Your bad mood will do a 180 at the best comedy clubs in Leeds!
One of my first proper comedy awakenings was watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Like everyone else with a working sense of humour, I was howling from the opening scene to the end credits.
That film turned me into a voracious comedy nerd, which led me to search for the best local comedy clubs. Their raw, unfiltered acts are, in my opinion, a cut above the rest.
If you want to see it for yourself, the places below are the main reasons I usually have bellyaches!
The Wardrobe
– From thewardrobeleeds
Address: 6 St Peter’s Square
Contact Details: 0113 383 8800
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 12 am
Home to the legendary House of Fun Comedy Club, The Wardrobe has been holding down the city’s side-splitting scene for yonks. There’s no prevalent style, though you can expect no-holds-barred stuff, evidenced by gigs from stars like Russel Howard and Jacob Hawley.
The pipeline isn’t drying anytime soon, too; fresh, raunchier comics have been barging in lately, and Marjolein is one of our new GOATs. Spinning a near-death experience into gut-busting punchlines, she always makes us howl with her self-deprecating humour.
Tip: If you require wheelchair access, reach out to the venue before purchasing your ticket to confirm availability and reserve your space.
Seven Arts Leeds
– From arts_at_the_arms
Address: 31A Harrogate Rd
Contact Details: 0113 262 6777
Seven Arts Leeds is a hilarious, often intimate spot that throws the rulebook out of the window. They do things ‘unpredictably’ here, and the comedy gigs are no exception—loose, freewheeling, and even musical.
February 2025’s FOIA Love is a spot-on example. The star here is a bluegrass band that will improvise comedic songs based on weird public records like FBI profiles.
Oh, and there’s another unique show coming this March 2025—a fully improvised crime story with sordid punchlines and a gripping narrative.
Tip: Tickets sell fast, so grab them ahead of the event.
City Varieties Music Hall
– From cityvarieties
Address: Swan St
Contact Details: 0113 243 0808
I used to think that comedy only worked in small backroom spots until City Varieties Hall gladly proved me wrong. Set in a lavish 19th-century hall, the comedy here is borderline theatrical—evidenced by the historical shows of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.
In all those years, the star power hasn’t dimmed one bit, and Henning Wehn’s February 2025 show demonstrated this. His relentless quips about climate change had us wheezing, and the cheeky digs on German quirks really sent us.
Tip: For total convenience, consider parking at Victoria Leeds, a 4-minute walk from this venue.
The HiFi Club
– From hificlubleeds
Address: 2 Central Rd
Contact Details: 0113 244 5867
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Fri – 11 pm to 4 am
- Sat – 6:30 pm to 4 am
At about £17 to £18 a show, comedy is cheap at The HiFi Club—but don’t even think the same adjective applies to the shows. This live-wire club won’t be the launchpads of heavyweights like Alan Carr and John Bishop if that’s the case.
Beyond that, you get four shows almost every Saturday, which means you’ll be bombarded with punchlines every weekend. If you’re a stan of Dean Coughlin’s quality writing or Tom Wrigglesworth’s anecdotal zingers, that’s gold.
Tip: Large groups must make sure to drop them an email directly at [email protected].
Otley Courthouse
– From otleycourthouse
Address: Courthouse, Courthouse St
Operating Hours: Mon to Sat – 10 am to 2:30 pm
Comedy may not be a weekly thing at the Otley Courthouse, but when it’s on, it’s on (insert that Andy Bernard line). This bright and spacious art centre pulls in heavyweights, like the legendary Stephen K. Atmos, known for political satire and observational comedy.
Tickets won’t cost you a kidney or arm, either; previous shows started at around £15, and upcoming ones are no different at all. Case in point: Geoff Norcott: Work in Progress, a same-priced gig zeroing in on ‘conservative’ comedy.
Tip: Why not spice things up with a private comedy show? They have venues ready for hire!
Hyde Park Book Club
– From eleanormay_actor
Address: 27-29 Headingley Ln., Headingley
Contact Details: 0113 244 4105
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 10 am to 12 am
- Sat to Sun – 9 am to 12 am
For us, Hyde Park Book Club is unpredictable; things start chill with live music (live music leeds) until the gig kicks off. No half-baked gags here. Multi-awarded and globally touring stars frequent their hallowed stage.
One absolute belter we caught was Joe Kent Walters, an off-beat bloke who knows a thing or two about idiosyncratic gags. He’s best known for his character-driven comedy, and boy was his February show unhinged.
Tip: Walk-ins are fine, but booking a table is a smart move, especially for a show.
