Monkey Barrel Comedy
Monkey Barrel Comedy
5
7:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Monday
7:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Tuesday
7:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Wednesday
7:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Thursday
7:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Friday
7:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Saturday
4:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Sunday
4:00 PM - 10:30 PM
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavored souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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Restaurants
2,253 within 3 miles
Attractions
575 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Rosie BEdinburgh, United Kingdom77 contributionsBrilliant comedy clubVisited for the 5pm show on Saturday. Fantastic friendly staff and a great line up of comedians. So much fun and a great way to start our night. Drinks are ordered from the menu on the table and brought to you. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area.Visited February 2024Traveled with friendsWritten February 17, 2024
- scottishclaire1985Fife, United Kingdom94 contributionsBest comedy venue in EdinburghWe visited the 5pm show last night 17th February, our second time visiting. The comedians last night were all good but the stand outs were Paddy Young and Jay Lafferty. This is our new favourite place to come for comedy. I recommend booking online as it's always packed. Booking on the website is always easy, communication great (last time I had to reschedule due to the wild weather which was handled excellently) location is also great at the top of the royal mile, a short walk from the train station and plenty pubs/restaurants nearby. Price is on point I'd say. Always a warm welcome, there's a bar you can get drinks at before you go in, you then get shown to your designated chairs. Make sure you log into their wifi as you won't have a signal other wise, then download their menu and you can order drinks/food to your seats during the performance which is handled discreetly to not interrupt the performers. This service makes the place especially stand out from another well known comedy club where you might not always get a seat and have to get through the crowd to get to the bar. I've knocked the rating down to 4 however, as the woman's toilets down in the comedy area (not the ones upstairs though) stank to high heaven, like sewage. No explanation or signage. It was really, really bad, everyone was commenting. I'm sure this is a temporary problem and will be sorted by the next time we visit but of course, no reason to not visit.Hi Claire. Thank you for such a nice review. We're so pleased you had a good time. In terms of your final paragraph, one of the challenges of running a comedy club in 'Auld Reekie' is that some of the charm of the Old Town can often present the odd issue outside of our control. However, we were very aware and were making immediate arrangements to have it looked at. We're sorry we didn't get out suitable signage in time, but rest assured the problem has been addressed and we hope it didn't detract from your visit with us too much. We hope to see you again soon. Thanks again. MBCWritten March 22, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 18, 2024
- Jimmy17 contributionsA great night outA great venue for a laugh. Iain Smith was particularly funny. Would definitely recommend going early to make sure you are sat at the front. Only downside was some of the drinks were overpriced especially for coming in plastic cups. My girlfriend had a £7 for the smallest can of a cocktail id ever seen. Moretti in a glass was spot on though 👌.Thanks for the review! Our cocktail cans are from our friends at Whitebox Cocktails. They are single serve 100ml spirit cocktails with a range including Freezer Martini, Pocket Negroni and Chipper's Old Fashioned. Look them up online, as they are a real favourite of everyone here (and we don't charge much extra). More generally, alongside our cocktails, we do have a range of drinks at various price-points, so we hope there is something for everyone. For the drinks themselves, one of the reasons we use cans and recyclable plastic cups is for the safety of our acts, staff, and customers when moving between our performance spaces and also to make sure we can quickly serve drinks during busy periods and shortly before our shows start. However, we’re pleased you enjoyed the pint of Moretti (in a glass) and we'll get more glassware into our bars off the back of your review where we can. Thank you for visiting us. MBCWritten March 22, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited February 2024Traveled with friendsWritten March 2, 2024
- 1isa8284 contributionsGood night outFirstly when you walk down the street away from the castle it’s on the left, you think it’s on the right but it’s not. We really enjoyed the evening, we saw 4 comedians who were good, especially the headline act MC Hammersmith who was very clever and funny. The host who introduced the acts was also very good. Just watch out for the tables in the bar upstairs, my drink slid off as the table curved down at the edges.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 9, 2024
