Bath comedy club Komedia has been named Best Venue in Wales and the West in the Chortle Comedy Awards 2013 – the third time it has landed the prize.
The awards, which celebrate the best of British comedy, took place at the Café de Paris in London’s Leicester Square and were hosted by Jo Brand.
Shortlists were drawn up by a selection of industry figures before winners were chosen by a public vote on the Chortle website.
Komedia Bath previously won best venue in 2010 and 2012.
Director and co-owner of the Komedia group Richard Daws, who collected the award at the star-studded ceremony, said: “As we at Komedia Bath approach our fifth birthday in November, it's an honour and delight to have picked up our third Best Venue title. To retain our crown against such strong local competition is fantastic.
“The Chortle Awards are the pinnacle of the UK comedy industry, so the fact that so many of this year’s winners, including Richard Herring, The Boy With Tape On His Face and Doc Brown, have recently graced our stage is real testament to how strong our comedy offering at Komedia Bath is.”
Since opening four and a half years ago in the former Beau Nash cinema in Westgate Street, Komedia Bath has sold nearly 50,000 tickets annually to audiences predominantly from Bath and the surrounding area. It has attracted top-name national and international acts.
Venue manager Lark Porter added: “Last year we were delighted to have won, but to be awarded as the best venue in Wales and the West in back-to-back years is terrific, and we are hugely thankful to everyone who took the time to log onto the website and vote.”
Sister venue Komedia Brighton won the South category for a record 10th time. Other venue winners included London’s Comedy Store and Edinburgh’s Pleasance Theatre.
