‘We had to turn down Aziz Ansari’: Popular comedy club wins licence for late-night gigs

A King’s Cross comedy club has secured a late licence for its stand-up gigs to kick off at 10.30pm.

Though only a couple of years old, 2Northdown has already hosted big names from the industry, including James Acaster, Bridget Christie and Nish Kumar.

Now the venue will seek to emulate the Soho Theatre in holding late-night comedy shows, and will be seeking permission from the Town Hall to serve alcohol until half past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, in order to attract renowned comedians who are more used to kicking off their shows at a later hour.

2Northdown’s representatives said: “This extension of the hours is to fall in line with other venues in the city that have later shows. For us to be able to open for that extra hour would add a huge amount.

“Last week we had to turn down three shows from Aziz Ansari, as it is customary in the US for shows to start at 10 or 11 in the evening, and we weren’t able to accommodate it.

“The cause for this hearing was one representation made, which we naturally thought was unjust, and not a true representation of a comedy club. It refers to drug dealing, sex in the street and urination, which we are obviously firmly against.”

One resident had submitted an objection to 2Northdown’s application, citing the increased possibility of partygoers urinating down their side gate.

The venue is also seeking updated planning permission, having been trading since their opening as a rehearsal/performance space, rather than with the correct permisson for a theatre in its own right.