comedycarnival.co.uk

Comedy Carnival runs stand-up comedy shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at its Covent Garden and Leicester Square venues, with most shows starting between 8.00PM and 8.30PM and running for around two hours. Alongside these weekly club nights, the club also promotes special events such as a Christmas party package that combines a comedy show with a three-course meal and Prosecco.

Weekly Show Schedule

The core programme is built around three nights a week, and the listings on the site show a consistent pattern:

A few things worth noting from this pattern:

• Thursday is the cheapest and earliest night. The listed Thursday show starts at 8.00PM and tickets are advertised from £10, compared with £12 on Friday and £15 on Saturday.
• Friday and Saturday follow the same timing. Both are listed as 8.30PM–10.30PM, so if you are choosing between them, the difference is price and line-up rather than schedule.
• "Happy Hour" appears in the listing titles. Several Covent Garden shows are labelled "HAPPY HOUR 7PM" or "HAPPY HOUR 7.30PM", which suggests an earlier arrival window before the main show — useful if you want to settle in before the comedy starts.
• Prices are "from" prices. The site shows "Price From £10/£12/£15", so the final cost depends on the specific show and ticket type you select.

What Happens at a Typical Show

The standard club night is described as an international stand-up comedy club night, featuring TV stars from shows such as Live At The Apollo and Comedy Central, plus acclaimed international stand-up comedians. Each listing names a line-up of acts plus an MC.

For example, the Thursday 1 October listing features Dane Baptiste alongside guest acts and Olivia Lee, Sezar Alkassab and Travis Jay as MC. The Friday 2 October show lists Russell Hicks, Dana Alexander and Dane Baptiste with Travis Jay as MC, and the Saturday 3 October show repeats a similar line-up. Later dates, such as Friday 9 October, show a different bill (Bobby Mair, Dion Owen, Josh Baulf, with Mary Bourke as MC), which indicates the line-up rotates week to week.

Practical implication: if you are booking for a specific comedian, check the individual date listing rather than assuming the same acts appear every week.

Special Events

Christmas Party Package

The site promotes a dedicated Christmas party offer: Comedy Show • Three Courses • Prosecco, with a "Book Your Christmas Party here" call to action and a "Package Info" link. This is a bookable package rather than a standard ticket, so it suits groups planning a seasonal night out rather than individuals buying a single seat.

Cabaret Carnival

Not every event is stand-up. The listings include Cabaret Carnival at the Phoenix Arts Club, described as an international cabaret showcase. The example shown is Thursday 8 October, 7.30PM–9.15PM, with tickets from £35 and a line-up including Lady Lydia, Oriana Curls, Rebecca Rennison and Drew Colby, with Marcel Lucont as MC.

This is a different format, venue and price point from the regular comedy nights — roughly 1 hour 45 minutes long and priced higher than the standard shows.

How to Check Times and Book

1. Go to the What's On section of the site, which lists upcoming comedy shows in London.
2. Find the date you want. Each entry shows the day, venue, start and end time, line-up, and a "Price From" figure.
3. Select Buy Tickets on the listing for the show you want, or More info for further detail.
4. For the Christmas package, use the Book Your Christmas Party here link and check the Package Info page for what is included.

Quick Answers

• Which nights are shows on? Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
• What time do they start? Usually 8.00PM on Thursday and 8.30PM on Friday and Saturday.
• How long are they? Around two hours, based on the listed end times.
• Where are they held? Listings show the Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden, with the club also associated with Leicester Square; Cabaret Carnival is at the Phoenix Arts Club.
• Are there special events? Yes — a Christmas party package (comedy, three courses and Prosecco) and Cabaret Carnival, a cabaret showcase.
• How much are tickets? Advertised from £10 (Thursday), £12 (Friday), £15 (Saturday), and from £35 for Cabaret Carnival, as shown in the listings.

