COMEDY club bosses today vowed to find another venue in Glasgow after the plug was pulled on their current site.

Jongleurs, which operates in 11 venues throughout the UK, is based in the basement level of city night spot Mansion House, in Merchant City.

As the Evening Times reported yesterday, Novus Leisure, which operates the venue, told staff the club would close on Sunday.

A spokesman confirmed that the site, in Glassford Street, was being handed back to the landlord and that they would cease trading at the end of the week.

Tiger Tiger in Croydon - operated by Novus Leisure - is also facing closure.

Around 50 people who work at the club are affected, however Novus Leisure said they would try to relocate employees to other venues "where possible".

However, organisers of Jongleurs, which will stage its last show at the club on Saturday, said they were "devastated".

They said they were actively looking for another venue so they can stay in Glasgow.

It came as the city prepares to host the Glasgow Comedy Festival in March, which Jongleurs was due to take part in.

Booking manager for Jongleurs, Julia Chamberlain, said the club pulled in up to 500 people every weekend.

There are usually three comedians and a compere on Fridays and Saturday nights.

Ms Chamberlain said: "We are devastated that the rug has been pulled out from underneath us.

"We really want to have a presence in Glasgow and as soon as we get a suitable venue we'll be back up and running.

"We are pretty much sold out most weekends - it's very popular. So the last thing we want to do is leave Glasgow.

"If anyone wants to get in touch with us with any suitable venues we'd be more than happy to speak to them."

They are looking for a site with 200 seats.

A statement issued to comedians on Wednesday said Jongleurs were not quitting Glasgow.

It said: "Novus Leisure told us this morning that they are closing the Mansion House venue in Glasgow as of this Sunday 10 January. The venue will be completely closed, the bars and the Jongleurs room.

"Jongleurs will look for a new Glasgow venue but we won't find one overnight.

"We still very much want to be in Glasgow and run shows there - they have been well attended good shows and I think we were about to do better and bigger things there.

"We want to be back there as soon as we can find a good place of sufficient size."

Comedian Janey Godley, who has performed at the club, said she hoped the franchise would find another venue as soon as possible, because it was important to have a variety of venues in the comedy scene.

She said : "Jongleurs has been in Glasgow for about 15 years. It is really important for there to be lots of venues and clubs in the city, whether that's the Stand or my night at Wild Cabaret."

Another regular performer Rob Kane said: "It is leaving a massive hole in the comedy community.

"I think Glasgow and Jongleurs are a perfect fit for each other. Jongleurs brings some of the biggest names in comedy to Glasgow. We do have venues like the Stand which are great, but the more venues, the better.

"From a personal point of view Jongleurs is an institution and guys from all over the world come to support it.

"It's a carnival atmosphere - you don't really get any other clubs like that."

Mansion House, which was formerly Tiger Tiger, opened in 2011 following a £1million refurbishment

Around 70 new jobs were created when the multi-functional leisure venue, which includes a restaurant, karaoke booths and a cocktail bar opened.

Although popular at the weekend, the three-storey venue is understood to have struggled in the past two years.

A spokesman for Novus Leisure said: "Novus Leisure will cease trading in Tiger Tiger in Croydon and Mansion House in Glasgow at the end of this week and that both sites are being returned to the landlords.

"Discussions are underway to offer employees the opportunity to relocate to alternative Novus venues, where possible.

"These two site closures are isolated cases and otherwise, Novus remains in great health across its premium bar and restaurant portfolio. Following strong trading over the Christmas period the Group has begun its 2016 capital investment programme with a £900,000 investment at Sway in Great Queen Street in London’s Covent Garden which is due to re-open at the end of January.”