Nando’s in Brighton hosts a comedy night: was it any good?

Thanks to an unrelenting PR and social media machine, we’ve become acquainted with the idea of chicken and garlic bread, coleslaw and mash, and other strange combinations.

But Nando’s and comedy?

Last night (April 22) the London Road store was turned into the Nando’s Extra Hot Comedy Club, and my colleague and I were invited down for some of wings and a giggle.

A collaboration with Time Out Magazine, the poultry giant started a competition whereby budding comedians were able to post an audition set for the chance to win a paid gig spot alongside stand up veterans, ours being Chris Hall.

Brighton was the third night of the tour, and the crowd was warmed up in more ways than one: their tastebuds with some wraps, peri fries and wings, and Lee Peart as the MC.

Wearing his heart on his sleeve, he did an admirable job of buoying up the crowd – although he didn’t quite know what to do with one audience member who was suspiciously coy about how he met his friend – referencing a ‘gentleman’s handshake’.

The self-admittedly flamboyant Peart admitted this meant something very different in his community.

One of the two competition winners Max Mckenzie didn’t mess around, launching his set by referencing smoking weed with his dad and shooting “crackheads” with a BB gun – which left me slightly bemused.

Maybe we needed a few more sunset slushies (vanilla vodka and peach liqueur with pineapple and mango).

But the highlight of the night was Ciara O’Connor.

Tripping on her way up to the stage, in the hands of a lesser comedian this could have been a game over before the set began.

But she handled it like a pro, thinking on her feet and getting the crowd laughing with her from the off.

Relatable and delivered with a slightly airheaded drawl which belied her razor-sharp wit, her jokes landed one after another – including her boyfriend dating the “best looking girl in school”, despite them both going to an all boy’s Catholic school. (She’s transgender.)

She made a case for being the next pope – and I’d give her my vote.

The concept worked as a one-off series of events, but I’m not sure it would translate into “real life”.

That being said, given the money at Nando’s’ disposal, maybe they could consider doing late-night monthly shows at some of their restaurants – or even opening chicken shop comedy clubs?

Execs – if you do this, all I’m after in royalties is a black card.