A popular restaurant has promised "big names" and "big nights" are coming to town as it launches a unique comedy club to rival Manchester's thriving comedy scene.
The Old School BBQ Bus, famous for its "low and slow" barbecue meats that owner and top chef, Mark Fairley, tends to from the crack of dawn, has announced it will be injecting a bit of comedy into the borough with "big names, big nights and big food".
The restaurant on Alford Street in Chadderton shot to fame after appearing on Channel 4's Come Dine With Me: The Professionals earlier this year and Mark said he hasn't slept since as he continually brainstorms the next big thing to bring to the bus - and Oldhamers.
Beyond "bringing a taste of the Wild West to the North West", the restaurant regularly hosts live music nights and a raft of entertainment that has proved a hit with locals.
However, the inspiration for turning the venue into a comedy club was born when Mark met Smug Roberts, an actor and comedian most known for his appearances on Phoenix Nights, and the duo hit it off.
The pair hatched a plan to create Oldham's "first-ever" regular and dedicated comedy club where there will be weekly gigs and which they hope will rival Manchester's long-standing status in the comedy scene where Smug started out in 1995 at the Frog and Bucket.
Mark said: "This is about giving the people of Oldham what they want and giving back to that community.
"The establishment is so different too as it's so homely.
"We just want to push something a little bit different for Oldham that will be fantastic for the area."
Smug added: "It's both of our experiences combined.
"This time next year, when we're well established, we will see all kinds of acts and will rival any comedy club in Manchester.
"We just decided to go for it. Let's really smash it."
As well as celebrities from across the North West, the Old School BBQ Bus will eventually host comedy workshops where the next generation of local comedians and emerging talent can learn from seasoned performers.
Smug explained: "I never thought I would be in comedy as a working class man and although my character is essentially me, it's an exaggerated version of me in a way.
"But this would be about bringing and nurturing talent as well as bringing big talent in."
The comedy nights are kicking off this weekend for its first Christmas comedy festival on Friday and Saturday (November 25-26) which will see performances from Smug himself as well as Brassic's Archie Kelly and Britain's Got Talent star, Daliso Chaponda.
The Christmas comedy fest has more acts hidden up its sleeves this weekend, but after the festival, the Old School BBQ Bus will have its grand opening Christmas comedy night special on December 14 where customers can enjoy a special BBQ bus twist on a Christmas dinner, plus a Phoenix Nights and Mrs Brown Boys quiz.
Then, as of January 25, the comedy club will be in full swing with regular comedy nights every Wednesday which will again feature food and drinks deals from £10 a ticket.
Mark said the cost-of-living crisis is having an impact on everyone and businesses are afraid about how the next 12 months pan out with an expected decrease in footfall.
He said: "People aren't going out as much and are trying to save money.
"So we're sort of firefighting that but we decided to throw the comedy night on as somewhere for people to go when there isn't anything."
"We all need a bit of laughter and bringing together."
Smug, who lives in Failsworth, added that the venue is in a prime location for Oldhamers who may be worried about the cost of babysitters and taxi fares when venturing out into Manchester.
"It's a bit of a hidden gem here and it's such value for money", he added.
The venue will also see Smug launch his dementia awareness campaign, brought through his "Dementia Street" play about his mother's tragic decline with the disease, which Mark has invested in.
Events will be regularly posted on The Old School BBQ Bus' social media channels and all tickets can be purchased in advance by booking on the website.
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