Cor, what a line-up. Some of the country’s best comedians come to Manchester this December for a spectacular all-star festive show, held at the newly opened Aviva Studios, home of Factory International.

The Lion’s Den is a relatively new bar and event space whose excellent Laughienda comedy club brings in up to six comedians each Thursday — from big names trying out new material to first timers. Although fresh out the box, this gets our vote as one of the city’s best comedy nights right now.

An insanely committed seven-nights-a-week comedy club, Creatures of the Night is hosted by ‘gap toothed Canadian comedian’ Evan Desmarais, and showcases an eclectic range of stand-ups in the popular Northern Quarter Irish bar, Corner Boy.

“One Mic, One Stage, One Frog”. Beat the Frog is a legendary amateur comedy night, taking place each and every Monday in the Northern Quarter’s Frog & Bucket. This is a night with rules and prestige – and the power is in your hands, as the audience decides who stays and who goes.

Providing award-winning laughs since 1997, XS Malarkey is a not-for-profit comedy club, hosted every Tuesday by Toby Hadoke (“Superior stand-up skills: very, very funny” – The Guardian). Stewart Lee, Johnny Vegas, and Josie Long have all performed here.

Doing great things to nurture and develop comedy talent, this night’s all about giving new acts their start, while offering old hands a chance to road-test fresh material. There are typically 11 acts in a night, with the show starting at 8.30pm every Wednesday. Oh and did we mention it’s totally free.

Expect 15 short and sharp sets at this much-loved open mic night at Fierce Bar, where the laughs are as eclectic as they come. You’ll catch plenty of brand new talent here, and if you’re at all tempted to get on the mic yourself, the five-minute set time isn’t too daunting.

In an exciting new collaboration, nationally famous comedy platform The Comedy Store is hosting nights in food and drink hotspot Freight Island every Thursday. Expect well-known names alongside emerging talent.

The home of killer laughs, this nomadic night pops up all over the North West, and showcases the UK’s best “upcoming and coming” comedians — semi-famous faces who have already earned some plaudits but who are still on their way up.