XS Malarkey awaits its fate...

Police have shut down one of Britain’s best-loved comedy venues after a fight broke out in the street outside.

Manchester police say the incident was one of 25 they’ve had to attend at the home of XS Malarkey this year.

The bar which houses the weekly club, Remedy, was temporarily closed for 28 days following a hearing last Thursday.

A second licensing hearing on November 4, could revoke the Fallowfield venue’s licence or insist on changes to its conditions.

XS Malarkey, which was named best club in the North in this year’s Chortle Awards, has temporarily moved to a new venue opposite the old one, The Queen of Hearts, pending the result of that hearing.

The temporary closure – which covers the time of the Manchester Comedy Festival – comes after a fight broke out between Remedy door staff and a group of men outside the bar on Friday, October 1.

Entirely unrelated the incident, Josie Long had been due to play XS that night, but cancelled the gig after encountering troubles getting there.

Manager Glen Lumsden told the Manchester Evening News: ‘We are an independent venue and cannot support 28 days of being closed, especially at this time of year. We are south Manchester’s biggest comedy venue and the police and council decide to shut us down during the council-run comedy festival – it’s ludicrous.’

But Greater Manchester Police Chief Inspector John Taylor said: ‘We simply cannot tolerate incidents of violent disorder that puts people’s safety in jeopardy.’

XS Malarkey was founded by comic Toby Hadoke in 1997 as a not-for-profit venture. Comedians who began their careers at XS Malarkey include Jason Manford, Alan Carr, and Justin Moorhouse. It has won the Chortle title four times.

Published: 14 Oct 2010