There’s a new destination for entertainment, culture, and connection in the heart of Liverpool: welcome to Blackstock Market.
Many people will be familiar with the story of Hot Water Comedy Club which, following its creation in a nightclub almost fourteen years ago, grew into one of the most followed comedy clubs in the world, and it is from the seeds of that success story that Blackstock Market has evolved as a community-built venture bringing together entertainment, culture, and culinary excellence in one dynamic space.
With an emphasis on community and a commitment to local employment, the goal is to nurture and showcase local talent and business through partnership and serve up culinary delights and comedic brilliance whilst celebrating the city’s strong musical heritage in parallel.
Culinary needs are met through a food market with several top local traders catering for all tastes, offering whatever you may fancy from street food to gourmet dishes.
This is matched by a bespoke drinks offering, whether that be at Parlour for a craft cocktail, or at Whisky & Water for a rare find: I opted for the latter and came away with the smoothest Sazerac and a wealth of information to help me select a drink the next time I venture in.
Of course, culinary delights and drinks are the perfect accompaniment to a night of entertainment and there is an unspoilt choice available with live music, comedy, and special events on offer, as well as a range of unique spaces for hire with Blackstock Market serving as the perfect backdrop for a private event or public production.
I opted to take in the new home for the Hot Water Comedy Club in the safe hands of compere Phil Chapman, one of the most prolific writers on the circuit and a highly sought after act in his own right. He played gently with the audience, many of them regulars, throughout the night as we explored themes as far and as wide as Specsavers and Runcorn, through to Brexit and the Heimlich manoeuvre.
Glaswegian Garry Little, replete in double denim, led us through the farcical perils of dog walking in the park, before local Tony Carroll amusingly guided us through the pros and cons of late-night parties in Speke. Closing proceedings, Liverpool comic Simon Wozniak served up his hilarious, no-holds barred opinions on the world including the travails of night-time driving.
My night started with the original cocktail – a blend of whisky, absinthe, bitters and sugar – which proved to be the perfect precursor to what followed, as the legacy of the Hot Water Comedy Club blended with the broader vision of Blackstock Market to deliver an exciting new chapter in Liverpool’s entertainment and cultural scene. Check it out at https://www.blackstockmarket.co.uk/
Reviewer: Mark Davoren
Reviewed: 25th July 2024
North West End UK Rating: