Bill Bushart, the owner and everyone that works in this comedy castle is absolutely amazing! I am currently taking classes with Bill and he put me in on open mic night. It was truly an honor to be part of this. Everyone should take a class with Bill and just try it for once. I have only had one class thus far but I will be taking more. Seeing someone laugh at your little life experiences is a high that I will never forget. It is just as good as when I sit at the piano and write a song. It also carries that same rush of closing a deal at a sale. Humor is the best medicine and this castle reigns high on laughter. Everyone get to the castle and sit in the audience and then try open mic night. Bring your friends and pack this place! read more

The venue is great, and the check in is quick. The comedians were great as well. My only complaint is that there are not a lot of snack options, and there aren't a lot of options for those that don't drink alcohol. read more

This was my first time at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle to see comedian Rob Anderson. Ticket purchase online was easy and the line flowed quickly despite it being a sold out show. I read beforehand that there was a two purchase minimum but it didn't seem like it was strictly enforced. Food and drinks are reasonably priced. There aren't a lot of food options - just popcorn and nachos. They serve alcohol, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages. The service is friendly and they gave out complimentary bottles of water. The show was great and the tech was in proper order so that the comedian could use music, photos, and video clips in his show. I would come here again when a favorite comedian of mine is in town. read more

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My friend's a regular visitor here and invited me out to a show to see one of her favorite comedians last night. This place has been around forever but it was my first time here. As someone who's been to a comedy club or two in my day, this place was nice, spacious and clean. Walking in they have ushers who also do security as well. They show you where to sit and the service staff does a good job of getting you drinks and snacks. We didn't order any food or alcohol here, but they do have a semi decent menu. Parking can be tricky, but it is Royal Oak, so give yourself a few minutes before the show to get here. They have a little bar when you walk in with a few chairs and have a decent amount of comics and regular shows here so that's good. I also heard that they have comedy classes if you're interested! Will be back for other events in the future I'm sure. read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

I got tickets online and seating was directed when we arrived. I did share a table with another group however there was plenty of room! There is a 2 purchase minimum with the ticket which wasn't awful and the timing of the was pretty good! The food was as expected and the drinks were fine. The comedy acts were hilarious and I loved the emcee. Overall I would love to go back! read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Nachos - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Best spot for a comedy show. Had one bad experience 2 nights ago. Some drunk couple kept ruining the show. They kept stopping the comedian. It was very annoying. Some other lady told her to shut up then the drunk lady started screaming at everyone. When security came she told them she was the calm one. They kept interrupting the show and the comic and were clearly drunk. Then they insulted the comedian and told her the tickets were discounted being rude for no reason to the comedian. As soon as the show ended she stood up and threw her drink at some random girl. She was so rude. Then she went towards the bathroom and sounded like she was starting a fight with everyone in the bathroom. The manager walked them out and they started a fight on the sidewalk with people. Other than that this place is wonderful and a perfect environment to see a comic. Also the host of the night reminded everyone, directing towards them, to uber home if drunk or they could assist in getting them a cab. read more

We had a blast! We laughed out butts off! Decent prices on drinks and service was on point It's not a fancy venue But we will be back for sure The comedians did great! read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Was physically attacked while leaving for heckling the comedian by an audience member. We asked security to walk us out because they were harassing us during the show. They did nothing but watch while he took his shirt off and threatened my girlfriend as we were trying to leave peacefully. read more

Went to the Comedy Castle for the first time on Friday for the early show with Trae Crowder. We had an excellent time!!!!! They don't have real food, just popcorn and tortilla chips and salsa so plan accordingly. The waitstaff was outstanding, they were efficient and inconspicuous at the same time so you can get your snacks and drinks throughout the show and still enjoy the show. It's a small venue and they pack you in, so a larger person should know that they don't want a seat in between two tables you'll be eating your knees, it's barely enough room for children to sit back to back, so again plan accordingly for the best experience. I'm sure talent waxes and wanes, but this review is for our experience of this venue and Trae, and he was fantastic, the waitstaff was fantastic - no complaints, had a really really great time. read more

Service was great! We were a little late and escorted to our seats. The seating was a tight fit but it was so fun and the drinks were good.