Comedy Carnival's programme is built around international stand-up comedy club nights, with line-ups that feature TV comedians and touring acts, plus occasional cabaret showcases. The main stand-up nights run Thursday, Friday and Saturday at its Covent Garden venue, with prices starting from £10–£15 depending on the night. If you want a specific performer, check the individual show listing rather than assuming a fixed resident line-up, because the bill changes night to night.

The main format: international stand-up club nights

The core show is described as an "international stand up comedy club night." These are the Thursday, Friday and Saturday bookings at Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden, and they follow a familiar club structure: a compere (MC) hosts, with several acts performing across roughly a two-hour slot.

From the listings shown on the site, a typical night looks like this:

Two things are worth noting from this. First, the same acts can appear across multiple nights in a run, so a weekend visit may feature a similar core line-up with variations. Second, the MC is a named act in their own right (Travis Jay in these examples), not just a host — the compere usually performs a set as well.

Who you might see: TV names and touring comedians

The club positions its acts as "TV stars from Live At The Apollo, Comedy Central and acclaimed, international stand up comedians." In practice, that means a mix of:

• Recognisable TV comedians — performers who have appeared on shows like Live At The Apollo or Comedy Central, which is the main draw for many bookers.
• International touring acts — the "international" framing is deliberate; line-ups include comedians from outside the UK circuit.
• A resident-style MC anchoring the night.

The named acts in the sample listings (Dane Baptiste, Russell Hicks, Dana Alexander, Olivia Lee, Sezar Alkassab, Bobby Mair, Dion Owen, Josh Baulf, Mary Bourke) illustrate the range: some are established TV faces, others are rising or circuit regulars. Because bills rotate, the honest answer to "who will I see?" is: check the date you're booking.

Beyond stand-up: Cabaret Carnival

Not every show is a stand-up club night. The site also lists Cabaret Carnival at Phoenix Arts Club — an "international cabaret showcase" with a mixed bill of cabaret and variety performers, hosted by an MC (Marcel Lucont in the example listing). It runs at a different venue and a higher price point (from £35 in the listing shown), and the format is a showcase rather than a stand-up club night.

If you're choosing between the two:

• Want stand-up, multiple acts, club atmosphere, lower price → the Thursday–Saturday Covent Garden nights.
• Want variety/cabaret, a more theatrical setting, willing to pay more → Cabaret Carnival.

Seasonal and party formats

The site also promotes a Christmas party package combining a comedy show, three courses and Prosecco. This is a different product from a standard ticket — it's a group/event booking rather than a night out for one or two people. If you're organising for a group, that's the relevant page; if you just want tickets, use the standard show listings.

How to check who's on before you book

1. Go to the What's On section and pick your date.
2. Open the individual show listing — each one names the line-up, the MC, the venue, the start and end time, and the "from" price.
3. Confirm the venue, since shows run at more than one location (Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden, Phoenix Arts Club for cabaret).
4. Book via the ticket link on that listing.

The key caveat: line-ups are subject to change, and the site presents acts as billed at the time of listing. If a particular comedian is the reason you're going, it's worth confirming closer to the date.

Quick answer by intent

• "I want a reliable Saturday night comedy club in central London" — the Covent Garden stand-up nights, from £15 on Saturdays.
• "I want to see comedians off the telly" — likely, given the Live At The Apollo / Comedy Central framing, but confirm the specific date's bill.
• "I want something other than straight stand-up" — Cabaret Carnival at Phoenix Arts Club.
• "I'm booking for a group/Christmas" — the show + three courses + Prosecco package.

Comedy Carnival is a London comedy club that puts on stand-up shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at venues in Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Its website (comedycarnival.co.uk) is where you browse upcoming line-ups, see times and prices, and buy tickets. It's aimed at anyone looking for a comedy night out in central London — locals and visitors alike — rather than at people seeking a membership or a full-time club space.

What the club actually offers

The core product is an evening of international stand-up, typically running around two hours. According to the site, shows feature TV names from programmes such as Live At The Apollo and Comedy Central, alongside other international comedians, with an MC hosting.

