Chatteris friends are not just playing it for laughs with their business
Two former Chatteris school friends have a life full of laughs thanks to a business launched at the height of the pandemic.
Harrison Salter, from Wimblington and James Garner, from Chatteris, met when they first started the Cromwell Community College age 12 and have been inseparable friends ever since.
They have tried numerous business ventures from running a cycle repair business when they were still at school to having a Dinky Donuts stall.
But Harrison, 32, has always enjoyed comedy and worked for a short while as a semi-professional comedian doing gigs on the circuit, however he realised fairly soon that he was not going to make it in that world, in that way.
Then in what the pair describe as a bold move they came up with the idea of running their own comedy clubs and launched their company Chuckl during lock down.
Harrison said: "James was a bit nervous about the idea of launching a business that specialises in live entertainment in the middle of a pandemic when everything was closed down, he is a bit more risk averse than I am but I managed to persuade him it would be a good idea and would work once things were back to normal.
"And it has worked. We are busier than ever running comedy clubs across the country ourselves and looking after booking acts for loads more. We have earned a really good reputation on the circuit and we are booking really well-known comedians on a regular basis at our comedy clubs in Huntingdon, Stamford, Thetford and Bedford.
"We want to launch a comedy club in Fenland - it is our home area, we still live locally and would love to bring a Chuckl comedy club here, but sadly we have not been able to find a suitable venue, but if anyone has any ideas or would like to offer us a place then we would love to hear from them."
Harrison added: "We put on phenomenal nights that comedians and audiences love and are fast becoming known as the 'Chuckl Brothers' locally and on the comedy circuit.
"We discover and champion newer acts as well as working with the likes of Milton Jones, Paul Sinha, Jen Brister, Jo Caulfied, Fern Brady, Jamali Maddix, Keith Farnan, Esther Manito, Nick Helm, Geoff Norrcott and many other well known comedians.
"Having gone from zero gigs in 2020 we now run over 20 comedy clubs around the UK. We also run drag bingo nights, live music and tour shows and what’s more we are looking to set up our own purpose built comedy club in the next 18 months in Cambridgeshire."
The friends are now in the process of organising Chuckl Mania II which will be held at their comedy club in Huntingdon at the Commemoration Hall in January.
Harrison said: "We are both massive wrestling fans which is why we have called it Chuckl Mania, the aim of the evening is to give a platform to anyone who thinks they are funny and wants to make it as a comedian.
"We give them a chance to shine and we present them with a special wrestling style belt if they win and then we get them paid spots as a support act on the circuit to give them a chance to make it.
"It is a great night and hugely popular and we love promoting new up and coming comedians."