Seemed staged ! Volunteers were bad actors ! Also there is no dining available, I do not recommend this establishment

We have lived here since 2020 and it's the first time we've been to a show here. We loved seeing a national act in our city. The wait staff was prompt and courteous. It made for a great night out. read more

Always a fun time at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle! We have been here on multiple occasions and have always enjoyed our visits. They have walls of autographed photographs of previous comedians and the number of A-listers is impressive! The venue hosts shows with different price points depending on the comedian and their website is user-friendly to search their schedule for days, weeks, and months in advance. Usually we go on Fridays and appreciate that there is a late night option (9:45pm) for those of us travelling to get here after a full work day. Usually the doors open 30 min before the show start time and the headliner starts after 2 opening comedian acts. Even though we purchased our tickets online and received e-tickets with bar codes, everyone needs to pick up physical tickets at the ticket counter prior to entry. There is a minimum 2 order requirement per ticket which can be easily met with a food or drink item. I really enjoy the white gummy bear (cold) and the Reese's cocoa (hot) drinks. The wait staff is efficient and creates minimal disturbances during the show when taking orders. The location is easy to find. There is a paid parking lot steps away from the venue for $10/night cash only. Recently we saw Mike Vecchione who traveled from New York to be here. He was hilarious and had us all laughing very hard! We will definitely be back soon! read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

We had a great time at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle! The attendants were kind & the service was on point. The cocktails were tasty & worked well with the comedians on stage. The place gets packed, but it's not over crowded. It's a cozy atmosphere, we will be back! read more

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We had a wonderful time here! I am not from the area and after coming here I am really excited about supporting my local comedy club. I came here with some of my coworkers (no one from HR!) and we laughed all night long. We got treated to three different acts, each one so different and so great. It was great seeing everyone around us so engaged in the shows. The staff here was wonderful too, and the perfect amount of attentive. Overall, we had a really great experience, and I would love to come back if I'm in the area. This made for a really fun and really different night out, and I can't recommend it enough. read more

I give it a "4". It is important to get as many bodies in for a performance as possible, but we felt "crammed in". The performance was great for the cost. One issue is it was hard to hear. I wear hearing aids and depending on who is talking, you miss punch-lines. I will turn up the volume on the aids for the future, we will make this a definite visit!!! read more

Went here to see a friend's show and had a fantastic night! Nice drink menu. The employees show you to your seat so there isn't any guess work as to where your table is located. It's a big room but still manages to feel cozy. Will definitely be back read more

Been going to this place for a decade Marks has a place in my youth and as an adult great people great security bartenders know how to make drinks waitresses come to your tables if you tip well your glass will never be empty funny comics great atmosphere good vibes and royal oak PD is always around the area classy place don't have to worry about problems read more

Fun place for a show, good selection of drinks, but not a ton of snacks. Great acts brought in, and no bad seats really

I came here once a long time ago with some friends. We came to see Jerry Seinfeld. He had to act before him. By the time he came on, it was pretty late and I was already worn out from the two acts before. One of the two was funny. Keep in mind that most comedians aren't that funny to me. My friends dragged me hear and even gave me a free ticket. Jerry did his bit and I then realized it was never really him that I found funny about the Seinfeld show but rather the whole troupe. No one actor was funny on their own. The venue is small enough and intimate for a comedy show. I am more of a Gaffigan fan, that's my kind of humor. Clean and about food. I went back tonight for Dusty Slay's show and I was laughing so hard I couldn't stop crying. I haven't laughed so hard in ages. Todd Riley was the act before Dusty, he was also funny, but I laughed so much that may eyeliner was all gone by the end of his act. We bought his CD and hat, not something I have ever done before and got some pics with him too, he's super approachable and subtle in his humor. No phones or pics allowed once the show starts at all. Dusty was well worth the money, time and enduring the frigid cold for a night of belly laughs. read more

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Keeping this review just about the venue - because the show Thursday night was too funny and 5 stars wouldn't be enough!!! Mark Normand - hilarious! If you like color comedy, he's your man!? Anyway, the venue was clean. The staff was friendly and attentive. The wait staff was on top of the orders and the door personal helped everyone to their seats. For the main part, it was quiet as the acts were going on, but it's a comedy club not a church. Overall, great venue. We had a large group of 20 people and sat at 3 tables with no issues. Close enough to laugh, but far enough to hide a laugh if the friend at another table was offended. Great date night spot, if your date has a sense of humor LOL! Until next time! ** they don't serve iced tea - which they should think about; sell it by the bottle folks! read more

Great atmosphere and fantastic comics. The waitstaff is great and relaxing hustles. Drinks are so so

We always have a great time here. They always have great acts. They manage to get great up and coming acts consistently. The seating can be a little tight but the service is good. read more

