Stand-up returns t The Lescar... and it's a family affair

Sheffield’s oldest comedy venue is getting a relaunch… thanks to a familiar name. 

The Lescar pub in the Hunter’s Bar area of the city has hosted stand-up since 1992, when comic Roger Monkhouse opened the Last Laugh comedy club there.

It was taken over by its regular compere Toby Foster, who moved the club to the city centre in 2005, settling at its current home – the Memorial Hall – in 2007.

While The Lescar continued to host comedy, Foster admits that ‘when the club opened its new home in the city centre… it’s fair to say audiences at The Lescar dwindled’.

It has not hosted comedy since the  Covid lockdown… but next month a new night, called The Little Last Laugh, launches  – run by Foster’s  eldest daughter, Maisie.

She said: ‘Obviously, I’ve grown up with comedians in our house all my life, so I suppose it was inevitable that I’d get involved somewhere along the line.

‘My Dad always said that there was something very special about the atmosphere at The Lescar and I hope that we can recreate it for a new generation.' 

The club is to run on the second Thursday of every month, headlined by Scott Bennett on November 9 and  Nina Gilligan on December 14. Each night will feature a compere, two pro acts and an open spot.

Maisie recalled: ‘I spent August in Edinburgh handing out flyers for Nina’s first show when I was 15, and loved every minute. She’s a great friend and it’s a real treat that she is playing the club.’

‘My Dad did his first ever open spot at The Lescar when Roger Monkhouse ran it, and he didn’t turn out too bad.’ Maisie said.

So does that mean she is looking for the next Toby Foster? ‘No comment,’ she replied

Published: 24 Oct 2023