Gifted experience: We were invited to attend the opening night of The Lanes Comedy Club.
I’ve never been to The Bowling House in Norwich before. Don’t ask me why, but it’s just never come up. I know lots of people who have been and enjoyed the bowling, karaoke and food, but somehow I’ve never made it.
So when The Lanes Comedy Club invited me and The Chap to the opening night of their new comedy club, I couldn’t resist.
Located above The Bowling House on Dereham Road in Norwich, The Lanes Comedy Club offers comedy shows five nights a week, with everything from new acts and improv to established comedians on the circuit.
But would it be funny?
First impressions of The Bowling House
We arrived at The Bowling House for a 9.30pm start and decided to have a drink at the bar while we waited.
My first impression was how bright, colourful and stylish it was inside. There was a great atmosphere, with people bowling, chatting, eating and generally enjoying themselves. We even bumped into a friend and had a quick catch-up before heading upstairs.
Drinks prices were about what you’d expect for Norwich, with pints costing around £6.50 and cocktails priced at £9.25. There’s also a selection of wines and prosecco.
At the appointed time, we headed upstairs to the comedy club.
The Lanes Comedy Club
The comedy club itself is a fairly small, dark room with seating for around 50 people. It’s an intimate space, with everyone close to the stage, meaning you can really see the whites of the comedians’ eyes.
Because of that, it felt like a proper comedy club. Everyone had a good view of the stage and, thanks to the microphone, there were no problems hearing the performers.
Of course, the downside of such an intimate venue is that it’s much easier to get singled out for crowd work, as several audience members discovered during our visit. You’ve been warned!
The crowd seemed a little apprehensive at first. I suspect that was partly because there were quite a few bloggers and content creators in the audience for the opening night, some of whom perhaps weren’t quite sure what they’d let themselves in for.
Fortunately, our compere was brilliant. He was engaging, quick-witted and excellent at crowd work, warming everyone up before introducing the comedians.
So, was the comedy any good?
In a word, yes!
We had four comedians on the bill: Martin Westgate (the host), James Alexander, AJ Patel and Dan Tiernan.
Martin Westgate took to the stage as the compere, followed by James Alexander and AJ Patel, with both performing shorter sets before the interval. Headliner Dan Tiernan then rounded off the evening with a longer performance.
For me, AJ Patel was the standout act. Her observational humour was wonderfully relatable, delivered in a deadpan style that really appealed to me.
The Chap, meanwhile, preferred Dan Tiernan, whose performance was far more energetic. Personally, I found him a little too intense, but that’s the beauty of an evening with several comedians. There’s a good chance you’ll find someone whose sense of humour matches your own.
All three were funny and their different styles made for a great mix. There was plenty of laughter throughout the evening, and the intimate setting made the whole experience feel that bit more personal.
Food and drink at The Lanes Comedy Club
One of the things I really liked about the evening was that we could order food and drinks to enjoy during the interval.
Before the show started, we filled in a short form with our order, which meant we didn’t have to waste precious interval time queuing at the bar.
We ordered BoHo’s Famous Nachos (£9.95) and cheeseburger sliders (£11.95).
And I have to agree with everyone who’s ever raved about the nachos. They’re something special.
I’m not entirely sure what The Bowling House does to the tortilla chips, but I suspect they’re coated in paprika. Whatever it is, they’re delicious. The portion was generous too.
The cheeseburger sliders were also very good. At £11.95, they might seem a little steep, but there was so much food. The mini beef burgers were filled with cheese, lettuce and burger sauce, accompanied by chips. In fact, there was so much that we ended up giving the chips away to other members of the audience.
Alas, there was a small hiccup with our order, as the sliders didn’t arrive until just as the second half was starting, but they got it sorted really quickly. And, fortunately, you can take food and drinks into the comedy room, so we were still able to enjoy them while watching the show.
You can see the full food and drink menu on The Lanes Comedy Club website.
What’s on at The Lanes Comedy Club?
The Lanes Comedy Club runs shows from Wednesday to Sunday, with a different focus depending on the night.
Ticket prices vary depending on the performance, but many cost around £11 or £12, which I think is excellent value for an evening’s entertainment.
Our show lasted approximately 90 minutes, including the interval.
You’ll need to book tickets in advance and I’d recommend checking the website for the latest line-ups, times and ticket prices.
Where is The Lanes Comedy Club?
The Lanes Comedy Club is located above The Bowling House on Dereham Road in Norwich.
It’s within walking distance of Norwich city centre and sits on a bus route, making it reasonably easy to reach without a car.
Parking is a little more limited because of its location, but there is a bicycle rack outside if you’re travelling by bike.
The shows are generally aimed at adults, although it’s worth checking the age restrictions when booking.
Would I recommend The Lanes Comedy Club?
Absolutely.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening, with plenty of laughs, good food and a great atmosphere.
I particularly liked the intimate setting, although if you’re someone who dreads being singled out by a comedian, you might want to avoid sitting too close to the stage!
At around £11 or £12 a ticket, I also think it represents excellent value for money, particularly when you consider the range of comedians performing.
It’s a great addition to The Bowling House’s already varied entertainment offering and gives Norwich another option for a night out, whether you’re planning a date night or an evening with friends.
Would I go again? Definitely. And having finally made it through the doors of The Bowling House, I’ll certainly be returning for food and bowling too.