The purpose of a comedy club is to deliver the laughs. The headliner - Billy Ray Bauer - was incredibly funny. This dude hit topics that parents and anyone getting up there in years can appreciate. Our group, and the folks around us, all fit that description, and we were laughing so hard at times that it hurt. Jeff Dwoskin was the warmup comedian, and I hate to say it, but he mostly succeeded in making us want to see the main act even more. I had a few chuckles, but I would have been disappointed if he were the main act. Normally, all the comedians here are great, so this was a letdown. Dan Brittain was the MC, and he was good. I honestly wanted more of him and less of the warmup act. Then, there's the matter of the overpriced drinks ($7.50 for a weak whiskey sour) and terrible table service. I waited half an hour - before the show started - and the one waitress assigned to 100 people didn't get to us, so I went to the bar. Fun rule: only 1 alcoholic drink per adult, so I had to take two trips to get a drink for me and my wife. Expert tip: drink before you go! read more

Was pleasantly surprised with my most recent visit here. Getting in was painless, we had pre-bought tickets, so just showed them at the window after arriving and we were directed to our table. When you buy tickets you buy by location, so we had a nice spot near the stage. Our waitress was on top of things, and didn't leave us waiting. I made the mistake of ordering a sauvingon blanc wine, it was pretty awful. I drank a bit, but finally gave up and ordered a mixed drink which was fine. I think they used to have a 2 drink minimum, but that rule no longer exists which is nice, although we all ended up having 2 drinks anyways. My bf ordered some pretzels, I wasn't impressed and thought they were flavorless, but he wanted something to nibble on. The comedy was obviously the highlight, all 3 comics were really good. It's probably hit or miss, but we were laughing through all 3 sets. Our headliner in particular was hysterical. Plus he kept it mostly clean which was nice, he didn't rely on vulgarity or insults to get laughs. We were going with a group and I have to admit before we got there I was grousing a bit because I haven't always enjoyed my visits here, poor service being the main problem, but it seems they have fixed that problem. The drinks and pretzels came to $27, pretty reasonable all in all. read more

Mr. Lodge it's the best. We had such a great time. The venue was fun, the waitstaff we're excellent and the talent was exceptional. read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Great show tonight. First time here the staffs was great. I even got a better seat closer to the stage because I was alone. I really love that. Than you sir for asking me that question and accommodating me with a great view. I will be back again soon. I thought parking was going to be an issue but it wasn't. The show was completely over 20 minutes before my meter ran out. It started on time and you got a great 1-1/2 of good comedy. read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Ms Pat comedy show. - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

First time at the venue, I must say it's very inviting and staff is very helpful. Great night read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - a large room full of people - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Nice place but the seating structure wasnt the best. I felt like I didn't have any wiggle room to move my arms or feet. if I wanted to stretch due to how the seats were arranged, I could've hit the person sitting next to me, or kicked the person across from me. service was good though read more

So this venue is perfect for a comedy club. It is dark in the crowd, and well lit on the stage, so you can focus your attention with what the comedian is saying. I feel like your night won't matter what this venue is like, it depends on the person they get to do the act. The night I went, the MC wasn't too funny, but the two main acts were funny and worth the time to sit and listen to them. The only issue at this place is no free refills. If you go and order a pop, don't get a refill or you will be shocked when you see the bill, you will be charged for every refill you order. read more

Great venue in downtown Royal Oak, and is a mainstay in the Comedy Industry. Top notch comics there all the time. The drinks are creative and good, throw in a few munchies, sit back and enjoy the show! Update - I went during Covid and they spaced the tables out wide, and did a great job of cleaning / sanitizing between shows. They take it seriously. read more

Went here last night and had a blast, we laughed so much! It was Thursday and the place was about half full. We sat at table 80 which was a high top, off to the side and at the back, just perfect! To buy our tickets ($10 each plus service a few dollars for service charge) we had to call the place directly as their website was not mobile friendly. It actually allows you to reserve your seat, but I guess only on a desktop PC. We told the woman on the phone what table we wanted and gave her our credit card and we were good to go. Upon arriving a gentleman sat us at our reserved table and the waitress quickly took our drink order. Unfortunately I didn't see any beers listed on tap so we got a couple of Bud Light bottles ($5 each). They arrived quickly and nice and cold. The waitress was friendly and checked in on us throughout the show to make sure our drinks were good. They also serve food items here. The show consisted of an MC, one opening act, and the main act. The main act was really hilarious! The other guys were pretty funny too. Sitting at our high table we were able to get a really good view of the stage. We had such a good time and will definitely be back. read more

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Great spot for date night out or a night out with friends. Having 3 kids and living 45 minutes away we don't get To visit as much as we'd like however the few times we have gone have always been filled with a lot of laughs and smiles. Brought some friends here recently for the first time and they had a blast. Can't wait to come back to Mark Ridley's! read more

