Mates Rates Comedy Raw

Mates Rates Comedy Raw is back at Pentahotel Reading on Monday 2 November, part of the weekly open mic night that runs every Monday at the hotel on Oxford Road. It's put on by Mates Rates Comedy, and the whole thing is built around the open-mic scene rather than a fixed line-up. Each week, five new acts take the stage, and the room is also open to anyone who wants to try their luck.

If you're one of those people, there are up to four five-minute walk-on spots given out by a bucket pull at 7pm. To get your name in, you need to sign up between 6:30 and 7:00. If you miss the pull, you can still watch the night for free. The organisers pitch it as a chance to see how stand-up is made and to catch a future star before they break, so it's more about the process than a polished show. The five main acts are new to the night, and the walk-ons are just people stepping up on the wing.

Mates Rates Comedy also run Live at the Pentahotel, a Friday-night club comedy night at the same venue, so if you fancy a more established bill later in the week, that's your other option. The Monday night is the raw end of things, where the new material gets its first run.

Doors open at 7pm, and the show runs from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Tickets are £3 in advance and £5 on the door, so it's a cheap one if you're just coming along for the night. The venue is Pentahotel Reading, Oxford Rd, RG1 7RH.