Simon Evans is one of the country's most stylish stand-up comedians. And I'm not just talking about his bespoke suits. On stage he has a relaxed, quiet authority that immediately reassures his audience that they are in safe hands. Evans has the kind of elegant, faintly fogeyish precision that suggests that he wishes that he could perform from a high-backed leather armchair with a tumbler of the finest Scotch in his hands. He is particularly good at getting irate about the ills of modern society.

In past years the London comedy circuit would virtually shut down during the Edinburgh Festival, but for a combination of different reasons various Edinburgh regulars are spending this summer in the capital. Simon Evans, for example, is at the Soho Theatre from August 12 - 23 with his show, Leashed, in which he fulminates about the state of modern society in his typically well-turned out fogeyish way.

There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth recently about the decline of comedy clubs. In fact I've written about it myself. But two clubs open in London this week, bucking the trend, albeit with the aid of some top quality TV talent.