Twas the week before Christmas and there’s a strange collection of comedy shows to choose from, including a festive taste of Heron Foods.

Christmas Quiz Party Thing at XS Malarkey | Tue 16 Dec | 7.30pm | FREE

XS Malarkey has long been a refuge for comedy fans in the city that take their stand-up seriously, so it’s always nice for everyone to get the chance to blow off steam with this bonus quiz/party vibe at the end of the year. It’ll also be the last chance to imbibe from the XS cup for a while as they take January off. Go, and raise a glass to what is consistently one of Manchester’s finest comedy clubs on another successful year in operation.

53Two, Arch 19 Watson Street, Manchester M3 4LP
Riff & Rebuttal at Creatures | Wed 17 Dec | 7pm | £1

If you prefer your comedy more confrontational, then head down to Creatures on the following night for a night of Riff & Rebuttal in their basement fight club. Here, comedians go head-to-head, taking on audience-suggested topics in a hilarious debate show with the funniest argument being crowned the winner.

Creatures Comedy Club, 42-44 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE
Molly & Paul Try Heron Foods at Fairfield Social Club | Fri 19 Dec | 8pm | £8.30

Fast becoming a cult favourite amongst Mancunian comedy lovers, Molly McGuinness and Paul Campbell’s rock opera-cum-love letter to “Iceland on a budget” supermarket Heron Foods is given a festive twist that looks to put the ‘mad’ in ‘Mad Friday’. Join your hosts as they sing newly penned paeans to the nonsense foods Heron Foods dishes up at this time of year under the watchful and exasperated eye of their long-suffering band leader Vince Atta. Make it your new Christmas tradition.

Fairfield Social Club, 6 Irk Street, Manchester M4 4JT
Tue 16 Dec - Fri 19 Dec
Words:
John Stansfield
Published on:
Mon 15 Dec 2025