1428, Cowgate gets its name from medieval times when cattle were herded down the street on market day. Now, fast forward to today; The Carnivore compliments the heritage of Edinburgh’s meat market and this is where our ethos of great quality meat for unbeatable value was born. The fuss-free food features authentic meat-lover’s classics with a twist, paired with American-inspired whiskey cocktail. Free Fringe comedy every day during August Fringe.

Lorraine has conformed, fit in and been a good girl. Kind of... it's only when she got a puppy dog, she realised what it is to be conditioned by society. Wildcard Amused Moose New Comedian 2020. Semi-finalist British Comedian of the Year 2021. Reviews for DINK 2024: 'She’s effortlessly engaging, her bright personality oozes energy... A slick and well-structured show... Lorraine is an accomplished storyteller, and the show is a joy' **** (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk). 'Finding the funny wherever she goes... Fertile imagination, funny, clever writing and endearing persona to keep her audience well entertained' **** (One4Review.co.uk).

Lorraine Hoodless: Good Girl

Impro Poet Presents: What If History? They say that history repeats itself. Not in this show. This show seeks to educate and entertain with a walk through history exploring the possibilities that could have been, suggested by you and performed in rhyme by CJ Hooper. Stand-up comedy, poetry, and no two shows the same. 'A gifted wordsmith... underestimate his talent at your peril' (YourHarlow.com).

Impro Poet Presents: What If History?

As the beer belly two fists itself out of control, Ed Mulvey faces his greatest challenge: maintaining a slender frame with distinctive podge attached throughout this year's festivals. But what is Ed pregnant with? Congratulations, it's an hour of irrelevant social commentary and dick jokes. Described as having 'well-spoken awkward charm' (Entertainment-Now.com) and a 'first-rate joke writer' (Scotsman), Ed will delight and upset with an evening of tummy-thumpingly good stand-up. Next wave feminist nerd comedy from the Elon Musk of emotions.

Ed Mulvey: Pregnant Gollum

Caitriona spends most of her time worrying about the future and studying our medieval past. Can she learn to live in the moment? Following her double award-nominated debut, she returns to the Fringe with a feel-good show about apocalyptic dread (and the 1518 dancing plague). Chortle Awards Best Newcomer nominee 2025. ‘A unique voice in UK comedy... a highly promising, distinct talent’ (Scotsman). ‘Blissfully esoteric’ (Fest). 'Medieval nuns get more mentions than you'll find in an average episode of Live at the Apollo' (Chortle.co.uk).

Caitriona Dowden: Dance Like Everyone's Dancing 

Blodwen navigates the highs and lows of 9-5 living and starts to plot her escape. Full of witty musical numbers that affectionately hold a mirror up to the joys and mundanity of the working world, this show is a must-see for anyone who has ever worked in an office. You might not expect Blodwen to end up where she does, but you’ll cheer her along every step of the way. Charming, funny and irreverent, after an hour with Blodwen you’ll walk away grinning and feeling like you’ve made a friend for life.

Escape the Rat Race

Sharon could have had functioning relationships, probably. But with hindsight and crucial wisdom shared by her mother on her 30th birthday – she finds out exactly why the odds were so stacked against her. Throw a medical misdiagnosis (her mother's), a kidnapping (hers) and a fantasy movie produced by Ryanair into the mix and reality starts to get real. I Know a Guy, nominated for Best Debut (ISH/Jones Award) at Edinburgh Fringe 2024, takes a fun and light-hearted look at the things which define us and the darker stuff we would rather ignore. 

Sharon Em: I Know a Guy

Old and bold! We are Still Got It. A group of comedians with lots of life experience. Join Lissi Field as she celebrates 70 years, from being meek and shy to achieving a joyful state of oldness and boldness! With talk about the joy of travel, relationships, families, festivals and, of course, the latest technology! She’s beating a drum for enjoying our world in all its craziness. With help from fellow comedians, enjoy jokes, stories and laughs with a side order of chocolates. It’s a show for audiences of all ages.

Still Got It

With a background in STEM, Freya blends science, comedy and dating into one unforgettable experiment. Join her as she tests out new material, from the chemistry of attraction to the mechanics of mixed signals. Her sold-out performances in London and at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe with Comedians in STEM help her test whether her dating hypothesis holds up. 'Funny, inventive, and naive enough to think a quote from me will shift tickets' (Rhys James, as seen on Live at the Apollo).

Freya McGhee: Experimental

Join Alex Mason (Komedia Best New Comedian Finalist 2024, Chortle Student Comedy Finalist 2022), in a work-in-progress of her highly anticipated debut show about trying to live out her own personal romcom. An interactive multimedia show all about navigating neurodiversity, awkward meet-cutes and the chaos of trying to become the main character in her own story. 'Thoroughly engaging... enjoyably loose' (Chortle.co.uk). 'Interesting' (BeyondTheJoke.co.uk).

