Manchester’s XS Malarkey takes up residency at The Pub/Zoo

Image: Richard Shakespeare

Manchester’s XS Malarkey comedy club will relaunch at its new home tonight, its fifth in three years.

Voted Best Comedy Club of 2013 by the Manchester Evening News, and nine-times winner of Chortle’s Best Comedy Club in the North award, XS Malarkey was forced to look for a new venue in November after its previous home, Jabez Clegg, was sold.

But tonight the comedy club ran by Toby Hadoke will take up residency at The Pub/Zoo in the student-orientated ‘Southern Quarter’ of Manchester.

“I’m really excited because XS Malarkey is the most exciting comedy club to work at,” Hadoke said.

“Fantastic audience and access to the best acts aside, it never seems to let me relax or make life easy. Real success is only ever hard won, and boy do I – and the team – work hard.

“Not for money. We don’t really make any because we’re committed to putting on intelligent, eclectic comedy and promoting local talent whilst charging the audience as little as possible.”

There are some great line-ups ahead, with Zoe Lyons, Joe Lycett, Jay Foreman, Carl Hutchinson and David Trent set to appear in the next three months. And musical comedian Rob Deering headlines tonight’s opening show at The Pub/Zoo.

“The new venue is great and the management are very supportive of what we bring and how we want the night to be, so I can’t wait to get started,” Hadoke added.

XS Malarkey started in 1997 at Scruffy Murphy’s in Fallowfield, when it was known as Murphy’s Malarkey.

Acts to have appeared at the comedy club over the years include Jason Manford, Stewart Lee, Richard Herring, Peter Kay and Sarah Millican.

XS Malarkey relaunches at The Pub/Zoo tonight. Tickets are £5, or £3 with an XS Malarkey card. Click for more information.