Ev-ree-bod-ee, everybody in the house of… gin? Okay, so that isn’t quite right, but hopefully, my incredibly dated music reference gives you some idea of just how much time I’ve spent in Walthamstow.

I always get a little sceptical when my mates recommend comedy shows within walking distance of their houses—like, is it really that good, or are you just being lazy? Regardless, that’s how we found ourselves at The Nags Head in E17, settling in for our first gin of the evening (but by no means our last).

Despite the obvious namesake, this Nags Head makes zero references to Only Fools and Horses and instead focuses on gin, pizza, and cats. It’s a fun spot, the staff are friendly, and it’s the perfect place to kill time when you’ve turned up before the gig venue has even opened.

Speaking of the gig venue, I’d never been to a comedy show in a gin distillery before, but I now can’t think of a better place to host one. We wandered into Mother’s Ruin and were greeted by rows of chairs, a friendly barman, and shelves stacked with handmade spirits. Obviously, it would have been rude not to try a couple (and the rum… and the vodka… etc.), and naturally, you have to buy a bottle, right? (We went for the Rose Geranium & Fennel blend—stunning.)

Drinks in hand and ready to laugh, we took our seats for the show. The place was packed—fully sold out—and it’s easy to see why. Our host clown and compère, Emily Bampton, brought an incredible energy to the stage, with material pitched firmly at a Gen Z audience.

This is her night, and its success is down to the audience she’s built, the talent she attracts, and her ability to keep both coming back for more.

While our host’s sections were the standouts, the line-up delivered some real gems. Sam Nicoresti’s set was a brilliantly anxious spiral, and ‘Slug in a Club’— a one-woman character act in an OTT mask ‘— was a memorable fever dream of performance art (“Tequila, please… but no salt!”).

The quality of acts was mixed, but at no point did the energy dip, and that’s all thanks to our clown compère. Silly games and quick-fire banter kept the momentum rolling, even during the breaks (helped, of course, by that very convenient gin bar).

Now, this isn’t a show for everyone. I mean, I’ve been to a lot of comedy nights, but never one where they have asked the audience for their pronouns or had an official hand signal to opt out of audience interaction. (If you’re curious, it’s the same as calling for a sub in basketball—or announcing that you’re one of the X-Men.)

But there’s no denying that this night has found its people. It’s built such a solid following in Walthamstow that, by the end of the evening, Emily announced they’d soon be moving to a bigger venue—because they keep selling out their current one. A truly impressive feat.

Local shows like ‘Comedy in Ruins’ exist all over the country, each with their own unique signature style. If you’ve got one near you, do yourself a favour and check it out.

Clown Stars: (-unrated-)

@Mothers Ruin, London

For more information on ‘Comedy in Ruins’ click here