But nights continue thanks to Jason Manford...

Newcastle’s oldest comedy venue is to close its doors.

Owners of The Hyena’s purpose-built 250-seat venue in the city centre want the club out so they can use the site for other entertainment.

However comedy nights under the Hyena banner will continue thanks to a new collaboration with Jason Manford’s comedy club chain. These will take place twice weekly in The Terrace Bar in Newcastle FC’s St James’s Park home from May 1.

Della Hadingham of The Hyena said: ‘The Hyena were looking at moving the comedy because the owners are creating a new leisure concept at their current venue.

’In the past Jason Manford has been very supportive of The Hyena so it seemed a natural progression to merge the two clubs together.’

The new venture brings the number of Manford’s Comedy Clubs across the up to 35.

The Hyena was set up by Newcastle comic Dave Johns 26 years ago – initially at the Tyne Theatre before moving to its current location, which is owned by property developer Mohammed Ajaib.

Two years ago Johns, posted that the club was to close claiming that the venue, which he was no longer involved in, had declined saying: ’One of the best went to one of the worst.’ However the club denied the rumours at the time.

Published: 17 Apr 2015