But chain still takes £28m a year

Jongleurs owners Regent Inns have announced that its profits fell almost 13 per cent over the last year.

Pre-tax profits slipped from £16.5million to £14.4 million in the 12 months ending July 5 according to today's annual report.

Like-for-like sales at the comedy club chain, and the associated Bar Risa pubs, also slipped by a total of 7.6 per cent.

But by opening new venues in Birmingham, Leeds and Reading, the company did increase Jongleurs' total turnover by more than 40 per cent - to £27.7million, or £44,300 a week. Regent said trading at these new venues was " outstanding".

The report also claimed: "Jongleurs has now become second only to the BBC as the world's largest employer of stand-up comedy talent."

The company opened its Edinburgh venue in July, outside the financial year covered by the report, and plans another venue, in Bristol, in the next year.

However, in the eight weeks since the annual report was compiled, Jongleurs like-for-like sales have fallen nine per cent, which the company blames on the "extraordinary hot weather".

The annual report also said Jongleurs has increased its mailing list from 100,000 potential punters to more than 300,000. Profit margins have also increased at the comedy clubs.

Regent also owns the Walkabout chain of Australian-themed pubs.

Published: 3 Sep 2003