The Big Difference, Leicester city centre’s newest entertainment venue, can now reveal plans of its official opening. The venue, which will be run by the registered charity behind the annual Leicester Comedy Festival, has a packed programme of entertainment for their opening weekend, taking place from Friday 1 October – Sunday 3 October.
The venue, previously known as The Cookie, is on Leicester’s High Street and will stage comedy, live music, family events, and more as it once again returns to life as a key hub of live events in the city. As well as on stage events, The Big Difference bar will also be open every week from Thursday – Saturday serving those out and about in the city. The bar will be supported in its opening months by the team behind popular city centre late night pub venue, Firebug.
The venue’s launch weekend will kick off with live comedy on Friday evening, followed by family comedy performances on Saturday and Sunday, before closing with live music on Sunday evening.
- Thursday 30 September – Private launch event
Friday 1 October (7.30pm) – Pope Lonergan, Sarah Johnson, Daman Bamrah and more
Saturday 2 October (4pm) – The Dark Room for Kids comedy gameshow
Sunday 3 October (7.30pm) – Live music with The Table Troubadours & Lydia Lutudi
All events over the opening weekend are ticketed but the bar remains open to the public with DJ Ninja Bob and Soulshaker spinning tunes until closing time on both Friday and Saturday evening.
The space itself is no stranger to big names. Over the years the stage has hosted performances by comedians including Rhod Gilbert, Russell Howard, Romesh Ranganathan, and concerts from the likes of Royal Blood, George Ezra, Easy Life and many more. The reopening as The Big Difference marks the next stage for the venue, which is already close to the hearts of so many in Leicester.
Laura Arends, CEO of Big Difference said “Big Difference has enjoyed so much support over the years with Leicester Comedy Festival and the numerous other events that the charity has worked on. To now be opening our own venue is incredibly exciting and we’ve got some fantastic events planned for over the coming months. We can’t wait to welcome the first audiences into The Big Difference.”
Shows coming to the venue this autumn include:
- Ignacio Lopez – Thursday 23 September
- Union Jack Radio Comedy Club – Friday 24 September
- Josh Berry – Saturday 9 October
- The Nightingales – Sunday 14 October
- Olga Koch – Saturday 16 October
- Black History Month Comedy Night + Panel Discussion – Friday 22 October and Saturday 23 October
- Rachel Fairburn – Saturday 23 October
- Kae Kurd – Thusday 18 November
- Leif Erikson – Monday 22 November
- Fenne Lily – Wednesday 24 November
- Pozi – Friday 3 December
The Big Difference is also working with local promoters on external events throughout the year, as well as full venue private hire. Anyone wanting to book the venue can contact [email protected]
