Nottingham comedy club damaged by fire

An old comedy club that once used to lure stag parties from across the UK has met an untimely end after being severely damaged by fire.

The Variety Club in Salisbury Street, Redford, was a popular destination for many people going out to celebrate their final night of freedom in and around the town.

However, having shut down in October 2007, the venue has lain empty and derelict for a number of months and firefighters were alerted to a blaze at the site of the building early on Sunday morning, the Nottingham Evening Post reports.

Former compere Richard Paine said: "It was a big part of a lot of people's lives in Nottingham."

"Nearly every stag and hen do used to finish off their weekends in Nottingham at the Variety Club," he added.

While it may not be considered as traditional a ritual as a visit to a comedy club, many stag parties are now heading to the bingo halls as part of their big night out on the town, it would seem.

John Mitchell, who has worked at Aberdeen's Gala Bingo Club for almost 20 years, told the Press and Journal that the venue now attracts a much younger crowd, including a number of people on Nottingham hen weekends and Nottingham stag nights out.