BUTCOME Pubs & Inns is launching a Festival of Laughs, a 12-day comedy festival run in association with comedian Jarred Christmas' Pop Up Comedy company.

The festival kicks off on Tuesday, May 2 and will make its way across the country, including Butcombe pubs in Bridgwater, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and London.

Hosted by award-winning comedian and founder of Pop-Up Comedy, Jarred Christmas, Butcombe’s Festival of Laughs promises an evening of laugh out loud comedy with three of the country’s most acclaimed comedic talents.

Full tour dates are:

May 2: Whitmore Tap, Bristol

May 3: Lamb Hotel, Axbridge

May 4: Bower Inn, Bridgwater

May 5: The Beckford Inn, Tewkesbury

May 9: Avon Causeway, Christchurch

May 10: Pavilion Arms, Bournemouth

May 11: Admiral Codrington, London

May 16: Victoria Arms, Old Marston

May 17: White Hart, Swindon

May 18: Horse & Groom, Malmesbury

May 19: Bourne Valley Inn, Andover

May 23: The Mill, Haslemere

Jarred Christmas has appeared on Mock the Week, 8 out of 10 Cats, The Comedy Store Presents on Comedy Central and Jonathan Creek.

He has even popped up in a couple of episodes of Hollyoaks. 

He has won the prestigious Chortle Award for best Compere twice and scooped Best Comedian at the New Zealand Comedy festival.

He said: “I am delighted to be teaming up with Butcombe Pubs & Inns to bring world class comedians to your local pub. 

“The Festival of Laughs is going to be a blast - top notch comedy, top notch food and drink, top notch giveaways and all of this just down the road from your house! 

“A proper funny night out at an affordable price.”

Featured comedians on the tour are:

Andrew Bird: He has been the main Tour Support act for Michael McIntyre, Russell Howard and Rob Brydon. He is one of the most popular headline comedians on the UK stand-up scene.

Jenny Collier: She has featured on Mo Gilligan’s TV show and has appeared numerous times on Comedy Central. A regular at all the top comedy clubs in the UK, including The Comedy Store in London, Jenny is a multi-award-winning comedian.

Rob DeeringL He has been described as a musical comedy wunderkind. He has featured on Radio 4 and won Richard Osman’s House of Games. Rob has toured the world with his brilliant comedy and is co-host of the hugely popular podcast Running Commentary.

Tickets for Butcombe’s Festival of Laughs cost £15 and can be bought via: https://www.popupcomedy.org/shows

The Avon Causeway event features a three-course set menu and comedy show in a  beautifully refurbished train carriage, The Pullman.