- Richard B2 contributionsExcellent night with a twistAttended a show here on 09/03/24. Comedians were excellent, especially Susan Riddell and MC Hammersmith. Very friendly and accommodating bar staff too. The only dampener on the evening was an over enthusiastic usher. The usher in question spent the entire show asking people to not laugh as loud. I’m not sure working in a comedy club is their forte. A real Buzz Killington. I would highly recommend and will definitely be back. Perhaps by then the usher will have been promoted to the head of their neighbourhood watch team and channelling their inner authority figure elsewhere.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 11, 2024
- Stuart KieCork, Ireland6 contributionsReally enjoyableHad a great time at this venue. Well worth a visit and very reasonable. 2 pounds each with a discount. Large picture of beer. Filling 4 pints 20 pounds. It was top banana night and the comic's were good. Great way to spend a couple of hours.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 15, 2024
- Bella K2 contributionsRecommend! Fun! Cool!Saw two shows two nights in a row! Very good!!! Really great host and vibes atmosphere. A lot of english and american comedians. They bring drinks to your table during sets. Affordable and good place to take cool pictures Dont sit in the front row if you're scaredyVisited April 2024Traveled with friendsWritten April 15, 2024
- mmfredUnited States335 contributionsCannot Miss this!What a time we had! Brave enough to sit in the front row for the second time! Hilarious comedians and just so much fun. Drinks brought to you at reasonable prices. An enjoyable night out without breaking the bank. Will continue to come every time we visit Edinburgh! Love it!!!!Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 19, 2024
- terry g1 contributionNight of comedyAbsolutely amazing night as per usual at the monkey barrel. Great acts, great atmosphere, amazingly friendly staff. All in all, well worth the reasonable cost of a ticket for the return. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Visited May 2024Traveled soloWritten May 2, 2024
- MJToronto, Canada42 contributionsFun way to end (or start) the night!Seating is a bit tight, but overall this is a great place. We got to see some fringe prep for SUCH a reasonable price and there are shows going constantly. If there’s someone you really want to see, probably best to buy tickets online, but we had no issues walking in and getting great seats. Only thing to be mindful of is that this place is located on a particularly steeper hill, so be mindful of you have any mobility issues.Visited July 2024Traveled with friendsWritten July 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
652 reviews
Excellent
563
Very good
59
Average
12
Poor
5
Terrible
13
The Owl Reviews
Edinburgh, UK201 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Every year, Monkey Barrel always has fantastic shows in the center of town. What I've always loved is they try their best to make the slots for the acts as profitable for them as possible and as open to the public as possible no matter how much money they have.
If you think an act will sell out, you can buy in advance which I would recommend for shows you definitely don't want to miss out on to avoid disappointment but then you can see shows if there are seats free after paying customers and can put some money in a bucket at the end for what you felt the show was worth if you want to.
Its a great system and I've seen many many great acts!
If you think an act will sell out, you can buy in advance which I would recommend for shows you definitely don't want to miss out on to avoid disappointment but then you can see shows if there are seats free after paying customers and can put some money in a bucket at the end for what you felt the show was worth if you want to.
Its a great system and I've seen many many great acts!
Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Enda C
Navan, Ireland4 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Went twice - Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was excellent and Sunday was very good. Cost of tickets on Saturday were higher but this was reflected in the acts on stage. Either way both nights were excellent value and activities in Edinburgh can be on the pricey side so this was a great way to spend an hour and a half or so without spending an arm and a leg. Would definitely recommend going. MC Gary Fox (I think) did a great job and really kept the crowd going. Last act on the Saturday- Simon, Stewart, Stephen or something like that is one to look out for too.
Written October 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bburrows78
Manchester, UK126 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
We had a great couple of days in Edinburgh but it can be pretty pricey. It was our last night and we were looking for something we could do with our teenagers, 16 & 18.
We’d passed by Monkey Barrel Comedy and a quick google search showed they had a student comedy competition night on. Tickets were only £3 each so wasn’t really expecting much but thought for that price, it’s worth a try.
Well….we bloody loved it. You start off in the bar area above and they let you know when it’s time to go down for the show. Each party are escorted to the seats so there’s no scrambling for the best seats.
They have an app which you can download and then be brought drinks and snacks all night. This feature was super and all the staff were so brilliant and it was well organised.
The toilets were clean and easily accessible.