• Standard comedy nights — listed as "International stand up comedy club night," with a rotating line-up of acts and a host.
• Cabaret Carnival — a separate international cabaret showcase, distinct from the stand-up format.
• Seasonal packages — the site promotes Christmas party bookings combining a comedy show, three courses and Prosecco.

The site also runs a "Happy Hour" label on some Covent Garden listings, which appears in the event titles rather than as a separate offer.

Where and when

Shows are concentrated in two central London areas, with specific venues named per event:

Leicester Square is named as a location in the site's own description, though the sample listings shown are Covent Garden venues. Start times vary by night — the examples on the site range from 8.00PM to 8.30PM, ending around 10.00PM to 10.30PM. The cabaret show listed runs 7.30PM–9.15PM.

What it costs

Prices are listed per event as a "from" figure, so the cheapest available ticket for that night. In the sample listings:

• Thursday, Covent Garden: from £10
• Friday, Covent Garden: from £12
• Saturday, Covent Garden: from £15
• Cabaret Carnival: from £35

These are the site's own published starting prices for those specific dates, not a general price list. Actual cost depends on the date, venue and ticket type you select at checkout. The site does not state whether booking fees apply, so check the total before paying.

How to use the site

1. Go to What's On to see the upcoming schedule.
2. Pick a date — listings show the line-up, venue, time and starting price.
3. Select Buy Tickets on the event you want.
4. Choose your ticket type and complete checkout.

If you're booking a Christmas party rather than individual tickets, use the dedicated Christmas party link instead, since that's a package rather than a standard show ticket.

What to check before booking

• Line-ups change. Comedy bills rotate, and the site lists named acts per date. If you're going for a specific comedian, confirm they're on the date you're booking — listings show "Guest" placeholders in some slots.
• Venue matters. Covent Garden and Leicester Square are close but not the same; check the venue on the listing, not just the area.
• Arrive for the start time. Shows have fixed start and end times, and late entry policies aren't stated on the site.
• Reviews as a signal, not a guarantee. The site cites a 5-star rating with over 1,000 reviews and quotes from Time Out, Design My Night and Tripadvisor. Useful as a general quality indicator, but read recent reviews for the specific night you're considering.

Who it's for

Comedy Carnival suits people who want a ticketed, fixed-time comedy show in central London on a weekend night, with a known line-up and a clear price. It's less suited to anyone wanting a walk-in club with a late bar, or a show on a Monday to Wednesday — the schedule is built around Thursday to Saturday.

Comedy Carnival runs its stand-up shows at venues in Covent Garden and Leicester Square, with its regular weekly comedy nights listed at the Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden and some special events, such as Cabaret Carnival, at the Phoenix Arts Club. The venue depends on the specific show, so you should check the listing for the date you want before booking.

Main London venues

The site's own branding places the club in "Covent Garden • Leicester Square," while the individual show listings in the page evidence name the Seven Dials Club and Phoenix Arts Club as the specific rooms.

What a typical night looks like

Regular comedy nights are described as international stand-up featuring TV stars from Live At The Apollo and Comedy Central, plus acclaimed international comedians. They run Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

From the listed examples:

• Thursday at Seven Dials Club — 8.00PM–10.00PM, from £10
• Friday at Seven Dials Club — 8.30PM–10.30PM, from £12
• Saturday at Seven Dials Club — 8.30PM–10.30PM, from £15
• Cabaret Carnival at Phoenix Arts Club — 7.30PM–9.15PM, from £35

Several listings also carry a "Happy Hour 7PM" or "Happy Hour 7.30PM" tag, suggesting an earlier arrival window before the show.

How to confirm the venue for your date

1. Open the "What's On" section of the site.
2. Find the date you want.
3. Read the venue name shown on that listing (for example, Seven Dials Club or Phoenix Arts Club).
4. Check the start time and price shown alongside it.
5. Select "Buy Tickets" or "More info" for that specific show.

