The Bottle Shop sets the stage for first comedy gig

A craft beer hotspot in Newcastle city centre will take the spotlight when it hosts its first comedy show, featuring a trio of top names from the stand-up circuit. The Bottle Shop Bar and Kitchen, based on Waterloo Square near St James Boulevard, has secured a line-up of award-winning comedians to perform at the venue’s inaugural comedy gig on Wednesday, March 2. The event’s host, Newcastle-based Jack Gardner, a surreal comedian and illustrator who runs cult comedy night Sillie Billies, will welcome BBC New Comedy Award Winners Steve Bugeja and Lee Ridley (Lost Voice Guy) to the venue.   On the night, headliner Steve Bugeja will be presenting his highly anticipated Edinburgh Festival show in Newcastle for the first time. Steve was crowned the 2013 BBC Radio New Comedy Award winner, was a finalist in the Amused Moose and Laughing Horse new act competitions, supported Russell Kane on his national tour ‘Smallness’, and continues to gig at comedy clubs across the country.   A prolific writer, Steve has contributed material for Mock the Week, 8 out of 10 Cats, Russell Howard’s Good News, Radio 4’s The Show What You Wrote and Radio 4 Extra’s topical sketch show Newsjack.   In October 2013 Steve was picked for Radio 4’s ‘Fresh From The Fringe’, and in 2014 he performed as part of the Fringe’s longest-running showcases, The Comedy Zone. He returned to the Fringe in 2015 with his debut solo show, which he will perform at The Bottle Shop.   Support act Lee Ridley - Lost Voice Guy - won the BBC New Comedy Award 2014 and is thought to be the first stand-up comedian to use a communication aid.   He has gigged at venues all over the UK including The Stand, Manford’s Comedy Club, Jongleurs, The Frog and Bucket, The Glee Club, The Comedy Store and many independent clubs, and is currently writing a sitcom pilot for BBC Radio.   Lee has also told jokes and presented motivational speeches for a range of organisations including Communication Matters, Find a Voice, the Royal College of Nurses, Percy Hedley School and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Mike Morley, general manager at The Bottle Shop Bar and Kitchen, said: “We feel very lucky to have such an immensely talented line-up performing at our first ever comedy night - and tickets are already selling fast. “The space we have in the bar works really well as a live venue, so we’re planning a whole host of events for the coming months, including free live music events, quiz nights and further comedy gigs. “We’d like to become known as the go-to place in the city to see talented acts in a relaxed setting, enjoy a range of delicious dishes, and sample artisan, premium, handmade craft beers from across the globe.”