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Top 5 comedy New Year's Eve parties
By Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard 29.12.06
Skilful, spiky Jo Caulfield features in a quality line-up at Amused Moose
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Phil Nichol promises audiences a wild time at the Comedy Store, Amused Moose boasts one of the best line-ups and John Hegley's bargain gig offers cheap laughs and a ska/rocksteady disco...
Phil Nichol, Stephen K Amos
Comedy Store, SW1
After over a decade of grafting, Canada's Phil Nichol scooped an if.comeddie award at 2006's Edinburgh Festival. As in-your-face raconteurs go Nichol is one of the wildest. Don't be shocked if he spends part of his set with his jeans pulled down. Plus Ricky Grover, Michael McIntyre, Kitty Flanagan, Micky Flanagan, Steve Hughes (see above) and superb ice-breaking host Stephen K Amos. (0870 060 2340). New Year's Eve, £60 includes party pack, 6.30pm.
Jo Caulfield, Rhod Gilbert
Amused Moose, W1
The comedy circuit might wind down for Christmas but it bounces back with a bang on New Year's Eve, when the cream of the stand-up crop can trouser a nice bonus by whizzing around town playing various end-of-the-year gigs. This Soho club boasts one of the best line-ups of the night in skilful spiky Caulfield, laconic Welshman Gilbert and politically correct Hal Cruttenden. (020 7287 3727). New Year's Eve, £46 includes food, 7.15pm.
Adam Bloom, Steve Hughes
Comedy Cafe, EC2
If you connected electrifying Adam Bloom to the National Grid during this gig he could probably light Hoxton singlehanded - he's a livewire wit who rarely shuts up and never stops thinking. Hairy Aussie Steve Hughes became embroiled in accusations of anti-semitism during the last Edinburgh Festival, but is actually a fine, open-minded satirist. Plus veteran musical comic Steve Gribbin and MC Martin Davis. (020 7739 5706) New Year's Eve, £49.50 includes dinner, 6pm.
Michael McIntyre, Simon Evans
Headliners, W4
One of the hits of this year's Royal Variety Performance, unashamedly middle class joker McIntyre is a natural born banter merchant, able to improvise comedy gold out of the most obscure remarks from the crowd. Stardom can only be a punchline away. Support comes from deadpan surrealist Simon Evans and Ben Hurley. (020 8566 4067) New Year's Eve, £25, 8.15pm.
John Hegley
Chat's Palace, E9
New Year's Eve gigs are often expensive, but if your budget is tight this bargain gig promises no free booze, free food or party hats, just laughs and a ska/rocksteady disco. Veteran alternative poet Hegley is your headliner and he'll be reunited for the night with his legendary band the Popticians. Plus queen of the quirky keyboard ditty Lorraine Bowen and gently neurotic compere Ivor Dembina. (020 8533 0227) New Year's Eve, £10, 8.30pm.
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