The team behind the bar at lockdown comedy pub The Covid Arms have now raised £100,000 to support The Trussell Trust in just 12 weeks since the start of their weekly live comedy night.
Kiri Pritchard-McLean (pictured), Jess Lea-Wilson and Jake Lea-Wilson are the people behind it. Jake Lea-Wilson set up The Covid Arms as a virtual pub to hang out in with thirty or so friends when the real pubs weren’t allowed to open any more. Jess (Jake’s sister) thought that some live entertainment that people could interact with would be a good shout and asked her friend Kiri Pritchard-McLean if she’d do ten minutes of stand-up. Kiri was joined by Rosie Jones, Stephen Bailey and Rachel Fairburn and Live at The Covid Arms was launched.
“The Covid Arms started out as a bit of a joke, on a whim, and has grown into a positive community of people who get together week after week to enjoy amazing line-ups and the chance to chat with some of the best comedians in the country," they said.
“Our punters have been so incredibly generous, and we are so proud to have hit this milestone of £100k for The Trussell Trust, who do such vital work. If you told us after our first show where we'd be now - we would never have believed you. Thanks to every single performer and punter for making this magical event what it is.”
“More and more people are being forced to food banks because there’s nowhere else for them to turn. Last year the food banks in our network provided 1.6million three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis and over 500,000 of these went to children. This was an increase of almost 20% on the previous year. And, as the Coronavirus outbreak develops, more people than ever could need our help. Your generous support means food banks will be able to continue to provide the lifeline of emergency food to people in crisis.”
Their inaugural night raised more than £13,500 for food bank charity The Trussell Trust and was watched by 3,000 people.
Since then, with Kiri as host and some of the country’s best loved comedians as guests, the club has gone from strength to strength. They were even awarded the Guinness World Record for ‘Most visitors to a virtual pub’ for a specially organised pub quiz on 1st May.
Since the pub’s inception it has been host to a myriad of performers from stars of stage and TV to talented newcomers including Nish Kumar, Grace Petrie, Tom Allen, Aisling Bea, Mark Watson, Suzi Ruffell, Sara Pascoe, Rose Matafeo, Ross Noble, Thanyia Moore, Russell Howard, Daliso Chaponda, Angela Barnes, Jessica Fostekew and Rhod Gilbert.
The Covid Arms is on Saturdays at 7pm
Link: www.comedyatthecovid.co.uk
Virtual tickets: £2. £10 for ‘front row’ tickets (The comedians and host will be able to talk to you)
