18/05/2026
After a lot of difficult conversations over the last few days, we’ve made the decision to pause Ballyrags Comedy Club for a while.
That means the upcoming shows at The Esplanade, Ocean View and The Wheatsheaf will no longer be going ahead, and all ticket holders will be refunded automatically.
This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly.
The reality is that live entertainment is really struggling at the moment. Costs have continued to rise across the board — acts, travel, accommodation, production, marketing, logistics — whilst audiences everywhere are becoming more cautious with money.
We’ve been operating on the breadline for a while now, just about keeping things moving through passion, stubbornness and the support of the people who kept turning up.
But right now, carrying on as we are, would risk finishing Ballyrags entirely.
We’ve reached a point where we need to step back, take stock properly, and work out what Ballyrags looks like moving forwards in a way that’s sustainable long-term — whether that means fewer shows, bigger shows, different venues, changes to the format, or a complete rethink altogether. Everything is on the table right now.
What we do know is this:
Ballyrags has created some genuinely brilliant nights over the last few years. We’ve brought incredible comedians to the Isle of Wight, packed rooms out, watched strangers become mates, couples meet at gigs, and built something people genuinely cared about. For that, we’ll always be massively proud and hugely grateful.
This isn’t necessarily goodbye. But it is us being honest about where things are at.
Thank you to every single person who’s bought a ticket, shared a poster, supported the acts, trusted us with your venues, or simply believed in what we were trying to build.
We’ll keep you updated once we’ve had a chance to breathe and work out what comes next.
Thanks for the memories.
Toby & Luc
