Jongleurs plans to raise curtain on six comedy venues

Jongleurs, the chain of comedy clubs that gave a host of comedians including Graham Norton and Ben Elton their big break, is to open six venues after its founders regained control of the brand. The chain faced a bleak future last year when its indebted parent company, Regent Inns, went bust but the Jongleurs name and rights have now reverted back to founders Maria Kempinska and John Davy. The new clubs are the fruit of a £2m joint venture with fellow club operator, Novus Leisure, and will be launched in Nottingham, Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle. Jongleurs said it was seeking to capitalise on a "comedy boom" in the UK after sell-out arena tours from standup comedians Michael McIntyre, Ricky Gervais and Chris Rock and booming DVD sales. It has already opened three clubs this year, including one at Sway, which is owned by Novus Leisure, in London's Covent Garden. The company said more openings were being pencilled in for 2011. Kempinska, who started Jongleurs over a pub in Battersea, London in 1983, joined forces with Davy two years later and they built the Jongleurs brand, with its comedy nights playing host to then unknown performers, including the likes of Paul Merton and Mike Myers. She said Jongleurs had been an innovator in standup and that it came as no surprise that comedy was doing well in harsh economic times. "It seems people want to laugh and be entertained in times of recession." Regent Inns emerged from what was a pre-pack administration as Intertain and has renamed the venues that previously traded as Jongleurs, Highlights.