There is no official collective noun for a gathering of comedians. How about a giggle? There was certainly a giggle of comedians on stage at the Comedy Store last night to celebrate the trailblazing club’s 30th birthday. And plenty of giggles in the audience, too, as 19 of the UK’s classiest clowns paid homage to the venue that kickstarted the modern stand-up scene.

Paul Merton opened in amiably nostalgic style, dusting down gags he probably did here 27 years ago. “I went to the newsagents and asked ‘Have you got a copy of Psychic News?’ The newsagent replied: ‘You tell me.’”

Alan Carr followed swiftly, singing the praises of bendy buses, particularly the rotating bit in the middle that he pirouettes on.

With such a large line-up, acts did not linger, opting instead for YouTube-length sets. Welshman Rhod Gilbert executed a perfectly honed seven-minute routine on the perils of duvet-buying. A shop assistant advised him on filling, suggesting he “get down”. Gilbert misunderstood and threw himself on the floor.

Two more veterans who cut their teeth here were further highlights. Jimmy Carr ticked off some brutally economical Twitter-sized titters, holding a clipboard as if he were a stern headmaster taking the register.

Jack Dee delved into his sarcasm-streaked back catalogue, announcing that he had been out until 3am celebrating his wife’s birthday: “She was livid.”

This was a terrific event, yet odd. Some other guests’ funny foreign accents and gay jokes left a feeling that maybe alternative comedy is no longer diametrically opposed to the comedy it usurped.

More bizarrely, there was no female in the three-hour show. From French and Saunders to Jo Brand and beyond, women have been part of the Store. Their absence was a major niggle, not a giggle.