Between 2.30 and 3.30pm approximately.
Greetings from the bar of the Crescent Hotel, Buxton. I am impressed! Yesterday and the day before were “routine and quite unremarkable”, but today, 1st October will go down in the annals of local history as the day The Crescent opened its doors to the public for the first time since 1992 when The St. Ann’s finally closed its doors. In the 19th century, the St. Ann’s occupied the “west side” of the building, the Crescent the eastern end, nearest Spring Gardens and the (then) two railway stations, LNWR, and Midland.
Normally, I would find at least something I would be disappointed with. But, already, I am a huge fan of the Crescent. I wouldn’t have objected if the exterior stonework had been (if it was possible) re-dressed, but historic signs of the hotel’s past might well have been obliterated, which would have been a great pity.
Inside, the restoration is as classy as any hotel I have stayed in, and I find there is very little, if any, room for improvement. The colour scheme in the corridors is simple, distinctive and tasteful; the gold stenciled signage also.
I have been allocated Room 110, one of the few Classic rooms facing The Slopes. It appears not to have been “re-shaped” but, it is extremely well appointed with all anyone would need for a night or two in a 5 star spa hotel. I doubt that I shall see the entire complex in the short time I am staying this week.
Before all of this, I had a dental appointment at 1.30 this afternoon. The dentist felt that my recent toothache should be investigated, and thus concluded that, should the discomfort recur, (and he assured me that it would), at least one tooth would need to be extracted! Just what I needed to hear before my decadent time at the Crescent. This morning, I had dropped into town to replace a pair of obviously worn out shoes, buy some shoe polish, and have a quick look at where I would be residing this afternoon and tonight. Already, people were checking in; the Hotel had decided to open its doors early at 11am rather than four hours later to negate possible over-crowding and thwart the spread of any Coronavirus floating around at the time. I checked in at the hotel immediately following my dental appointment. I had not yet had lunch and was ready for something to eat. I was pointed in the direction of the bar.
My meal there “did the trick” but was not going to spoil my pre-paid dinner tonight at 8 o’clock. My choice of tomato soup would be the first helping of my favourite starter to be served in the new Hotel. To follow, three not very big sausages on a bed of very nice mashed potato with some fancy dark green garnishing. So yes, I wasn’t wowed by what I had chosen as a main course for a rather late lunch. It looked small, but in fact, my appetite for dinner is somewhat diminished!
I am enjoying today enormously. I have relaxed in my Classic room, watching a little TV and perusing this month’s Heritage Railway. I have strolled part-way along Buxton’s Broadwalk whose Victorian street lights gleam most effectively as the sun dips below the trees and houses. One of the Hotel personnel showed me an area not yet open to the public, where Victorian newspapers had been uncovered beneath the floorboards, and are now carefully framed and displayed.
Now, it’s time to change for dinner.
The restaurant seems full, the menu, very “West End”. I have ordered leek and potato soup, followed by chicken and mash with a side plate of broccoli. I am one of just two or three wearing a tie. I need not have worried about the dress code as long as what one was wearing looked “trendy”. While I consider myself young at heart, somehow, my instincts are to go for jacket and tie, which is rarely the fashion these days.
I have found all the hotel personnel attentive, courteous, efficient and enthusiastic, as pleased as I am to be here on the opening night. The restaurant is very good indeed, but needless to say, not cheap. That’s actually a good thing. In London, I have paid an “arm and a leg” for nouvelle cuisine which no matter how many add-ons one chooses, you still leave the eatery feeling as hungry as before you went in. That is certainly not the case here; perhaps too many nights here might undo the benefits of careful dieting.
There are no disappointments here. The circa 220 year old complex, originally of shops and apartments and then, later, hotels, has been successfully “exhumed” at phenomenal expense, from the hard times leading to its closure and subsequent temporary abandonment. Every room has come back to life, and the whole place lit up like a cruise ship.
I am awaiting a dessert which really I should have “passed” on. But, because of the Covid-19 regulations, I have to be out of the restaurant in 13 minutes!
All in all, apart from a trip to the dentist, a most enjoyable, and certainly, memorable day!
Thanks for reading, David, Crescent Hotel 21.48 hrs.
David's Cruise 