Jongleurs to open Yorkshire comedy club

The clubs, which will be opened in Sheffield, Nottingham, Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, are part of a joint venture with the UK's largest private bar and club operator Novus Leisure.

The move means there will be 11 Jongleurs clubs around the UK by the end of 2010, with 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 still co-owns 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 back 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.