Alex Mason: How to Lose a Guy in 45 Minutes

After an enforced sabbatical, Eric Meat is back at the office he calls home. Between water cooler gossip, trips to Honkers (everyone's favourite post-work pub) and a looming appraisal, his loyalty faces its final test. Hilarious, heartfelt and absurd, it's a story of loyalty, nostalgia and knowing when to let go. How can you come back if you never leave? Best Show Nominee Comedians' Choice Awards 2022. 'Ali Brice is funny... a master of the absurd' **** (List). 'Comic genius' **** (Skinny). 'Side-splittingly comical' ***** (TheUpcoming.co.uk). 'Hilarious, unique... surprisingly moving' **** (Chortle.co.uk).

Ali Brice Presents Eric Meat Gets the Chop

Warning: Crimes may be committed, lives may be changed and laughs will be obtained in this mixed-bill stand-up show like nothing you’ve ever seen before... No seriously, like nothing you’ve ever seen before. If you have seen something like this, we don't believe you and will not refund your free tickets. Most of these comedians will probably be forcefully detained due to insanity afterwards, so come see em while they’re still around. These absolute nut jobs will be competing for 23 whole pounds... Woah! Almost enough to buy a beer in Edinburgh.

That 21st Dimension

Is it possible to usurp a rural patriarch? To defeat him in a Tekken style tournament? To overcome trauma through multimedia comedy and 90s nostalgia? Join BBC New Comedy Awards nominee Roger O’Sullivan as he finds out. A nostalgic trip through 90s video games, optical illusions and of tales of rural Ireland. Find him on the internet @rogerocomedy. 'A comedic mind with huge potential' (Irish Examiner). 'He will make you think' (Scotsman).

Roger O'Sullivan: Fekken

Julian worked at a magazine. He ranked celebrity women based on hotness. Today, he's a nice guy and understands that was bad. As penance, he will rank 100 versions of himself. By hotness alone. A brand-new stand-up and musical comedy show from Julian Stern (Comedy Central Digital, McSweeney's, Maxim), who previously delighted Fringe audiences with songs like Chicken of Misery, Poop Train Girl and Anne Hathaway at Target. Winner: Best of Fest (Big Pine Comedy Fest). Official Selection: Laughing Skull Fest, Bergamot Comedy Fest, Hell Yes Fest.

100 Julian Sterns, Ranked by Hotness Alone

Come revel in the oversized aspirations of this genre-bending musical head-smash, a jazz-tinged autobiographical one-woman show recounting undiagnosed traumatic brain injury, too many prescribed drugs and a dearth of available therapeutic alternatives. A self-depreciating triumph of obstinately hacking the system, despite loss of self-worth, when society is telling you to just get over it. Original songs by Colleary alongside classics by Sondheim, Chaplin and Strayhorn. 'She’s a little cracked; her quirky sensibility brought a fresh perspective to familiar songs and took us down new roads that led to deliciously unfamiliar tunes... Smart, sassy and entirely entertaining' (TheaterMania.com).

Ambitious Underachiever

What does Taoism – the ancient, mischievous and subversive philosophy – look like in modern Western life? Rule one: Words fail, humor rules.

Ego Tourism: Taoism in the Wild

Two friends, both alike in dignity, which is to say they’re really trying, ok? Despite growing up on opposite sides of the world, Stacey (West End New Act Finalist) and Kat (Dabbers Comedy Caller Finalist) share some alarming similarities. Outwardly adult, inwardly pure chaos, join them for an hour of trying to figure out their lives through jokes.

Charm Offensive

Merry Martyn PhD and QI Elf Joe Mayo have discovered they’re Mortal Enemies. Their life expectancies suggest they’ll die in the same year, but each is determined to prove they can outlive the other. Watch two nerds go head-to-head with competitive PowerPoints, use data to find your nemesis, and ultimately Duel! to the Death! 'A must see for all fellow nerds! The true essence of nerdiness' (Tom Crosbie).

Nerd Mentality: Duel! to the Death!

M&S or S&M? A stand-up comedy split bill grappling with the big choices in your thirties: dreams, dates, direction and perhaps the biggest question of all... is this it? A sharp new work-in-progress show from two millennial comedy voices reminding us that even if life is full of questions, finding the answers with a friend can be far more fun.

Is This It? (Work In Progress)

A comedy show about cardboard boxes and nothing else. How can a show about cardboard boxes combining clowning, storytelling, improv, stand-up possibly feel so hilarious and important? Let's find out together. Chris East’s brand-new show after the success of his debut hour My Brain is Soup, Your Hands are the Spoons. 'One of the UK’s most underrated character comedians – a strange and wonderful mind' **** (Starburst). 'Very funny and very peculiar' **** (PhoenixRemix.com). 'East’s talent is undeniable; unnerving and amusing, with just a soupçon of ennui' (TheWeeReview.com).

Chris East: Boxes, Boxes, Boxes

In 2024, Rob Duncan was named Printer of the Year. After 15 years in the industry, he was finally recognised as a pioneer in his field. An hour of printing. 'Brilliantly, hilariously stupid' (Frankie Boyle). 'Extraordinary' **** (Scotsman). 'Frigging maverick' ***** (ThreeWeeks).

PBH's Free Fringe @ Carbon

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