It doesn’t look much from the outside but it had such a nice vibe to it. I’m from Manchester and I would say it had a Northern Quarter feel to it.
The student comedians were really entertaining and my teenagers loved the night too! Bonus, us parents were able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. It was hard to find a watering hole where we could take the kids and be entertained. It was so worth the £3.00. I’d have happily paid more. I’d definitely recommend a visit if you’re in Edinburgh and want a relaxed, entertaining and funny night.
We’d passed by Monkey Barrel Comedy and a quick google search showed they had a student comedy competition night on. Tickets were only £3 each so wasn’t really expecting much but thought for that price, it’s worth a try.
Well….we bloody loved it. You start off in the bar area above and they let you know when it’s time to go down for the show. Each party are escorted to the seats so there’s no scrambling for the best seats.
They have an app which you can download and then be brought drinks and snacks all night. This feature was super and all the staff were so brilliant and it was well organised.
The toilets were clean and easily accessible.
It doesn’t look much from the outside but it had such a nice vibe to it. I’m from Manchester and I would say it had a Northern Quarter feel to it.
The student comedians were really entertaining and my teenagers loved the night too! Bonus, us parents were able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. It was hard to find a watering hole where we could take the kids and be entertained. It was so worth the £3.00. I’d have happily paid more. I’d definitely recommend a visit if you’re in Edinburgh and want a relaxed, entertaining and funny night.
Written February 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heaveniscool
Derry, UK17 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We were not overly impressed with this place. We go to many comedy clubs all over and we found this one to be quite stiff. From the moment you arrive, you are chaperoned by (a rude lady) to a little stool (do dare not express where to sit). You CANNOT break breath to the person beside you or else you will be chastised! And warned ! I mean it ,you are NOT allowed to open your mouth (weird).
Ordering is difficult and limited. Our beer was served warmed.
The comedy acts just were not funny ...except the last act that night was o.k near the end of his set. There are much better places to go in Edinburgh where you will be warmly welcomed. Best to save your money and avoid this one.
Ordering is difficult and limited. Our beer was served warmed.
The comedy acts just were not funny ...except the last act that night was o.k near the end of his set. There are much better places to go in Edinburgh where you will be warmly welcomed. Best to save your money and avoid this one.
Written October 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna
London, UK45 contributions
Nov 2022
It was my first time at a comedy club and I had a great time! We paid 3 pounds for a ticket and since we were a bit early we were seated right at the front, which made me a bit nervous at first to be honest. It was an event where new stand up comedians could show there sets and where established stand up comedians could try out new stuff. Itm was a great mix of comedians and I laughed a lot. Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it!
Written November 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Travelling Foodies
Blakeney, UK950 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
The place is compact and cosy with a table between every 2-4 seats and table service throught the set.
The acts were all great and had us laughing from the off.
I was a Comedy Club virgin until Littlest Foodie suggested it for our first night out in Edinburgh. How could I not have done this before, it's so much fun and cheap.
We watched the Top Banana which is the early set and at £25 for two tickets (LF is a student so got a discount) and a bottle of plonk it is fantastic value for money.
Thankfully, even though we were right at the edge of stage left we were not used as part of the act. The other guests there who were included were excellent though.
The acts were all great and had us laughing from the off.
I was a Comedy Club virgin until Littlest Foodie suggested it for our first night out in Edinburgh. How could I not have done this before, it's so much fun and cheap.
We watched the Top Banana which is the early set and at £25 for two tickets (LF is a student so got a discount) and a bottle of plonk it is fantastic value for money.
Thankfully, even though we were right at the edge of stage left we were not used as part of the act. The other guests there who were included were excellent though.
Written January 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hilly2001
St Helens, UK74 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Doors open up to 60 minutes before the show starts. Seats are allocated on a first come, first - stood outside at 20:40 for 9pm show! Doors do not open half hr before, stood in rain 🤷♀️wtaf
Written October 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Hilly. Did you come to right place? All our shows started and ended on time, and our door staff and front of house teams were always on hand to assist. If you were outside in the rain, then you were likely in the wrong place unfortunately. We are on Blair Street just off the Royal Mile, with shows often on opposite sides of the street, but there is always clear, lit signage, A boards and posters on the door showing what is on where and when. Plus the door staff helping to coordinate people to the right shows. Drop us a line at boxoffice@monkeybarrelcomedy.com if you want more information.
