...and promises five more to come

Jongleurs has confirmed its new Nottingham venue – and announced plans to expand into five more cities.

The comedy club chain will take over the Funktion Room, within a Grade 2 listed building in Nottingham city centre, from April 23.

It will be the next salvo in the shake-up of the live comedy industry sparked by he collapse of Jongleurs’ former owner Regent Inns last year.

The Nottingham club closed in October, and most of the remaining venues were rebranded as Highlight, while the rights to the name Jongleurs reverted to its original owners, Maria Kempinska and John Davy, who have vowed to rebuild an empire of clubs.

Now David Elphick – head of training at a local solicitor’s firm – and Jez King, a former director of Regent Inns, have formed a new company, Momo Leisure, to open a new chain of Jongleurs under a franchise licence from Kempinska and Davy.

Elphick said: ‘In addition to Nottingham, we are exploring opportunities in Cambridge, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Newcastle, with more to follow. We believe there‘s an extensive market for the Jongleurs experience.’

Previously, Nottingham’s long-established Just The Tonic club also announced plans for a custom-built 300-seat venue in the city. The opening date had been given as this month, but since the initial announcement, no news has been forthcoming at the club continues to operate from The Approach pub.

Meanwhile Jongleurs nights have begun in existing entertainment venues in London, Clacton and Bournemouth.

However, a question mark hangs over the long-term future of Bournemouth site as the bar it uses, Coyote Ugly, is set to be torn down after the local council brought the Waterfront Complex where it is based. The site, which also houses an IMAX cinema, will be redeveloped.

Published: 11 Mar 2010