The Downs gets set to host Bristol Comedy Garden 2022

Bristol Comedy Garden is primed to return to The Downs in mid-summer, with a bumper lineup of standups once more set to appear on the BCG stage, from June 15-19.

Formerly staged in Queen Square, the hotly-anticipated event found a new home in 2021 in response to the need to provide socially distanced entertainment.

The new setting worked so well that for Cass Randolph and Will Briggs of 57 Festivals, the Devon-raised siblings who have organised the event for a decade, it was a no brainer to continue with their outdoor stage on the Downs.

Bristol Comedy Garden 2021 – photo: 57 Festivals

As before, the spacious, green location will be populated by a variety of hand-picked local street food vendors and walk-up bars, and affords plenty of space for socialising before the comedy begins.

“We love bringing these shows to the southwest,” say the brother and sister team. “The audiences are so receptive, and the acts feed off that energy and give brilliant performances.”

The pair are also behind other major annual events including Greenwich Comedy Festival at the National Maritime Museum, and Brighton Comedy Garden.

Bristol Comedy Garden 2022 lineup – photo: 57 Festivals

Their 15+ years in the industry has turned them into seasoned curators of standup, renowned for attracting diverse bills of the most exciting acts around.

With eight shows across five consecutive days, this year’s lineup is no exception, and has been further enhanced by the announcement that arena-filling guv’nor himself Al Murray and Netflix star Joel Dommett will be joining the bill.

Other headliners programmed to appear include the Netflix star and Perfect Sounds host, James Acaster – arguably the foremost comedy talent of his generation – joined on the bill by This Way Up’s Aisling Bea, Taskmaster’s Phil Wang, and host of The Mash Report, Nish Kumar.

Aisling Bea – photo: courtesy of 57 Festivals

Father Ted star Ardal O’Hanlan and king of the one-liner, Milton Jones also feature, alongside lo-fi hero David O’Doherty, for whom the event has a special place in the comedy calendar.  “I can’t think of another festival where I often hang around the night after my show to sip a delicious cold drink, while eating a fancy sausage and watching some of the best comedians in the biz in a beautiful park, he says.

“Often when I’m trapped backstage in some freezing February village hall, eating a petrol station banana killing time before a show I’ll think, only five months to Bristol.”

Elsewhere on the bill there are welcome return appearances for award-winning stand-up Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, Bristol-born John Robins, The Last Leg regular Rosie Jones, Taskmaster favourites Lou Sanders and Jamali Maddix, ventriloquist Nina Conti, and cult comic, poet and author, Tim Key.

David O’Doherty – photo courtesy of 57 Festivals

Phil Wang – photo: courtesy of 57 Festivals

Reflecting the depth of talent on show, as well as the household names there will be debut appearances from multiple breakthrough acts and rising stars at Bristol Comedy Garden, among them Esther Manito, Tadiwa Mahlunge, Celya Ab, Chloe Petts and Josh Jones.

“We’re over the moon with this year’s lineup,” enthuses Briggs. “It’s going to be such a good one and a perfect way to celebrate our 10th anniversary of the Comedy Garden.

“Bristol crowds are widely known to be the best in the country and doing Bristol Comedy Garden is never anything short of a pleasure. We can’t wait to open the gates!”

Nina Conti – photo: courtesy of 57 Festivals

Sindhu Vee – photo: courtesy of 57 Festivals

Bristol Comedy Garden is on The Downs, from June 15-19. There is one evening show on Wednesday-Friday, with three shows on Saturday, and two on Sunday. For more information, full lineups, event timings and tickets, visit www.bristolcomedygarden.co.uk.

Main photo: 57 Festivals

Read more: Bristol Comedy Garden returns

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: