Comedy
Step Inside: Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club
Everything you need to know about one of London's liveliest comedy clubs
Venue Quick Facts | |
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Venue Name | Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club |
Location | South Bank, Central London |
Nearest Train Stations | 3 min walk from Blackfriars, 5 min from Southwark, 7 min from Waterloo, 10 min from London Bridge |
Address | Units 6 & 7, 30 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9LQ |
Phone # | 0207 971 1451 |
Capacity | 499, split between two rooms |
Opened | 2023 |
Formerly Known As | Vauxhall Comedy Club |
Website | bigbellycomedy.club |
Home of Big Belly Laughter

Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club lives up to its name. Custom built to create “the best possible environment for laughter,” the venue has firmly established itself as one of London’s premier spots for anyone in need of a giggle. As you’d expect, the club’s owners – all comics themselves – devote considerable effort to nurturing local talent, but the venue’s stage is also regularly graced by superstars of comedy from all the over the world, with previous headliners including the likes of Adam Hills, Abigoliah Schamaun, and Richard Morton.
From Vauxhall Comedy Club to Big Belly Southbank

Before opening Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club, the team behind the venue ran the legendary (if somewhat cramped) Vauxhall Comedy Club. In 2023, craving a venue that wasn’t a “hot sweaty basement,” they submitted an application to open a new club in the Southbank Central Development, near the OXO Tower. Although some residents opposed the idea (81 formal objections were submitted), Borough & Bankside councillors unanimously approved the plans, placated by Big Belly’s assurances that the impact on residents would be minimal and motivated by the venue’s potential to invigorate the area’s nighttime economy.
Planning permission was granted in June that year, and the team immediately got to work designing a club perfectly suited to comedy. Every detail – from the seating arrangements to the sound to the distance between the audience and stage – was painstakingly crafted to create an environment that would be loved comics and fans alike. Judging by the rave reviews the club has generated, not to mention a slew of formal awards, including Chortles Best London Comedy Club, those efforts have paid off.
Big Belly Bar Food and Drink
As you’ve no doubt surmised from its name, Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club isn’t just a place to watch stand-up – it’s also one of the best boozers in Southbank. The venue’s dedicated Big Belly Bar serves up a range of drinks, including local ales and expertly mixed cocktails, all at incredibly reasonable prices (turns out £5 pints haven’t been cancelled after all). Best of all, every time you order a drink you’ll have the chance to smash the BIG BELLY BUTTON, which randomly hands out discounts or, if you’re extra lucky, completely free drinks.
The venue also boasts a dedicated food hall, home to a range of street food vendors. There you’ll find French tacos, Wagyu burgers, wood-fired pizza, and Chinese classics. Food can be enjoyed in the venue or, during the warmer months, outside in the sun-soaked beer garden. Every Saturday and Sunday, Big Belly Bar hosts a bottomless brunch that includes 90 minutes of unlimited booze, pizza and laughs.
Getting to Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club
Public transport offers the cheapest, easiest way to get to Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club. The nearest tube stations are Southwark (5-minute walk), Blackfriars (7-minute walk), and Waterloo (7-minute walk). Services run late from most of these stations, so there’s no danger of getting stranded after an evening event.
If you’d prefer to get to the venue by bus, the area is served by several routes, and both Stamford Street and Blackfriars Bridge are within walking distance of the venue. There isn’t any parking near the venue, but you can catch a cab to Upper Ground and then head down some stairs which will take you to the venue’s entrance.
The venue is also completely wheelchair accessible. If you need any additional assistance getting into the club, give the team a ring on 020 3576 3095, or send an email to [email protected] before you arrive.
More than a comedy club
The owners of Big Belly Bar & Comedy Club have described the venue as a “creative talent incubator and training centre.” In between hosting acclaimed comedy nights, the club runs a number of workshops and courses covering comedy, improv, podcasting, writing and stage tech.
Creatives looking for a space to record content can hire out the Big Belly Podcast Studio, which is located a short distance from the main venue. The studio is fully soundproofed and kitted out with cameras, recording equipment and even a sound engineer.
See the full list of upcoming events at Big Belly Comedy Club