The Top Secret Comedy Club, which already runs two other venues in London and another in New York, is eyeing up the basement and sub-basement at 10 Fetter Lane.
Located beneath an office building, the premises was formerly a gym though has been vacant for more than five years.
The club is hoping to turn the site into a dual-space premises with a total capacity of over 500 people.
It is understood this is not necessarily when events would run until, though the hours are intended to provide flexibility and time for attendees to disperse gradually over the course of the evening.
A separate planning application would also be needed to change the venue’s use before the club could open.
Rob Beckett during the National Television Awards 2026 show at The O2 Arena
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The licensing proposal was objected to by the Corporation’s Pollution Control team, which raised concerns about the impact on those living in St Dunstan’s House and Cliffords Inn.
Claire Callan-Day, an Environmental Health Technician, wrote a “significant number” of the 176 residential flats are likely to be impacted by noise from the new venue.
She wrote: “For much of the time when the venue is in use patrons will be contained inside, watching shows. When people exit the premises, either to wait outside during a break or when they disperse from the premises at the end of their evening, they are likely to be in high spirits, recounting particularly funny lines from the shows, etc.
“This increases the likelihood of loud people noise [sic] when people, especially groups, laugh and raise voices.”
Ms Callan-Day added that alcohol is likely to elevate the noise generated, and that in her opinion the site’s proximity to the homes means it is “not suitable to be licensed for use as a comedy club”.
Fetter Lane, just off Fleet Street
LDRS
Fleet Street Quarter BID, established in 2022 to represent local businesses, backed the application.
Lady Lucy French, the BID’s Chief Executive, wrote that while there are residents living nearby, “the Club is at basement and sub-basement level and has applied for licensing hours that are shorter than those enjoyed by adjacent pub The Editor’s Tap. These would seem to reduce the likelihood of any significant impact.”
Lady French also noted the proposal appears to be in accordance with the Corporation’s Destination City programme to diversify the Square Mile’s offerings, and that Fleet Street itself is changing, with projects such as Salisbury Square and the retrofit of the former Daily Telegraph building.
“I sincerely believe that the proposed Comedy Club will complement the new developments currently under construction and others planned for the area and will help create a new Fleet Street business district as a desirable location for businesses to locate in, residential to live and visitors to stay in and experience.”
At a Corporation Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday (October 20) Ms Callan-Day reiterated her concerns about the impact on residents living by the proposed venue.
Katherine Ryan attends the National Youth Theatre 70th Anniversary Gala Performance of "Letters To My Younger Future Self" at The Royal Festival Hall on September 20
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She was joined by Alderwoman Martha Grekos, who represents the Castle Baynard ward and provided further context on the locality.
“It’s a really quiet area,” she said. “There’s hardly any traffic. Even though it’s Fetter Lane and Fleet Street, there’s hardly any traffic over there. The background noise is also very quiet and you can hear people speaking or their footsteps if you’re walking around there in the evening, or even during the day.”
Alderwoman Grekos added that regardless of the new developments being progressed around Fleet Street, the location in question “will remain predominantly residential and actually still very quiet in that corner, as the footfall that’s coming forward is only going to be there during those business hours”.
The character of the area was disputed by the applicant’s team, who pointed to measurements taken from Fetter Lane suggesting background noise was louder than dispersal times at the club’s Drury Lane venue.
Felix Faulkner, legal counsel for the applicant, said the proposal is not for “a wet-led late-night bar or a noisy nightclub. It’s a well-led professional comedy club looking to bring more culture and variety to the area and its residents.
“The provision of alcohol is merely ancillary to the operation of the club and provides a well-needed addition to the local economy.”
Mark Rothman, Founder of the Top Secret Comedy Club, said events would be staggered to prevent congregating or too many people leaving in one go.
He told the sub-committee he would be willing to negotiate on the opening hours, though that flexibility was needed to allow it to accommodate larger acts both regarding afternoon and late-night shows.
“You might have Ricky Gervais, you might have Romesh Ranganathan, you might have Russell Howard say ‘I want to try this, can I come at this time’. And it might only happen once a year. But it’d be nice to have the freedom to be able to showcase something like that, or Dave Chappelle comes from America sometimes.”
Ms Callan-Day was unconvinced, saying that due to the proximity of the flats and the fact many of them face onto Fetter Lane there is a “significant risk” of public nuisance.
A decision on the licensing application is due to be issued within five working days of Tuesday’s meeting.