Written October 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kevin C
Cramlington, UK159 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Me and my partner visited here after googling comedy shows in Edinburgh, we needed a earlier show as we where travelling home that night. We come across this place, as it was the only comedy place that had a 5pm show. It was £20 for the two of us, which i thought was good value, you can also add drink packages on to your tickets. When you arrive you get shown to your seat where you can order food and drinks via a app. The show was on for 90 mins with no break, this was Probably because there was no need to queue at the bar half way threw for a drink. There was 5 acts (including the main host) and they where all hilarious in different ways. My personal favourite was a man called Steve Bugeja, who mentioned he had a solo show in Edinburgh the next night, if we where there until then, we would of defo went to see him. It was the first time i got picked out from the audience and involved in one of the comedians jokes, and it was all in good fun, there not mean with it. Such a lovely little venue, i highly recommend!.
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katrīna
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Couples
Wandered in on a Wednesday Top Banana night last minute surprised to see there were still some seats available (thought that it'd be full already and we'd be sent home, but we were lucky!) and very glad we did! Very nice staff from entrance to bar, funny and entertaining acts from each and every comedian and great host (we got Chris Thorburn), made sure to involve the audience as well, so that everyone felt welcome. Overall, had some (many!) great laughs and were happy to experience a glimpse of the famous Edinburgh comedy scene here! A must visit, and very affordable (weirdly so)!
Written October 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaitlyn J
13 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
Monkey Barrel Comedy bar as fantastic! The comedians were fantastic especially John Hastings and MC Hammersmith, they both had great crowd interactions and had us all laughing. The service was amazing and you could order drinks right to your table so you didn’t have to get up to go to the bar during a set. I bought my ticket at the door which was very handy but you can pre-purchase online.
Written October 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there. I am coming to Edinburgh to celebrate my 40th birthday in June with my husband and three children who are 19, 18 and 13. Is my 13 year old allowed to attend Monkey Barrel with us all? Kind regards.
Written April 29, 2022
Hi there - you can purchase gift vouchers. This reply feature does not allow me to post website links so I have posted it in sections - apologies for this!
monkeybarrelcomedy
. giftpro
. co
. uk
Written December 2, 2019
Hi , does the Venue allowed 6 year old , any show , gig allowed 6 year old ?
Written May 4, 2019
Hi, so all under 18s must be accompanied by an adult, and we have a 16 and over guideline, with the ultimate judgement call left in the hands of the under 18's guardian. 6 could be a bit too young, as all of our shows feature adult content. We do not have a children's show on our program.
Written May 6, 2019
Hi is the venue near other nightlife? I'm trying to plan our weekend in Edinburgh & wondered if I should book tickets for the Friday night then we could go for drinks afterwards if there are pubs/bars nearby..Many thanks
Written April 6, 2019
Hi, thanks for getting in touch - it certainly is. We are right in the middle of the Edinburgh Old Town, which is the hub of the capital's nightlife scene.
Written April 8, 2019
Is the venue accessible? I can transfer from my wheelchair. Thanks
Written May 26, 2018
Yes. There are a couple of small steps but we have a movable ramp which the team would be very happy to get out for you. Just let us know in advance and we can be ready for you.
Written October 13, 2019
Is the venue accessible? I can transfer from my wheelchair. Thanks
Written May 26, 2018
Hi,
Yes our top floor is accessible via wheelchair and we do have a disabled toilet also. When you wish to book just get in touch.
See you soon!
Written May 27, 2018
If I book for 11 people for a Saturday evening, do we get allocated seats or is it first come first served on seating? If so, any advice on how soon after doors open we would need to be there to sit together. Thanks!
Written May 10, 2018
Hello!
You will have allocated seats. Our doors open at 7pm and we ask if you can be prompt for arrival as we do not allow people enter once the show starts at half 8.
Written May 11, 2018
Friday night show I saw was maybe two and half hours or there abouts
Written January 29, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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