See the funny side of Leicester

Leicester Comedy Festival, the longest running comedy festival in the UK, returns with a packed programme of the UK’s finest comedy talent. The incredible 500-strong comedic line-up for 2009 includes the 2008 if.comedy winner David O’Doherty, Best Newcomer Sarah Millican and other headline acts such as Andy Parsons, Count Arthur Strong, Barry Cryer, Ed Byrne, Ivan Brackenbury, Jimmy Carr, Josie Long, Mark Watson and BBC Radio Four favourite, Milton Jones.

For the ultimate comedy themed short break, Leicester Shire Promotions is offering great accommodation deals for this year’s festival goers at hotels around the city.

Festival goers can choose to relax in the elegance of a boutique town house hotel at the centrally located Belmont Hotel. For £75 per room per night (double room or twin room), visitors can unwind at the city centre-based hotel and enjoy a complimentary breakfast. And as the official festival hotel partner, you never know who you might bump into at breakfast!

For Victorian elegance and a friendly service, festival-goers can opt to stay at the perfectly located Ramada Leicester hotel. For £65 each, couples can enjoy two nights’ weekend accommodation and a complimentary full English breakfast on both mornings. A single room for two weekend nights with full English breakfast is also available at a package rate of just £130.

Alternatively, visitors can opt for Campanile Leicester – a modern hotel and restaurant located on the outskirts of the city centre. Just £140 will get two people two nights’ accommodation with complimentary breakfast. The offer works out to a ‘per person per night’ rate of just £35.

For more details of accommodation offers for visitors to the Leicester Comedy Festival, visit Goleicestershire.com/laugh. To book tickets for the Leicester Comedy Festival or for programme information, log on to Comedy-festival.co.uk.

Win a weekend getaway of laughter
The Leicester Comedy Festival and The Belmont Hotel have teamed up to offer chuckle–seekers the chance to win tickets for two for the Pick of the Festival, Will Hodgson, Helen Keen, Jo Caulfield, Late Check-in at Hotel d’Comedie, and Late ’n’ Live with the Gilded Balloon, taking place on 13 and 14 February 2009. The prize also includes plush accommodation at The Belmont Hotel, one of Leicester’s finest boutique hotels. To enter, visit goleicestershire.com/laugh. Closing date for entries is 1 February 2009.