LONDON, Wednesday 2nd June 2010: Comedy giant Jongleurs today announced that it is investing a further £2m into its comedy and entertainment offering in 2010, with plans to launch nine new clubs nationwide later this year.

Jongleurs investment arrives at a time the UK is enjoying a comedy boom with arena tours selling out and stand up comedy DVD sales toppling Hollywood blockbusters at Christmas.

The new launch, a franchise agreement with Momo Leisure Ltd, will see new clubs open in Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle to add to an already successful Nottingham launch in April.

The Nottingham site has re-established comedy back in the heart of the City to great customer reaction. Shows are already extremely busy with customers saying how delighted they are that the Jongleurs brand is back. The new look Jongleurs is quickly developing a reputation for great service, good food and of course a first class comedy experience.

Momo Leisure was founded in 2009 by David Elphick, Head of Training at Poppleston Allen and Jez King, a former Regent Inns Executive and Divisional MD at Laurel. The pair has put together a strong management team who are very experienced in the comedy market.

Further expansion plans are already underway with Novus Leisure Ltd, which opened the flagship joint venture at Sway in Covent Garden on 15th May 2010, with plans to open new clubs in Portsmouth, Croydon, Glasgow and Leeds.

Jongluers@Sway has been selling out a new premium comedy offering, Jongleurs Posh, a £40 ticket that includes a three course dinner, four stand up acts and table service, suggesting that comedy is one of the most recession-proof of all industries.

John Davy, Jongleurs co-owner, said “Jongleurs is synonymous with great comedy and a fantastic all round night out and this fresh investment will help bring our unique offering to even more customers and new audiences. The appetite for a complete comedy and entertainment experience is stronger than ever and we are experiencing unprecedented demand from corporate and larger group bookings in particular who are looking for an entertainment one-stop-shop.”

Maria Kempinska, Jongleurs founder and co-owner, said “For 27 years Jongleurs has been a driving force in British stand up comedy, innovating the comedy experience in terms of acts, environment and approach. It seems people want to laugh and be entertained in times of recession and Jongleurs is focussed on meeting that need.”

By the end of 2010 there will be eleven Jongleurs clubs around the UK in total, with plans to continue to roll out in 2011.

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR 0208 206 5151

While businesses worldwide are cowering from the economic downturn, The Comedy Store has gained record attendances over the last few years leading to the latest announcement.

The Comedy Store CEO Don Ward has joined forces with Indian businessman and entrepreneur, Amar Agrawal to open the 15,000 sq feet, 300 capacity club in the imposing Palladium building, High Street Phoenix Mills, in central Mumbai, later this year. As well as The Comedy Store club, the venue will also include a restaurant above the auditorium, serving an array of Asian fusion dishes, plus a stylish bar serving a wide range of drinks and the latest cocktails. After the comedy, the club will turn in to a music venue and will feature a state-of-the-art sound system, playing international music with a lean towards the latest in Indian sounds.

The Comedy Store in Mumbai will play host to three international comics over a four day period, performing six shows on a weekly basis, with plans to expand to open mike nights for the local amateur comics. The club also hopes to provide a showcase venue and training ground for upcoming Indian comedy talent. Indeed, local Indian stand ups will be offered master classes with The Comedy Store’s regular comedians to help develop and hone their skills.

Don Ward said: “I wanted to do something special to celebrate our 30th anniversary, and what better way than to open a club half way round the world – Mumbai is a vibrant city and feels like Manchester and London all wrapped up in one. We will be bringing the very best in British and International stand up to India and I am confident that we can replicate our success overseas. At present there is no emerging comedy talent in India, and we hope to change all of that – we’re looking for the first Indian stand up superstar and you never know, we may find the Paul Merton or Lee Evans of India! It’s an incredibly exciting venture, and I hope India embraces The Comedy Store in the same way that the UK has over the past 30 years.”

Closer to home, The Comedy Store will be celebrating its 30th Anniversary on May 19th, when the venue will host a weeklong programme of anniversary gigs, kicking off with an all star charity event on Monday 18th May, followed by a star-studded party.

Earlier this month The Comedy Store hired comedy and entertainment PR specialist Taylor Herring PR to handle the 30th anniversary celebrations.

For further information and interview requests, please contact: Lesley.land@taylorherring.com

Notes to Editors:

The Comedy Store is Britain’s premiere comedy venue and is renowned for its ability to break new talent and its all star alumni – which spans the spectrum of comedy royalty from Eddie Izzard to Chris Rock.

In 1979, Don Ward decided to try it out a new type of observational comedy in the UK which he had observed in the US. He registered the name Comedy Store, created the iconic logo which is now recognised across the world, and scheduled an initial six-week run of Saturday shows at midnight at the old Gargoyle club in Dean Street, Soho.

Ward auditioned raw talent from adverts placed in a selection of varied publications including the Evening Standard, Jewish Chroncile, Grocers Gazette, Builders Weekly, Punch, The Stage and Evening News, and from the 150 answers to the first advert, the first one over the doorstep to be auditioned was Alexei Sayle. Ward thanked the ‘Comedy Gods’ and said to Alexei, “you’ve got the job, you are the host of the Comedy Store.”

Since its opening night, the Comedy Store has attracted the likes of big name Hollywood stars including Robin Williams, Chris Rock, Dennis Leary and Mike Myers (who was the creator of The Comedy Store Players, which is still running today). Other performers to have graced the stage in the early days include Ben Elton, Paul Merton, Jo Brand, French & Saunders, Rik Mayall, Ade Edmonson, Lee Evans, Jack Dee and Clive Anderson.

In September 2000, Ward opened a second venue in Deansgate Locks in Manchester.

In 2001 he founded the Manchester Comedy Festival, which he is now sole Director of.

Ward is the co-executive producer on the Open Mike productions of the TV show ‘The Comedy Store’ (six series) for Paramount Comedy Channel. He is producer and CEO of the Comedy Stores in London and Manchester.