The Secret Comedy Club Wednesdays

The Secret Comedy Club runs its Wednesday night, known as the 'Gag Factory', on 16 September. It's a new-material comedy night, and the format is pretty straightforward: professional comedians come in to work on fresh bits, and up-and-coming acts use the slot to try and earn a spot at the club's weekend shows. If you've seen the club on a Saturday, this is a different beast entirely—instead of polished sets, you're watching the work that goes into them.

That's the draw of a new-material night. You get to hear the jokes before they're finished, and since the room is small, the crowd plays a part in how the set shapes up. It's also the kind of night that attracts household names, who drop in to test new material or rehearse for TV, tours, Fringe shows and club sets. You might end up seeing a big name working through a rough draft of something that'll be on a stage or a screen in a few months.

The club itself is an independent venue at 42 Brighton Square, and it's one of the more intimate comedy rooms in the city. It was voted Best Fringe Venue 2021 in the Audience Choice Awards and is rated as Brighton's top comedy club on TripAdvisor and Google Reviews. It's also the only regular comedy Saturday night in an independent venue in the area, so it's a good place to keep on your radar if you're into the local scene.

Doors open at 7pm, and the show runs from 8pm to around 10:30pm. General entry is £11, and concessions are £5.50 for students, NHS, Blue Light, Blue Badge, and those receiving UC, JSA and Pension Credit.