Southport Comedy Festival paid partnership
The 15th Annual Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Kia Southport has enjoyed a record year, with over 7,000 visitors enjoying 17 days of laughter with some of the biggest names in comedy.
There 11 sold-out shows at this year’s festival, which was held inside a luxury heated and seated marquee provided by Elite Events at Victoria Park in Southport for the sixth consecutive year.
This year’s line-up featured stars including Jason Manford, Paul Merton and Suki Webster, Jason Byrne, Paul Sinha, Jimeoin, Clinton Baptiste, Henning Wehn, Gary Delaney, Adam Kay, Mike Wozniak, Seann Walsh, Scott Bennett and Mick Miller.
The Southport New Comedian of the Year Competition sponsored for a fifth year by Dragon Soop provided a platform to the stars of tomorrow with Jack Wood this year’s champion.
Festival-goers could dance the night away with Comedy Bingo Goes Back to the 90s.
Read More: Bebe’s Hive raises over £6,000 as chosen charity for 2026 Southport Comedy Festival
A raffle on the night was held to raise funds for Bebe’s Hive, the festival’s chosen charity this year. The team from Bebe’s Hive were at the event for each show, selling Bebe’s Hive t-shirts and other items. They raised a total of £6,110.96 during the event.
Food and drink was provided by award-winning local businesses Tik Taco andElite Bars, who are both returning next year.
Work is already taking shape for the line-up for next year’s event, which will take place at Victoria Park in Southport 1st-17th October 2026. with the first names due to be announced soon.
People can keep up to date via the Southport Comedy Festival website and social media pages and sign up to be the first to know with the Southport Comedy Festival newsletter.
Southport Comedy Festival Directors Brendan Riley and Val Brady said:
“The dust has now settled after this year’s incredible Southport Comedy Festival.
“Now we have taken a breath, we can reflect and thank all of the team that helped to make it such a success and of course thank all of the 7000 + people who came to join the laughter over 17 days and nights!
“This was a record year for Southport Comedy Festival, with a huge response.
“We were pleased to be able to attract festival-goers from all over the country during November, bringing a boost for restaurants, hotels, guest houses, shops and other local businesses.
“It wouldn’t be possible to stage such an event without the support of our many sponsors including our associate sponsor Halliwell Jones Kia Southport. Some of our sponsors have supported us since 2011.
“One new thing we did this year was hosting three matinee shows, with Jason Manford, Paul Sinha and Mick Miller, which all went extremely well. We’ll definitely be building on this next year.
“We would like to thank Mark Dilley of Elite Events for providing our beautiful marquee and bar, Alan Adams and all of the team from the Southport Flower Show and Victoria Park, Southport, festival catering partner Tik Taco for serving up their tasty Mexican street food at all of our events, Scott Mackin and his team at Moonlight Events for our lighting and impressive video wall. Big thanks also to Martin Maynard our sound and stage tech expert, Jason Woodward our wingman who was always on hand to move chairs and equipment every night, Connor and Jason from Logika Security, Waterfront Southport Hotel for looking after our comedians, Sefton Council for lending us our festival chairs and AAA Vans Ltd for delivering them on time.
“Another massive thanks goes to our brilliant festival volunteers who gave up their time to steward, usher, guide and keep everyone safe each night, the fabulously creative Pete Tynan of Bro Design Studio who does all of our design and artwork The Print Quarter who print and produce our brochures and festival banners and Ian Hartley who is not just our IT and web designer but also doubles up as our business confidant, and of course the amazing comedy talent, we are truly blessed to have been able to put together an outstanding line-up, so thank you to all the amazing comedians who took part this year.
“Our nominated charity this year was Bebe’s Hive UK. We would like to thank everyone who generously donated and bought merchandise, the sum raised over the festival was £6,110, your support will make a huge difference.
“Plans are already underway for next year’s festival with some big names to announce soon!
“Please sign up to our mailing list to find out first who will be making Southport smile next October. See you in 2027. Up The Port!”
For more details about Southport Comedy Festival visit: Southport Comedy Festival
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