A comedian and promoter is "made up" after he won a prestigious award.

Stephen Grant is the founder of the Funny That company which owns the Forge Comedy Club.

The club performs at the Ironworks in Cheapside, Brighton, and has welcomed names such as Romesh Ranganathan, John Bishop and Joel Dommett in the last year alone.

He is celebrating after winning at The 2022 Comic's Comic awards, a celebration of all who contribute to the comedy scene, which was severely affected during the pandemic. It is exclusively voted for by other members of the industry.

The Argus: Funny That performing at The Hassocks Funny That performing at The Hassocks (Image: Funny That)

Stephen won the award for the achievements of him and his company.

His Comic's Comic award recognised the summer comedy festival that the company curates at the Brighton Open Air Theatre, and the experienced team that has made their annual portfolio of events happen.

Stephen said: "I'm absolutely made up to have won this award, and I'm honoured to be recognised like this.

"It's breathtaking when you consider how good everyone else is out there. No exaggeration to say the only reason I could do this is the people I work with, and critically the incredible support of the industry itself, who have made The Forge something really quite spectacular indeed.”

Stephen ran the multi-award winning Krater Comedy Club at Komedia for 23 years, promoting covid-safe comedy throughout the pandemic whilst other venues remained closed.

At the end of 2021, he started the Forge Comedy Club at the Ironworks Studios.

Funny That is announcing further gigs across Sussex for the 2023 season.

Regular performances will be held in Haywards Heath, Lindfield, Hassocks, Alfriston and Peacehaven, along with a new venue in Kingston near Lewes.

Business manager Dave Fensome from Funny That said: "Financially, times have never been tougher, people need a laugh more than ever.

"Not everyone wants to add the expense of a trip into a metropolitan centre to their night out. So using our expertise and bringing absolutely cracking line-ups to unexpected places is a real passion"