A Comedy Tapas

A Comedy Tapas is coming to Nottingham Contemporary as part of the Nottingham Comedy Festival, and it's not just a one-off. It runs across four nights: Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, then again on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November. All four shows start at 6pm, with doors opening at 5:40pm, so you've got plenty of time to get in and settle before things kick off.

The name gives away the format. Instead of one headliner taking the stage for the whole night, this is a fast-paced mixed bill of stand-up presented by Den Of Laughs. They gather up to a dozen acts, each playing a short set, and the whole show runs for around an hour. It's a bit like a tasting menu for comedy: you get a glimpse of a lot of different comics in one go, rather than one long set from a single person.

There's a bit of honesty in how they pitch it, too. The organisers admit that you won't like every single act on the bill, but they reckon you'll have fun finding out which ones you do. That's the whole point of the format — it's a bit of a lottery, and part of the draw is seeing who lands and who doesn't. It's a good way to catch a few new names in one sitting without committing to a full night of one person's material.

It's strictly for over-18s, and they've noted that late arrivals aren't guaranteed a seat, so it's worth getting there a bit before 6pm. Tickets are £8.00 plus an £0.80 booking fee, £8.80 in total, and the shows are held in Blend at Nottingham Contemporary on Weekday Cross.