Leeds Playhouse
– From leedsplayhouse
Address: Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill
Contact Details: 0113 213 7700
Leeds Playhouse is a living, breathing, posh-ish testament to the city’s world-class comedy. Since opening in 1990, the theatre has featured acts worthy of steeper-priced seats.
We’re especially pumped about the Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf show this May 2025. The theme revolving around an ‘old dog’ trying to learn new comedy tricks piqued our interest, and hopefully, this acclaimed icon can still put on a beast of a show.
Tip: A membership here means special deals like cheaper tickets!
Old Woollen
– From oldwoollen
Address: Sunnybank Mills, 83 85 Town St
Perched inside the heritage-rich Sunny Bank Mills, Old Woolen is a feisty, fabulous joint that keeps killer lines overflowing—just like they do beers. On Saturdays, around three comedians will leave you in stitches, all for a price tag starting at £13.
The jokesters are not nobodies, either. Most come from hit shows like Live at the Apollo, and some are the hottest youngbloods around. You have A-listers like Steve Bugeja and Frankie Monroe, both awarded comedians!
Tip: Public transport is your friend here, as the venue is just a 15-minute walk from Pudsey Train Station.
The Comedy Cabaret (Leeds Comedy Club)
– From leedscomedyclub
Address: Revolución de Cuba Leeds, Inside, 64-68 Call Ln
Operating Hours: Sat – 7 pm
If you’re not a laugh machine, you can’t perform at The Comedy Cabaret. That’s what we’re most hyped about this award-winning hub of madness. The comedians, local or international, go joke-for-joke in competitions, so you know you’re getting the best.
Not only that, but you’ll get them dishing out original and chucklesome material every weekend—four of them. If you think we’re BSing, here are some of their biggest pulls: John Bishop, Alan Carr, Kevin Bridges, and Lee Nelson.
Tip: You can request special seating, but make sure to contact them beforehand. Email to [email protected] or send a message via the website.
The Carriageworks Theatre
– From carriageworkstheatre
Address: Leeds Beckett University, Millennium Square, Electric Press 3
Contact Details: 0113 376 0318
Forward-thinking and reasonably priced, The Carriageworks Theatre is the venue we hit for fresh laughs that won’t cost half our paychecks. Add in their bi-monthly Leeds Comedy Pick n Mix to the picture, and it’s a deal and a half.
The said show features two hours of improv comedy, brought to life by the respected Discount Comedy Checkout group. Everything is based on the audience’s whims, which means it could turn into a knee-slapping musical or drama with one suggestion.
Tip: Bring cash. On our last visit, they didn’t accept other forms of payment.
The Original Oak
– From the_original_oak_headingley
Address: 2 Otley Rd, Headingley
Contact Details: 0113 275 1322
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 10 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 10 am to 10:30 pm
If you think The Original Oak is just for wolfing down global fare in a beer garden (beer garden leeds) or watching dudes throw haymakers on the big screen, you’re dead wrong. Now and then, they feature comedians who turn this laid-back joint into a riot.
We’ve seen a couple of their star-studded shows in previous years, and several stuck with us. John Pelham’s specifically comes to mind; his self-deprecating humour and dry wit is a perennial combo that’ll probably only ‘die’ if the Apocalypse occurs.
Tip: There’s a parking area at the back, so feel free to drive.
Comedy Cellar at Verve
– From saulhenry101
Address: 16 Merrion St
Operating Hours: Tue – 8 pm to 10:30
Every comic has to hustle at the start, and if you want to be a part of humble but dead-good beginnings, ditch your sofa and drive straight to Comedy Cellar at Verve. The spotlight here focuses on new blood, with occasional vets testing material during open mic nights.
That’s not even the best part. The cherry on top is the fact that shows are free, giving you a mix of newcomers and staples like Eddie French, Amy Pinnick, and Johnny Pelham for absolutely nada.
Tip: The website rarely announces the list of performers, so to stay in the know, check their Insta or Facebook.
First Direct Arena
– From firstdirectarena
Address: Arena Way
Contact Details: 0844 248 1585
Flexing a 13,781-capacity, First Direct Arena transforms comedy shows into concert-like spectacles—minus the elbowing for space or tone-deaf crowd choruses. It’s also shaped like a fan, so you can sit front-row or somewhere near the roof and still have a blast.
To top it off, the talents they feature are nothing short of global blockbusters. Sure, tickets are naturally costlier, but with names like Alan Carr, Jason Manford, Ricky Gervais, and John Bishop, you’ll get a year’s worth of laughter, maybe even more.
Tip: For the best seats, apply for a premium membership.