IT has hosted royalty and is home to one of the region’s top boxing clubs, now Coatham Memorial Hall is being turned into a monthly comedy venue.

The historic hall in Redcar Hall and Guisborough Quoit Club will share a double headlining mix of familiar TV faces and some of the freshest and funniest comics on the circuit on the first Friday of every month.

The Big Mouth Comedy Club already stages gigs in Middlesbrough and runs the Brassed Off Comedy Club in Saltburn.

Tickets for the new Friday night gigs on April 4, May 2 and June 6 at both venues go on sale at 10am on Saturday morning (March 1), starring comics including Dave Johns, Rich Wilson and Rob Deering.

Prince Charles described Frankie Wales, Chief Executive of Redcar Development Trust as an ‘inspirational person’ during his visit to the hall in October 2011. Mr Wales, founded Redcar Amateur Boxing Club which, together with the Prince’s Trust, helps unemployed young people back into work.

Carmel Ramsay of Big Mouth Comedy said: “Coatham Memorial Hall is one of the best rooms we’ve seen in ages. Really atmospheric, loads of wood paneling and memorabilia, and a great big stage that the comics are going to love.

Mr Wales added: “We’re really looking forward to this. I’m a huge comedy fan, and always thought it would be great to set something up here.”

Tickets for the gig at Big Mouth Redcar at Coatham Memorial Hall on Friday, April 4, star Dave Johns, Rich Wilson and Peter Brush go on sale 10am Saturday, March 1 costing £5 early bird and £10 standard from Fatso’s and Blink Eyewear in Redcar town centre.

The Big Mouth Guisborough event at Guisborough Quoit Club on Friday, April 4, stars Rich Wilson, Dave Johns and Brennen Reece, prices as above available from Fatso’s in Guisborough and the quoit Club. Tickets and further details from www.bigmouthcomedy.co.uk