Bristol Comedy Magic Show: 60 Minutes at Smoke & Mirrors

The magicians pull volunteers on stage during the performance, not before it.

The House Magicians Comedy Magic Show is a 60-minute live performance at Smoke & Mirrors, Bristol's top-rated boutique magic theatre pub, held Thursdays at 7pm, 8pm or 9pm. The evening starts with close-up magic at the bar while you order drinks and food, then moves into an intimate 1920s-style theatre seating 40 guests for the main show. Audience participation is part of the act. The magician may invite you on stage during the performance. Show tickets are available alone or bundled with drink tokens. Minimum age is 16 for the 7pm and 8pm shows, 18 for the 9pm show.

Step-by-step itinerary

Comedy and magic show evening

• Arrive at Smoke & Mirrors bar
• Enjoy close-up magic at the bar
• Be seated in 1920s-style theatre
• Watch 60-minute comedy magic show

The experience

The night begins the moment you walk in. A resident magician performs close-up magic at the bar while the pub's team serves your drinks and food: no waiting around before the entertainment starts. At 6:40 pm, you're welcomed into the theatre itself, a restored 1920s-style room that holds just 40 people, and seated at a table by the host. The setup is cabaret-style, not rows of seats facing a distant stage, so you're close enough to catch every detail.

At your chosen time (7pm, 8pm or 9pm) one of the resident comedy magicians takes the stage for a 60-minute performance. This is not a lecture or a demonstration you watch from a distance. The act is built around audience participation: the magician calls people up on stage as part of the illusions, so you might find yourself part of the trick. The comedy runs throughout, not as a separate opening act. Strobe lighting and smoke are used during the show, and the venue operates a Challenge 25 age verification scheme at the door.

Booking confirmations arrive by email. There are no printed tickets. If you arrive after the show starts, you'll be seated during the interval. The house rules are strict about phone silence and no heckling, which keeps the room focused on the performance rather than on other audience members. Private bookings for groups are available. The theatre assigns seating as guests arrive to manage the small space.

What’s included

• Live comedy and magic performance by a resident magician-comedian.
• close-up magic at the bar before the main show.
• seating in the intimate 1920s-style theatre.
• drink tokens available as an add-on option at checkout.

Options for this experience

3 options

Show Ticket19:00 and 21:00Lasts 1 hour

Show ticket with 1 drink token19:00 and 21:00Show ticket and drinks

Show ticket plus 2 drink tokens19:00 and 21:00Show and drinks: show ticket with 2 drinks each

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDepartures at 19:00 and 21:00Last departure this season: 25 Nov

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Under 16: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 44

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Smoke Mirrors

Is this one for you?Book the 7pm or 8pm show if you want a date night or group outing where the performance is the main event and audience participation is part of the fun. The 9pm slot suits those looking for a later night out in a venue where the comedy and magic are built around interaction, not passive watching.

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Top questions

What time does the show start on Thursday nights?

The House Magicians show runs at three start times: 7pm, 8pm or 9pm. You choose which one when you book.

Do I need to do anything on stage during the show?

Audience participation is part of the act. The magician may invite you or someone in your group on stage during the 60-minute performance. You're not forced to participate, but the show is designed around the possibility.

What's included with the ticket?

The ticket includes entry to the show and live entertainment. You can add drink tokens at checkout (either one or two tokens depending on which option you choose), or book the ticket alone and order from the bar.

How many people fit in the theatre?

Smoke & Mirrors seats just 40 guests in the 1920s-style theatre, creating an intimate cabaret setting rather than a large auditorium.

What's the minimum age to attend?

The minimum age is 16 for the 7pm and 8pm shows, and 18 for the 9pm show. Children under 16 cannot attend the regular Thursday performances.

How long does the whole evening take?

The close-up magic at the bar happens when you arrive, then the main theatre show runs 60 minutes. Plan for around 90 minutes total from arrival to the end of the performance.