A High Old Time

Neil Hanson


Region:
Anywhere
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
Professional
Fee:
Paid: Fee negotiable
Category:
Entertainment
Updated:
15th January 2024

"A High Old Time" is a laugh-a-minute tour of the quirks and foibles, highs and lows of running Britain’s highest inn - so isolated that its next-door neighbour was 4 miles away and so high above sea level that it had its own climate, with winds that could tear car-doors off their hinges, and winter snows that cut off the inn for weeks on end.

A hugely engaging storyteller, Neil Hanson’s account of his time at the inn, grappling with tight-fisted farmers, eccentric characters, bizarre local customs, naturist weekends, “lates and lock-ins”, police raids, rats in the attic, close encounters with magistrates and planners, and the shooting of a famous double glazing commercial, is suitable for all audiences.

  • ‘We have had such positive feedback about your speech and how much they enjoyed it. My husband laughed so much he was nearly crying!’ Sandy Rysiok, Society of Municipal Treasurers
  • ‘It really was a pleasure to host you. I have had nothing but positive responses since the dinner – you really hit the right note.’ Commander Andrew Coles, HMS Drake, Plymouth
  • ‘A brilliant talk, the best we’ve ever had.’ Leeds U3A
  • The best - and the best-received - of all the 100 events we have put on here.’ Ed Tracy, Executive Director, The Pritzker Library, Chicago
  • ‘Excellent, really enjoyable and entertaining.’ Lucy Moody, Head of Advertising, Everest Ltd.
  • ‘Your talk was very, very well received by our members - they loved it and are probably still laughing.’ Tarporley U3A
  • ‘A wonderful talk.’ Huntingdon U3A
  • ‘Superb, amusing and insightful.’ Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association
  • ‘A great talk. Loads of compliments from people saying how much they enjoyed it! That’s unprecedented!’ Sheffield U3A
  • 'The talk was a huge hit with our audience, there have been a great many enthusiastic and positive comments.' Ilminster Festival
  • ‘An entertaining and masterful performance.’ Bradford U3A
  • ‘Best Speaker’ (vote by audiences), Brisbane Festival
  • ‘Fantastic, a tremendous evening.’ Amanda Lydon, New York City
  • ‘It was a joy to have you with us... your presentation drew raves.’ Eli Paul, Director, National World War I Museum, Kansas City
  • 'Great talk, we enjoyed it very much.' Graham Hastings-Evans, President, British Association of Construction Heads
  • ‘Wonderfully entertaining - will be live at the Apollo next!’ Audience member, Knaresborough Festival
  • ‘The best speaker I've ever heard.' Audience member, Yate & Sodbury U3A
  • ‘Neil Hanson was an outstanding speaker – warm, funny, humane.’ Stephen Brown, Chairman, Yorkshire Post Literary Luncheons
  • ‘Very amusing and entertaining. I’ve had some wonderful feedback from our members.’ Potters Bar U3A
  • ‘Very eloquent and very amusing talk. Everyone has said how much they enjoyed it.' Bramhope WI
  • ‘Such an entertaining talk. It was polished, professional and greatly appreciated by the audience who were totally involved and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.’ Swanland U3A
  • 'Thank you for being a wonderful speaker. Your humour, wit and entertaining ability kept a very diverse audience entranced.’ Janet Munro, Soroptimist International
  • ‘Such confidence and humour and such a variety of experiences has given you great entertainment skills.’ Kirkburton Probus Club
  • ‘Great to have someone who is so clearly at ease, not only with the subject, but also with presenting it.’ Holme Valley U3A
  • ‘I’ve been a member for 20 years and that was one of the best talks we’ve ever had.’ Cranleigh Probus Club
  • ‘Our members thoroughly enjoyed your talk and the fluency and clarity with which it was presented.’ Bookham U3A
  • ‘A huge thank you to Neil Hanson for doing such a wonderful event. It went down fantastically well.’ Director, Ilkley Festival
  • ‘The most entertaining speaker we've ever had.’ Sittingbourne Probus Club
  • ‘We were delighted with your talk, one member said it was the best she had ever heard.’ Combined Essex WIs
  • ‘A wonderful speech, thank you.’ Audience member, New Orleans
  • ‘The feedback we have had has been tremendous.’ Off The Shelf, Sheffield
  • ‘Extremely amusing and entertaining,’ Ilkley U3A
  • ‘We have had some excellent speakers over the years, but you were the very best we have ever had.’ Organiser, Rossett and Wakeman Lectures
  • ‘The audience loved it, as did we.’ Wendy Kent, Director, Knaresborough Festival
  • 'You were awesome.’ Thomas Power, Chairman, ecademy, London
  • ‘Thank you so much - your talk was brilliant.’ Meriel Jeater, Curator, Museum of London
  • ‘A spellbinding talk. Thank you.’ New Zealand Book Council, Wellington
  • ‘Neil Hanson offered the audience a great display of verbal pyrotechnics.’ Sydney Festival
  • ‘You were a star, everyone really enjoyed listening to you.’ Yorkshire Post
Views: 1177 | Enquiries: 17

About Neil Hanson

In a long and very chequered career, among a bewildering variety of other jobs, Neil Hanson has been an Oxford graduate, a plasterer’s mate, an ice cream salesman, a holiday camp redcoat and - simultaneously - an art critic and a rugby league commentator. He’s edited the boozer’s Bible - the Good Beer Guide, ran and later owned, Britain’s highest inn, in a wild and remote corner of the Yorkshire Dales, and also went round the world twice and worked as a print journalist and radio broadcaster in Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

He is now a very successful author with over 60 published books to his name. As well as his own work, he’s also a “ghost writer” for, among others, sports stars, showbiz legends, captains of industry, SAS men, pilots, a treasure diver, an explorer, a kidnap negotiator, an undercover investigator and a spy.

An award winning speaker, he has entertained audiences at every type of occasion - corporate events, conferences, festivals, luncheon clubs, dinners and banquets - throughout the UK and in New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Kansas City, New Orleans, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Auckland and Wellington


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