AS Northwich’s premier comedy night celebrates its first birthday and a year of solid growth, the event’s compere is pleased that the venue itself is staying true to its small size.

Kev’s Comedy Club marks one year at the Salty Dog, in High Street, tonight, and Kev himself – comedian with 15 years’ circuit experience Kevin Dewsbury – says the intimate setting has helped make the monthly event what it is.

With capacity for around 70 people at the bar, which itself only opened last May, comedians enjoy a stronger bond with the audience during their time on stage.

“It’s a small venue, but that adds to the charm and the atmosphere,” Kevin, who is from Barnton but now lives in Manchester, told the Guardian.

“It’s a supportive atmosphere, and in certain bars it wouldn’t work. It’s a venue made for live acts – it makes all the difference just having things like a stage and lighting.

“The amount of pubs who think you can just put comics in a corner and call it a comedy night is staggering – just having a stage and lighting gives that focus.

“Big comedians like John Bishop and Michael McIntyre who play arenas would love to play an intimate gig because that’s what stand-up is all about.

“We get 60-70 people and you can see every single face. They are not looking to pick people out because we have moved on from that, but we are collectively laughing together and it creates that dynamic.

“I can’t remember the last time I watched stand-up on TV because to me it’s a live art form. The Salty Dog is the perfect place to go for that – it’s tight-knit.”

Spreading across town by word of mouth, the shows attract a core audience of 15 or 20 regulars, together with new faces filling the crowd each month.

Bringing experienced circuit comics together with those starting out, Kevin as MC has been able to provide an eclectic range of performers – none more so than for the anniversary celebrations tonight.

Despite a busy year on the acting front, his first love is comedy and he hopes that the event can provide a launchpad for those setting their sights on the circuit.

“I will definitely be there for the first year celebrations,” he said.

“We have Seymour Mace, who is an award-winning comic who is a very surreal act with off-beat and off-the-wall. Vladimir McTavish is a legend north of the border, and Louis Brooks is a new act who is doing really well.

“We have had such varied acts on and there is no one particular style we look for. It’s always different each month and it’s not repetitive. Even on the night, the first act will be different from the second and so on.

“I am hoping that we may inspire someone – would could be the case that in future we do a local talent night, and at some point I would like to come around to doing some comedy courses culminating in a show case of talent maybe at the Salty Dog.”

For the full-time comics, Thursdays are an ideal booking ahead of gigs at comedy clubs across the north west on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays.

Better still, it provides a monthly show for comedy fans in Northwich, and Kevin is pleased to have nailed down a regular event for them to enjoy in the town.

“It’s been a revelation in a way,” he said.

“Northwich has been changing with the regeneration, and The Salty Dog is a different type of bar, in that growing trend of craft ale.

“Chris, the owner, is a big fan of live music, as am I and so – as it seems – are the people of Northwich.

“We always knew that, but with the response to things like this there is that growing market.

“What the Charlatans and Tim Burgess managed to do for the town was great, with him being a Northwich lad and being able to bring something back.

“I like to think I am doing something similar, as a bit of a constant.”

Kev’s Comedy Club returns to the Salty Dog from 8pm tomorrow, Thursday, June 21.

Tickets, at £6 each, are available from wegottickets.com/thesaltydog