Tuesday, today back in my hotel at the Rutland. Before the hotel, I met up with Shelley Ward, Simon Stone Neil Saunders and Ed Aldridge in the Grape for a few pints of shandy. Another one of those Edinburgh pubs created from a banking hall. I’m afraid it was a very much liquid supper tonight.
Tag Archives: Rutland Hotel
Sunday and off to Edinburgh and the Santorini
No rest for the wicked this Sunday. Up early to catch a flight to Edinburgh. They wanted me in to do an enhancement, which was due to go live the next week. Despite the scheduled departure being earlier than a weekday, I was in the office later.
Worked late until after 19.00 on the problem, then went out for a meal. Found this Greek restaurant on Broughton Street I had been meaning to go to for months. Now was my chance, other side of town to where the end of festival firework display, so it was empty.
Nice meal of mezzos, (meat balls, stuffed vine leaves, and feta with spinach in filo). Followed by Greek coffee and Ouzo.
Back to the Rutland for a night, fighting my way through the end of firework crowds. The whole of Princes Street had been cordoned off, and was now being cleaned by the street cleaners in preparation for reopening.
Festival Fringe – Dan Antopolski – A Whim Away – RBS
Monday had an excellent flight up to Edinburgh, on time and it wasn’t raining at take off or landing. Arrived at the office at 10.00, into a sweltering heat. For some reason the air conditioning isn’t started until late in the morning and it takes a while to get to a reasonable temperature.
This week I am staying at the Holiday Inn next to Edinburgh Zoo on Corstorphine Road. At least that is what I thought. On arrival I found my booking had been cancelled. Long story but I think it was because I had used to agents to find me a hotel in the centre of Edinburgh. Both had failed and ended up booking the Holiday Inn. I cancelled one booking through one agent, result no hotel. The Holiday Inn were very surprising helpful (I wonder if they were to blame) in finding me a hotel for the night, and laid on free transport to get there. I ended up in the Grosvenor Hilton near the Hay Market. Old world charm, large bedrooms, high ceilings, and well over my budget.
Met with Ed Aldridge for a curry at Suruchi on Nicholson outside the Festival Hall. The restaurant was almost full; we were lucky to get in. I ate Chicken Shakuti with lemon rice and Naan bread. Very nice.
After eating we went to the Pleasance to see if there was anything to watch. Ended up listening to Dan Antopolski doing an hour stand up. His style of comedy did require extreme concentration. Letting your mind wander definitely meant you missed any punch lines. Last half hour did become a bit tedious. I wasn’t sure if he was extremely clever or a complete plonker. There were funny jokes, but none which were side splitting memorable.
Afterwards a quick pint in the Doric, and then I walked back to the hotel. On the way back I stopped at the Rutland hotel. This is above a very lively bar. Found they had rooms for the rest of the week at a very reasonable rate, and it is near the centre of town, so booked a room for the rest of the week.