Just The Tonic Comedy Club relaunched in Nottingham this month. We put some questions to owner and founder Darrell Martin...
Who are the best upcoming local acts in Nottingham?
Matt Forde was always good, but he stopped for a while. Pete Bennett is very funny. Jamie Mathison is a regular on the circuit and then of course there's Darrell Martin (I've supported Johnny Vegas on tour don't you know).
What's your idea of a good night out in Nottingham?
I've got kids and am boring now. I do like a bit of drinking, bowling, laughing, dancing in a drunken fashion to a bit of Northern Soul in The Social. As I tend to do gigs around the country I've lost touch with Nottingham nightlife a bit. I realised I was old when I was walking from Wagamamas through town and refused to go through the city centre. I get a bit nervous when I see big gangs of lads all shouting there heads off. Most people are okay, even when they are drunk, but it just takes one dickhead in a group to make violence erupt. I hate dickheads!
What stuff have you got coming up?
I had a full time comedy venue lined up. Just the Tonic going to full weekends. I had some amazing Friday / Saturday line ups booked in, great tour shows including Ed Byrne and Stephen K Amos. Ross Noble and Lee Mack were talking about doing tour warm ups for me, we were having The Mighty Boosh after show party. There was some new ideas and new concepts. It would have been great for Nottingham. What happened? The people we were getting the lease off dragged their heals, we missed some important deadlines and the whole thing has fallen through. But the idea is still there, the desire is still there. It would have been really good for Nottingham. So, if there are any landlords sitting in premises and can't pay the bills, get in touch, we might just take it off your hands. And if you are the people that have the venue we were after... get your finger out. I don't know how some people keep their jobs.
So, what are doing now?
It's back to The Approach. We are back to our Sunday nights. Quality nights at the end of the weekend. Brendon Burns launches it on 5 October, we've got Russell Kane on 12 October. He's on Radio Q and is one of the best young comics about. Nominated for the main award this year in Edinburgh. The season sees the return of Phil kay, Richard Herring, Simon Munnery, and loads of others. Tour shows on Thurdsay include Jeff green, Jim Jeffries, Mark Thomas etc. Plus, every Monday you can get a free night out as we audition newer acts for our Edinburgh 'Big Value Comedy Show'.
Just The Tonic website
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