IN 2001, there was no comedy club in York. Philosophy student Dan Atkinson set one up on a whim and no money as a direct result of boredom and personal problems.

Despite his best attempts, it seemed to succeed and now five years on, The Other Side is a flourishing weekly comedy gig that sells out consistently week in week out in the Basement Bar of City Screen.

However, all things must come to an end, and now the resident compere is moving on to other, slightly less green pastures.

"To celebrate the freeing of York from these comedy shackles, we're having a bonanza of comedy on Sunday with a late licence and a bill of six headlining comedians from across the globe," says Dan. "Never before has York seen such an exciting line-up of stand-up in the same room at the same time."

Demand for Dan Atkinson And Friends has been so high that tickets for the 8pm show sold out three weeks ago, but there is a returns list on 0870 758 3219.

"It's strange . I did my last university gig last Thursday and that was the first point of closure, and I thought I would feel more sorrowful than I did," says Dan.

"But with so many projects coming up, I can now turn over head space to thinking about the future and that will require my full attention.

"That said, this club is very important to me, and hopefully Sunday's event will be a lot of fun in its own right, for all the emotion of the occasion. I've still got a show to do to more than 100 customers and to be over-indulgent would be doing everyone a disservice though I've never treated them with that much respect!"

Dan reckons 90 per cent of Sunday's audience will be regulars. "Usually I've relied on 60 to 70 per cent of each week's crowd being different and not knowing my material, but this time it'll all have to be fresh and I'll have to fluff it up, so I'm putting myself in comic situations this week, like I'll be going to the zoo just in case."

Dan has a departing message for The Other Side punters. "If you, like most of the population of York, are panicking about the future of comedy without my guiding touch to lead us forward please note the ironic tone here, the club will continue every Sunday through the summer with exciting Edinburgh Festival preview shows.

"After my leaving show on Sunday, the comedy will be continuing straight away from the week after, with Edinburgh previews all the way through June and July. The next promoter to step into my trampy old shoes will be Toby Jones, who works extensively throughout Yorkshire, running several clubs in Leeds, Harrogate and Wakefield theatres and many others. I know the club is in good hands and will only improve."