THE Hyena Lounge Comedy Club in York is to play host to a New Year's Eve Special that will leave plenty of time to join the midnight celebrations.

"This is the first time the Hyena Lounge has ever been able to run a show on December 31," says promoter Toby Clouston-Jones, looking forward to presenting lugubrious North Easterner Jason Cook, Lancastrian socialite Dan Nightingale, cheery Northumbrian Barry Dodds and North Western people's champion and compere Danny Deegan at The Duchess in Stonebow.

"The option of a fun-filled night away from the madness of the city centre is appealing to comedy fans and those looking for a different way to celebrate the arrival of 2015. Bringing together four of our favourite acts, the New Year's Eve show will run a little earlier than usual, starting at 7.30pm and finishing at 10pm. This will allow customers the option of dancing into the small hours by staying for the Duchess club night that follows, once the comedy has finished, or heading off to see in the New Year elsewhere."

Doors will open at 6.30pm and tickets are on sale at £20 on 01904 641413 or at hyenalounge.com.

Meanwhile, the box office is also taking bookings for this weekend's Saturday Night Lounge line-up of Paul Tonkinson, Steve Harris, Scott Gibson and Tony Jameson at The Duchess.

Saturday’s opening act, Scarborough-born Paul Tonkinson, was last seen in York supporting Michael McIntyre at the Opera House back in November, a role he will continue as he escorts McIntyre on his year-long theatre and arena tour.

Tonkinson also writes for McIntyre's television series and the two have been close friends for more than a decade. Having shot to prominence replacing Chris Evans as the presenter of Channel 4’s cult show The Big Breakfast, he now balances his career between stand-up comedy and television work.

"He rarely plays club gigs any more and we're lucky to have him perform in York just before Christmas, mainly because he can tie in a visit to see his father, who lives in Thirsk," says Toby.

Scott Gibson takes this weekend's middle slot.

"While Scott is a fairly new face to English audiences, he's familiar to the people of Scotland, where he hails from, having supported Frankie Boyle and Daniel Sloss on their Scottish tours," says Toby.

Steve Harris returns to the Hyena Lounge to headline the show, having been tour support to Peter Kay and Lee Evans. "He's a firm favourite with our audiences and has been a stalwart of the comedy circuit since winning the North West Comedian of the Year award after just five gigs," says Toby.

Harris was a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards and Channel 4’s So You Think You’re Funny in the same year and he has since headlined all of the top comedy clubs in Britain.

Tony Jameson will be the compere, whose role will be to "ensure a joke-packed night of laughter brings warmth to a cold December evening". Doors will open at 7pm for the 8.30pm start and tickets cost £14.