Founded in Kilburn, later moving to Camden Town, and now with venues across London, Good Ship Comedy has established itself as a welcoming, neighbourhood comedy club with a reputation for outstanding entertainment. For the past fifteen years, the club has showcased some of the finest comedians from both the UK and international festival circuits, including Milton Jones, Sara Pascoe, Josh Widdicombe, Sindhu Vee, Fern Brady, Romesh Ranganathan, Rosie Jones, Paul Sinha, Lou Sanders, Maisie Adam and many more. All performances are hosted by resident compere Ben Van der Velde, whose experience and charisma ensure every show is engaging and professionally run.
Good Ship Comedy hosts regular gigs in Leytonstone, Holloway Road, West Norwood and Battersea, while also curating their first-ever comedy festival this October. Beyond public performances, the company specialises in creating bespoke events for a diverse range of clients, including Windwave Bicycle Expos, Creative Assembly, the BAFTA award-winning games studio, and even British Naturism. Their expertise ensures that every private event, from office Christmas parties, awards ceremonies, birthdays, and bar mitzvahs to more unconventional occasions, features a perfectly curated line-up suited to the audience.
The company is unique in being comedian-run, which offers distinct advantages. Ben Van der Velde, the helmsman, is a professional host and MC who gigs across the country at major venues including The Comedy Store, Glee and Komedia. With over a decade of experience working with some of the most talented names in the industry and programming shows in a wide variety of venues—from boats and bingo halls to private members’ clubs and naturist festivals—Ben brings unparalleled insight to every event. This first-hand knowledge of acts’ styles enables Good Ship Comedy to create line-ups tailored to specific audiences, rather than generic comedy nights. Whether you want an interactive show, a family-friendly performance, or material curated to a particular niche, they can deliver it.
Working directly with comedians also ensures the best value for your budget while paying performers fairly. The company’s versatility makes it suitable for Christmas parties, team activities and networking events. They can tailor the performance to your event, accommodate groups from 10 to 500, and adjust the duration from the standard 60 minutes to suit your needs. Their approach is highly personalised, flexible and critically acclaimed, and they can either come to your chosen venue or source one for you, making every event seamless and unforgettable.
