The Frog and Bucket was opened in 1994 by Dave Perkin with a capacity of just 60. A few months after opening it started an amateur comedy night and three years later it moved to its current location on Oldham Street, a former bank, with a larger capacity.
Because the building was reinforced it was left completely undamaged when an IRA bomb exploded in 1996 on the same road.
Just three days after the bombing the club reopened and comedy acts flooded in to show solidarity.
The current manager, Jessica Toomey, is the daughter of Mr Perkin. Although she remembers working for the club from a much younger age. She said: ‘I rememeber the day Day got the keys for the first club, he made me clean it for pocket money.’
Performers like Caroline Aherne, Peter Kay and Johnny Vegas were regulars at the club while they were making their way up through the comedy ranks.
Vegas even returns to the club every now and again to perform. And the club is mentioned by Vegas, Kay and John Bishop in their autobiographies.
Peter Kay even joked: ‘The place used to be roasting all the time. I’m sure Dave Perkin used to turn the heating up full to sell more drink.’
John Bishop’s first ever show was at the club’s amateur night – after he split from his wife and decided to try stand-up comedy.
He wrote: ‘Without the Frog and Bucket, I would not be a professional comedian today. It was a great place for me when I started out and remains just as good.’
Other famous acts at the club include Lee Mack, Dave Gorman, Chris Addison, Ross Noble, Lucy Porter and Jason Manford.
And in 2003 Steve Coogan chose to rehearse his material used in BBC3 comedy shows at the club.
Royle Family creator Caroline Aherne and New Order’s Peter Hook would also regularly cheer on the acts.
To celebrate the club’s 21st anniversary, Perkin erected a plaque to commemorate all those who ‘died’ on its stage – brought down by a heckle or deafening silence.