...and pays comics £2.9million

The Comedy Store made £726,000 in pre-tax profit last year, according to its annual report.

It is more than 50 per cent up on the £461,000 it made in 2010, even though its turnover fell from £9.27 million to £7.61million.

Earnings came from its clubs in London and Manchester, as well as its management agency, whose clients include Rhod Gilbert.

The company paid £2.9million to comedians over the course of the year, down from £4.4million in 2010.

And its rent on clubs in London and Manchester totalled £808,000 over the year.

After tax, profit for the last financial year, ending in July 2011, was £419,826, according to the documents filed in Companies House. At just under ten percent, its gross profit to turnover ratio is now broadly in line with the average for the leisure industry.

Published: 1 May 2012