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Hotels

A la Colthard/Semolina and the Pig in South Downs

Semolina was recommended to me by the greeter/manageress at my hairdresser in Brighton. Its location off London Road, north of the centre, is not the best as it’s an area known for druggies. The restaurant is small. On the night we (my guest was a spirited Aussie girl who is a party animal) we [...]

March 26, 2022 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/the Boutique Hotel

If  there has been one development in the hotel industry that has irritated me it’s been the rise of the boutique hotel. As often as not these are designed in a small space but disguise the size with a modern makeover and a few gimmicks. Last weekend I had to attend a 65th birthday celebration [...]

February 15, 2022 // 0 Comments

To Bath (and back again one day)

I had previously visited Bath only five times in my life – three of them day expeditions to watch the Harlequins play “away” Premiership matches against Bath Rugby – and so my wife and I, delighted to take up the suggestion of the Rust’s esteemed sports editor that we join him at The Rec [...]

February 2, 2022 // 0 Comments

Bath Times

Team Rust has gone to Bath for a cultural and sporting trip. Most of us are billeted in the Royal Crescent Hotel The train journey illustrated the difference between various  networks. Southern Rail – or Fail as we call it – had old dirty stock for the first leg from Brighton to [...]

January 28, 2022 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/Gravetye Manor

This was my second visit to Gravetye Manor, a former baronial-style hall near East Grinstead, with exquisite gardens that was converted into a hotel in 2005. It’s more of a summer place to enjoy the formal walled garden and the expansive grounds by a lake. The dining room is set in a conservatory [...]

January 21, 2022 // 0 Comments

Not much difference so far

Eight days ago, in reporting to readers of this organ that I was about to begin a driving ban for having amassed a cumulative 12 points for minor speeding offences upon the roads of Britain, I concluded my piece by stating that I proposed to offer occasional reflections upon the ban as I endured [...]

August 24, 2021 // 0 Comments

A La Colthard/the Royal Crescent Bath

It was Nancy’s idea that “Rusters On European Tour” might make a trip to Bath. Alice (Mansfield) wanted to see the Canaletto exhibition at the Holburne museum Bath and I don’t need much excuse to revisit one of my favourite hotels The Royal Crescent. As the name would suggest the [...]

August 19, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/Sir Christopher Wren Windsor

A few years ago I was a regular visitor to both the Sir Christopher Wren hotel and Windsor. The hotel got tattier and tattier. One day on the outdoor terrace I saw a spritely Indian businessman directing affairs. He turned out to be the owner of Sarova hotels. Sarova have now taken over the hotel. [...]

July 27, 2021 // 0 Comments

The Open

I was last at St George’s in 1993 when Greg Norman roasted the field. I followed him early and stayed with him to the 18th. Since then Ben Curtis and Darren Clarke have won the claret jug here. Like all links courses, it’s weather dependent: wind in your face – a wood, wind with you [...]

July 15, 2021 // 0 Comments

Time and tide waits for no man

Occasionally on the pages of this organ contributors, myself included, address aspects of the passing of time upon sporting careers and particularly the point at which top sportsmen and woman decide to call a halt. In this context the truisms can flow long and hard. Some elite athletes are [...]

July 12, 2021 // 0 Comments

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