XS Malarkey
XS Malarkey is an award winning, not for profit comedy club in Manchester.
It is promoted and compered by the comedian and actor Toby Hadoke,[1] and runs every Tuesday night. In 2007, a Guardian article described XS Malarkey as a "great example of how a club should be run".[2]
It began life in 1997 at Scruffy Murphys (now Sir Joseph Whitworth) in Fallowfield, before moving down the road to Bar XS on 25 September 2001, where the headline acts were Toby Foster and Jimmy Carr. In 2010, it moved once again to The Queen of Hearts (Now 256 Wilmslow Road), before moving to Platt Chapel 186 Wilmslow Road in 2011. During 2013, XS Malarkey was resident at the now defunct Jabez Clegg Beer Hall. As of January 2014, XS Malarkey is now at The Pub/Zoo on Grosvenor Street.
The club has won Best Comedy Club (North) nine times at the Chortle Awards, and Best Comedy Club twice at the North West Comedy Awards.[3] Toby Hadoke also won 'Best Off-Stage Contribution' at the 2008 Chortle Awards.[4]
Comedians whose began their careers at XS Malarkey include Jason Manford, Alan Carr, and Justin Moorhouse. The club has also featured appearances from Stewart Lee, Peter Kay, Mick Miller, Shazia Mirza, Chris Addison, Dave Spikey, Reginald D Hunter, Russell Howard, Jo Caulfield and Junior Simpson.[5]