You know that scene in movies when the star goes into a bar and there is someone already in there with a pint lined up and endless stories to regale the clientele with? That person should be played every time by Micky Bartlett. From the moment he strolls on this fast-talking, quick-thinking Northern Irish powerhouse of a stand-up immediately puts you at ease and feels like a character you instantly recognise and want to spend time with.

He's not breaking any artistic boundaries with his latest show, Let Me Start from the Start, but boy, does he keep his audience entertained with a seemingly bottomless supply of hilarious stories. You are certainly in safe hands when Bartlett is bantering with plentiful and free-flowing punchlines.

Bartlett is well-travelled comic and has plenty of on-the-road anecdotes about the perils of speedy boarding and the embarrassing fall-out when you try to game the system and things don't quite go to plan. He is more than happy to be the butt of the gag. There is further wince-making embarrassment in a relatable tale of mistaken identity in the street. Bartlett has a great way of tapping into situations we've all found ourselves in at some point and finding the funny.

He is in his thirties now and gets mileage out of the ageing process. His neck, he recently found out, is now larger than a standard-sized pizza. And you could say that some of his gags are as cheesy as a Quattro Formaggi. While being smart enough to acknowledge that we live in complex times he mainly steers clear of anything too edgy or controversial. But when it comes to timeless comedy topics Micky will crack you up when riffing about relationships or the stresses of self-service checkouts.

Bartlett is a comic who clearly knows absolutely what he's doing. If you are looking for a rock-solid sure-fire stand-up who is going to get the crowd quaking with laughter look no further.

Until August 27. Info here.

three stars