Last night, we traveled to Royal Oak to the Comedy Castle. The venue was packed. The wait staff worked their asses off, taking orders and scurrying back and forth. The comedians were great. The experience was a mixed bag. We gave one staff our order. He wasn't our waiter. So we waited. And waited. A manager came to our table, took our order, and brought our drinks. Snacks are minimal. Prices were high. And noisy folks are dealt with swiftly! We will go again. read more

Great venue for comedy!! Perfect size and you want to be up close, either reserve seating or get there early. Seats were of decent comfort and the tables were of size to hold your drinks. Stage and lighting were good. The talent they bring in was awesome. I just happened to be in the area and stopped by on a Saturday... And watched a great show! I probably won't be as lucky next time... But will be back read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Local talent - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

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I am here right now visiting from California, my friends brought me here and we were immediately scolded to get in line ok no problem, to be told we don't need to be in line as we have reserved tickets, the bald guy who was incredibly rude said we needed to go back and we did to be told no go ahead back to the rude bald guy... Finally we got our seats I need a cocktail please now! Rude Rude Ruuuude!!! read more

I took my mom here to see one of our favorite comedians Ryan Davis and had such a good time! It's located in downtown Royal Oak, just behind main street, and they offer valet parking which is cool because we didn't have to worry about a meter or finding a spot in a parking structure. This was my first comedy show, so I didn't know what to expect but we ended up really enjoying ourselves. They have a full bar for cocktails and beer and a kitchen too for light bites. I can't remember what all they had on the menu but I did enjoy some shoe string french fries and a Two Hearted while we watched the show. The inside was packed too! The set up was nice because I felt like everyone got a good view of the stage no matter where they were in the room, but luckily I got our tickets early so we had a table right up front! I would love to come back and see another show. We laughed from the time we got there until the time we left! read more

Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle - Me, Ryan Davis and my mommy! - Comedy Clubs Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

I was actually VERY IMPRESSED. We went to a 7:00 Show. Only half the club was open. But tables are set far enough apart to keep social distancing all staff had mask on. No wait. We were seated to our table immediately and even got to sit in the back since we didn't wanna be included into the show lol. Was definitely worth 20.00 a ticket. A great couples idea that works even mid week. We were out before 10PM. Comedian was pretty good. I will be coming back. The drinks and cocktails were action. And the Pretzels with cheese and spicy mustered were to die for even the other apps were great. read more

I had never been to a comedy show before seeing Sam Morrill at the Comedy Castle. I don't even know what prompted me to get into comedy shows. One day I was scrolling through enjoying memes, and the next day I followed every Laughing Factory style insta page imaginable. I specifically started enjoying Sam Morrill, probably because I also specialize in self deprecating humor. That led me to Comedy Castle and my first trip to Detroit. Comedy Castle is actually located in Royal Oak. My Uber driver advised me that outside of downtown Detroit, this was the place to be. I opted for the 9:30 show because the rowdier, the better. I went to the restroom prior to being seated so I don't know how my friend found her seat, but the "please wait to be seated" sign suggests that there's an usher. I was getting worried a server wouldn't show up before the show started but she arrived at the last second and gave us our drinks prior to the opening act. This is a very intimate venue. It's, as the name states, meant for comedy. We ended up with seats right behind the front tables. I've been advised to steer clear of the front tables unless you enjoy being heckled. I found a particular individual from the front left being extra, but Sam's comedy doesn't typically include too much audience interaction. That obviously depends on the comic so if you choose the front, be educated on the act beforehand. I genuinely enjoyed my time here. I've been told by many Detroit folk that Comedy Castle is the premiere club in town. Judging by the atmosphere, service, and perhaps the acts that are attracted, I couldn't disagree. If one of my preferred comics swing by, I'd be more than happy to buy another ticket. This was the best possible beginning to my comedy show attending. read more

Great venue with a class act staff!!! I took my wife, of 8 days, to see Chris Kattan for her birthday and we arrived a bit early and we decided to sit outside to enjoy the nice summer weather. Staff came out and invited us in, as they were already open, and we explained we were just taking in the great atmosphere of Royal Oak. Then Bill the manager came outside and just had a typical conversation with us. Once we went in nothing was short of perfect. Everyone was kind and on top of it. Chris Kattan gave a great performance in a very intimate setting. On the way out Bill shook my hand and said "travel safe and hope to see you both again." This is how a venue gets people like us, from Toledo, to travel for entertainment. read more