Jongleurs boostingi ts comedy club presence in region

The chain, which has a venue in Wakefield, is to open in Sheffied as well as in Nottingham, Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, as part of a joint venture with the UK's largest private bar and club operator Novus Leisure. There are also plans for further rollouts in 2011.

The latest expansion plans follow the opening of three new clubs already this year, including a flagship club at Sway, which is owned by Novus Leisure, in Covent Garden.

The group said it was seeing strong demand for its new comedy package, Jongleurs Posh, at its Sway venue, which offers a three course dinner, table service and four stand-up acts for 40.

John Davy, Jongleurs co-owner, said: "This fresh investment will help bring our unique offering to even more customers and new audiences.

"The appetite for a complete comedy and entertainment experience is stronger than ever and we are experiencing unprecedented demand from corporate and larger group bookings in particular who are looking for an entertainment one-stop-shop."

Jongleurs was launched in 1983 by Maria Kempinska, who is still co-owner of the the business, above a pub in Battersea, London.

In 1985 she joined forces with Mr Davy, and the two of them built up the Jongleurs brand, with its comedy nights playing host to then unknown performers, including the likes of Paul Merton and Mike Myers. Jongleurs later formed a partnership with Regent Inns, which led to it opening 15 venues across the country.

But in 2009 Regent Inns went into administration and the Jongleurs name and rights reverted to the original founders Ms Kempinska and Mr Davy.

Regent emerged from a pre-pack administration as Intertain and has renamed its venues that previously traded as Jongleurs, Highlights.