COMEDY is alive and well in Basingstoke, as its residential club has celebrated its 10th birthday.

Jan Jack’s Laughter-House, based at the Red Lion Hotel, opened in 2007 to provide comics a venue they would love just as much as the audience.

Set up by promoter Jan Jack after performing on the open mic circuit for years, she wanted to create a home for laughter in Basingstoke.

“I was performing in very dodgy places,” said Jan.

“One night the audience consisted of three people and a dog called Eric.

“My mission was to open a comedy club that comedians would love as much as the audience.

“I popped into the Red Lion Hotel, and they were very enthusiastic about hosting our nights. We settled ourselves down there ten years ago and we never left.”

Described by TV stand-up comedian John Moloney as “one of the nicest clubs I’ve ever performed in”, Laughter-House plays host to both up-and-coming comedians and TV stars, and regularly sells out to an enthusiastic crowd.

In the 10 years it has been running the club has welcomed names like Zoe Lyons, Paul Tonkinson, Danny Dawes and Jonny Awsum.

“I love comedy and hire the best acts I can afford,” Jan added.

“I’m also lucky to have so many loyal audience members; we wouldn’t have a club without them.”

To mark the milestone date, Jan hosted a special 10th anniversary show which featured John Moloney and Angela Barnes who has appeared on Mock the Week.

With Jan continuing to big some of the biggest names in UK comedy to Basingstoke, the promoter is not showing any signs of slowing down.

“We’ll keep doing what we do best,” says Jan, “and in this increasingly digital world hope that people continue come and support live comedy.”