The Forge Comedy Club

The Forge Comedy Club is back at Ironworks Studios on Friday 18 September, one of many nights they've got running across the city this autumn. It's their home for stand-up, run by Stephen Grant, who hosts the night and keeps things moving. The room is purpose-built for comedy, and Romesh Ranganathan has called it 'probably the best Comedy Club in Brighton, if not the UK'.

While the line-up changes from night to night, the club has a habit of pulling in names you'll recognise. Acts that have appeared include Romesh Ranganathan, Russell Kane, John Bishop, Sara Pascoe, Stephen K Amos, Rob Deering, Jen Brister, Zoe Lyons, Jen Ives, Alan Carr, Rob Beckett and Al Mussry. It's a mix of household names and rising talent, so you're as likely to see a TV regular as someone you've never heard of but who ends up being the highlight of the night.

If you're planning your comedy for the rest of the year, there's plenty to choose from. The club runs throughout the autumn and winter, with dates on 24, 26, 27 and 29 September; 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 17, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30 and 31 October; 12, 14, 21, 27 and 28 November; and 4 December. Towards the end of the year, they switch things up with the Festive Forge Comedy Club on 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 and 20 December, and a New Year's Eve Special on 31 December. Several dates on the 2026 bill are already marked as sold out, so if you've got a particular night in mind, it's worth booking early.

Ironworks Studios doesn't just do stand-up, either. They also programme cabaret and drag, including Cabaret Boheme, alongside burlesque nights. If you're after a night of comedy, the next one is Friday 18 September at Ironworks Studios in Brighton.