Mates Rates Comedy Raw

Mates Rates Comedy Raw is back at The Outlook, Pentahotel Reading on Monday 16 November, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. It's Reading's number one stand-up comedy open mic, run by Mates Rates Comedy, and it's a Monday night regular at the hotel on Oxford Road.

The whole thing is built for anyone curious about how stand-up is actually made. Each week, five new acts take the stage, and the walk-on spots are filled by a bucket pull of names drawn from a sign-up sheet that's open from 6:30pm to 7pm. If you've ever wondered what happens when a comic tries out a joke for the first time, this is where you see it. The night runs for around two hours, so there's plenty of room for a few different styles to play out over the course of the evening.

It's part of a wider comedy presence at the venue: Mates Rates Comedy also runs a second Reading night, Live at the Pentahotel: Friday Night Club Comedy, at the same spot. If you're in the mood for something on a weekday, though, this is the one to keep on your radar.

Doors open at 7pm, and entry is £5 on the door. An event wristband gets you 15% off drinks, so it's a good shout to grab one if you're planning on staying for a few rounds while the acts work through their sets.