stand-up comedy venue in England”

By Thom Dibdin

Edinburgh’s Stand comedy club is to expand its operations, adding a venue in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to its existing venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Stand’s owners, Salt ‘n’ Sauce Promotions Ltd, issued a press release on Monday 24 January, saying that they had signed a deal in principle with Newcastle City Council to take over premises at High Bridge Gallery, the old Wards building which was previously run as the the ill-fated Waygood Gallery.

In the release, Stand founder and Director Tommy Sheppard promises that the new premises will continue the parent venue’s uncompromising support of comedy and comedians, with live comedy seven nights a week and no entry to Stag or Hen parties on Friday or Saturday nights.

He says: “We aim to provide a venue where couples and small groups of friends can appreciate the thrill of live stand-up comedy in intimate and friendly surroundings. Big groups wanting to get hammered will need to go elsewhere.”

Full Press Release:

STAND COMEDY CLUB TO OPEN IN NEWCASTLE

The Stand Comedy Club will open in Newcastle-upon-Tyne later this year say owners Salt ‘n’ Sauce Promotions Ltd. The new venue will join existing long-running popular clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The new venue will be built in the basement of a former Wards building in the city centre which has recently been re-furbished by Newcastle City Council to form the High Bridge Gallery. A deal has been struck in principle with the council to lease the premises for 25 years.

Director Tommy Sheppard says “We’ve been looking for premises in Newcastle for many years and we are delighted that we’ve finally identified the right location. Newcastle provides an entertainment hub for over a million people in Tyne and Wear, and is increasingly a destination of choice for short break holidays.

The club needs to raise around three quarters of a million pounds to develop the new venue says Sheppard: “At the moment the basement is derelict and we are pretty much starting from scratch. We have a lot of work to do but when finished this will not only complete the development of a major arts complex  but provide an excellent new entertainment facility for the people of Newcastle.

“We have fifteen years experience in running comedy clubs. Now we aim to bring all that knowledge to bear to create the best stand-up comedy venue in England.”

When up and running organisers intend the club to be open seven nights a week with a varied programme of contemporary stand-up. Variety and value will be the hallmarks of the new venue and developing new writers and artists in the Northeast will be a priority.

Sheppard believes there is a gap in the market that the Stand can fill: “Newcastle is a great party city but we think the emphasis on catering for hen and stag nights by existing clubs means a lot of local customers are overlooked. We aim to provide a venue where couples and small groups of friends can appreciate the thrill of live stand-up comedy in intimate and friendly surroundings. Big groups wanting to get hammered will need to go elsewhere.”

Detailed proposals will be submitted to the planning authorities next month with work due to begin after Easter. Regular updates will be available on the club’s website – www.thestand.co.uk

ENDS

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