Because line-ups, times, prices and venues vary by date, the individual listing — not the general club description — is the reliable source for where a given show is happening.

Practical points to note

• Line-ups change. The comedians named in listings (for example Dane Baptiste, Russell Hicks, Dana Alexander, Travis Jay as MC) are tied to specific dates, and some slots are listed simply as "Guest."
• Prices are per show, not per venue. The "from" prices differ by night and by event type, so a Saturday stand-up ticket and a Cabaret Carnival ticket are not comparable.
• Arrive for the happy hour if you want it. Where a happy hour is listed, it starts before the show time, so plan to be there earlier than the advertised start.
• Two different rooms, two different formats. The Seven Dials Club listings are stand-up club nights; the Phoenix Arts Club listing is a cabaret showcase with a different running time and price band.

If your main question is simply which part of London to head to, the answer is Covent Garden or Leicester Square — and for most weekly comedy nights, specifically the Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden.

Comedy Carnival sells tickets directly through its website: each upcoming show has its own listing with a "Buy Tickets" button, and prices are set per event rather than as one flat club entry fee. On the listings shown on the site, Covent Garden stand-up nights start at £10, £12 or £15 depending on the night, while a Cabaret Carnival show at the Phoenix Arts Club starts at £35. Treat those as starting prices for those specific dates — the price for the show you want is the one shown on its own event page.

Where to buy tickets

• Go to the Comedy Carnival site and open What's On (the same listings are reachable from the Book Tickets links on the homepage).
• Find the date and venue you want. Each entry shows the line-up, the start and end time, the venue, and a "Price From" figure.
• Select Buy Tickets on that listing to go to the booking step for that specific show.
• Check the line-up before you pay: the site lists named acts and an MC for each night, and these change from show to show.

The homepage also carries a separate Book Your Christmas Party here route, which is a package rather than a standard ticket — the site describes it as a comedy show plus three courses plus Prosecco, with its own Package Info page. If you want the party package, use that link rather than a normal show listing.

What tickets cost

Prices vary by date, venue and type of show. From the listings visible on the site:

Two patterns are worth noting. First, within the Covent Garden stand-up nights, the Saturday show is priced higher than the Thursday show on the dates shown. Second, the cabaret format costs substantially more than the stand-up club nights. "Price From" means the entry price starts there; the site does not state on these listings whether booking fees, group rates or concessions apply, so confirm the final total on the booking page before paying.

What you are buying

• Format: international stand-up comedy, with acts described as TV stars from Live At The Apollo and Comedy Central, plus international comedians. The cabaret show is a separate format with a different line-up.
• Nights: stand-up shows run Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
• Venues: Covent Garden (Seven Dials Club) and Leicester Square are the locations named for the club's shows; the cabaret listing is at the Phoenix Arts Club.
• Runtime: roughly two hours for the stand-up nights (for example 8.30pm–10.30pm), and about 1 hour 45 minutes for the cabaret show.
• Reputation signals on the site: a 5-star rating claim, over 1,000 reviews, and quoted praise from Time Out, Design My Night and Tripadvisor.

Practical points before you book

• Pick by date, not by price alone. Because each night has a different line-up and a different starting price, decide which acts you want to see first, then compare the price for that date.
• Check the start time against the venue. Times differ between nights (8.00pm, 8.30pm, 7.30pm), and the venue changes between Covent Garden and the Phoenix Arts Club.
• Book early for weekends. Saturday listings show the highest stand-up starting price of the dates shown, which suggests weekend demand; the site does not publish a separate advance-purchase discount.
• For groups or Christmas, use the package route. The Christmas party package is booked through its own page and includes food and drink, so it is not comparable to a standard ticket price.
• Confirm the total at checkout. The listings give a "from" price only; any booking fee or per-ticket charge will appear at the payment step.