A host of top comics delight the crowd at Nottingham's Glee Comedy Club

I had been really looking forward to my first ever trip to a comedy club, the Glee Comedy Club in Nottingham, for weeks. Being of the age where a Saturday night out is a rarity these days I was ready to go. My worry was that I would encounter lots of young ‘ens and feel like I should be barricaded at home with a takeaway but as my other half and I were seated and began to survey the land, our fears were proved unfounded with such a mixed audience, which included couples, work friends along with a few larger groups celebrating. I have always had a slight irrational fear of ‘the comedian’, the type which in my worst nightmares may single me out from the crowd and heckle me so when we were seated on the balcony overlooking the stage I breathed a sigh of relief. Close to the action but far enough to remain inconspicuous - well at least until someone shouts from behind you which happened during a few buttock-clenching moments in the show! Our evening began well. The Glee Club has it spot on with its courteous and professional staff and nothing seemed too much trouble for them. They greeted us with a smile (pretty standard in a comedy club one might say), seated us and explained the house rules, directions to the toilets bar all with a laugh and a joke (again a pre-requisite I guess!). We had pre-ordered food and also a bucket of beer which was waiting for us on ice as we got to our table - truly perfect! Burgers were our choice for the evening with chunky chips and great onion rings. For those wanting real food these are man size portions, which this little lady polished off in no time! The menu choices are all hearty with a great value Thai meal and ticket deal even being offered to guests on a Friday and Saturday evening, so plenty of choice for everyone, even the fussiest. Soon it was time for the main event to begin – show time! The lights dimmed, the spotlights swept through the eager crowd and on ran our compere for the evening Andy Robinson. This man was fearless and not just because he was a Brummy in Nottingham! Within seconds he had taken down no less than three hecklers who were put in the places, tails firmly tucked between legs. As all good comperes know he was there to whip up the crowd and get them in the mood so to speak for the acts that were to follow and he did just that. Our first comedian was Dan Nightingale, a stand-up who is really on the rise. Well, book me in now for his next tour because I loved him. In fact by the time he’d finished with us I had a stitch from laughing so much! Second on the bill was none other than the legendary comedian Lee Evans who was practising his new material on the good folk of Nottingham before he took it to his live arena tour. What an honour to be in the presence of such comedy genius! There was not a dry eye - or I possibly a dry seat - in the house by the time he’d wrapped up his act. It was great that the Glee club encourages the really big acts to come back and play to a smaller audience and the intimacy of the venue made the comedy that bit more special. Our third and final act was also a corker and well worth the wait. I felt nervous for the man who had to follow Mr Evans but no idea why because Marlon Davis stormed it and had the crowd roaring with laughter. With comedy this unique and original the audience were always bound to love him. What a great night we had at the Glee Club! By the time I made my way out I felt physically exhausted from laughing so much and probably resembled Alice Cooper from tears of laughter streaked down my face. For my first foray into the world of the comedy club I was a) happy that I had survived and b) already planning my next visit. Who knows, next time I go I may just cast all fear aside and sit on the front row, but then again . . . On Friday and Saturday nights entry is £10, £5 NUS and £14 including a Thai Meal special. For details visit the Glee Club website.