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News Bot
Joined: 17 Oct 2007
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 Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:17 am Post subject: Another one bites the dust... |
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London club closes after 20 years
| Quote: | One of London’s longest-running comedy venues is to close – to be converted into a snooker hall.
The Red Rose in Finsbury Park has hosted comedy for more than 20 years, with acts such as Eddie Izzard, Jimmy Carr, Russell Brand and Ardal O’Hanlon taking to its stage.
But a new manager took over the pub in September – and decided to close the back room to live entertainment. As well as comedy, it has also hosted music, salsa dancing and even fetish nights.
Comic Ivor Dembina started the comedy club in 1987, and in the last three years it has been run by Jon Briley.
He said: ‘After 20 years of live stand-up comedy at the Red Rose, it’s such a shame that the room will no longer be there.
‘While it is a huge disappointment for myself and the other promoters who use the venue, it’s not much of a surprise. I will be looking for a new venue in North London, with a view to moving there as soon as possible.’
The news comes at a difficult time for venues. Only weeks ago, Lee Hurst decided to pull the plug on his Backyard Comedy Club in East London, while Windsor Arts Centre and Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree also closed before Christmas because of funding difficulties.
Meanwhile, Jongleurs owner Regent Inns continues to be squeezed by the stock market. Its shares closed at 18.5p today, another 20 per cent down since the price collapsed on December 3 following a profit warning. It means the company is now worth about £24million – just three months ago, it was worth £97million.
The last night of comedy at the Red Rose will be January 19.
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http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/01/03/6221/another_one_bites_the_dust...
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comedytaff
Joined: 04 Jan 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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Whats going to happen with all the gigs booked past then? A friend phoned ticketweb and they're still selling tickets beyond the 19th. Shame to see the place go  |
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Jon at GSOH
Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 873
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| Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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i hope to be in a new venue for the show on the 26th jan, so there shoudn't be any disruption in the programme.
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Fringey
Joined: 18 Mar 2006
Posts: 3316
Location: Brighton
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| Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Very sad to see the place go indeed. I had the joy of working there once and saw how much dedication that Jon and the staff of the Red Rose put into the gig.
It was a fantastic club. I'm sure that Jon will continue doing a great job in the new venue he finds. Good luck Jon, I hope you find somewhere you love as much as the Rose.
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tony cowards
Joined: 26 Sep 2002
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| Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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I'll be sad to see the Red Rose close down.
Only went there a couple of times but it holds quite a few treasured memories.
Good luck with the search for a new venue Mr B.
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NickP
Joined: 07 Dec 2005
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Jon at GSOH
Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 873
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| Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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FREE tickets for tomorrow's gig for chortlers ... not many left either, it seems that the rose is held in high esteem by the local population and they're turning out in force over the next three shows to say goodbye.
anyway if you'd like to come in free just turn up and say I'M A CHORTLER, subject to space (the show is being filmed for a possible DVD release so capacity is slightly reduced).
with love from a genuinely sad JB x
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