About Us

🎩HatsOffComedy, a St Albans based Comedy Club, is the brainchild of Andrew Ryan, Michael O' Shea and Penny Rainford.

We hold regular comedy nights in Hertfordshire bringing top class comedians from the TV /UK & International comedy circuit to various venues across St Albans. We also put together bespoke comedy nights for private shows, fundraising, PTAs & corporate events.

WHO WE ARE:

🎩 Andrew is a Comedian, originally from Cork, Ireland. He has performed stand-up on BBC3's Russell Howard's Good News, Best of the Edinburgh Festival Live on BBC3, The Blame Game on BBC1 and Live at The Comedy Store for Comedy Central.

🎩 Michael is a lifelong resident of St Albans and owner of the successful Courtyard Cafe. Growing up in a large Irish family he developed a love for food and a passion for 1960s radio comedy.

🎩Penny has a background in advertising and grew up with comedy as an integral part of her life. Sir David Hatch, the man responsible for the hugely successful radio show Just A Minute and an original cast member of the 1960s stage and radio comedy show I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again is her father.

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How did HatsOffComedy come about?

THE LIGHTBULB MOMENT:

Michael and Penny have been friends for over 20 years and regularly enjoy nights out to comedy clubs. After one such night in 2016 they were reliving the comedy from the night before over a cup of coffee with Andrew, a regular in the cafe. They were also discussing ways to support charities close to their hearts. Three friends, a common interest, more coffee, more laughter and then came the lightbulb moment and the beginning of HatsOffComedy.

In 2016 we held a charity comedy night with Andrew as the MC. The line up was fantastic. The evening was a sell out and the feedback incredible. We held another show in early 2017 and moved to a bigger venue later that year. Our reputation for providing a night of first class comedy grew along with our waiting list! Our nights sold out within a week. And there is the beginning of our story....