Neil Hanson

Neil Hanson is an author and ghost writer. His new book “The INN at the Top (Tales of Life at the Highest Pub in Britain)” is out now.

Along the highways, byways and frequent cul de sacs of a very chequered career Neil Hanson has been an Oxford graduate, a plasterer’s mate, an ice-cream salesman and a holiday camp redcoat. He’s also been an art gallery director, and – simultaneously – an art critic and a rugby league commentator. He’s been the editor of the drinker’s bible, The Good Beer Guide and the owner of the highest pub in Britain. He has also travelled round the world twice, edited magazines, made television films, been a radio broadcaster in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and written for media around the world.

However “the world’s longest adolescence finally had to come to an end,” he says. For the last twenty years he’s been a full time author, both of his own books and as a “ghost writer”.  He has written for, among many others, Sir Ian Botham, American showbiz legend Andy Williams, a spy, an England football manager, a treasure diver, a hugely successful businessman and several SAS men. His newest book under his own name, “The Inn at the Top” – the comic tales of his incompetent reign as owner of Britain’s Highest Inn – is out now. Gervase Phinn calls it “Massively readable, full of rich anecdote, wry and often touching observations, amusing characters, and witty dialogue.”

Talks:

In his after-dinner speeches, Neil takes a ramble around the highlights of his curious career peppered with anecdotes about his ghost writing clients. Highlights include the uses and abuses of cosmetic dentistry, the ingenious solutions adopted by fast-jet pilots faced with tricky personal problems and a tour de force involving the SAS’s disastrous attempts to recruit attack dogs from the Metropolitan Police.

He has spoken at every type of occasion – corporate events, conferences, festivals, dinners and banquets – throughout the UK and is a regular speaker “on tour” in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Neil Hanson author and ghost writer

TESTIMONIALS:

“We have had such positive feedback from those that attended and nearly all mentioned your speech and how much they enjoyed it. My husband was laughing so much he was nearly crying! ”
Sandy Rysiok, Society of Municipal Treasurers

“It was a joy to have you with us for the day… your presentation drew raves.”
Eli Paul, Director, National World War I Museum, Kansas City

“You were awesome.”
Thomas Power, Chairman, ecademy, London.

“Neil Hanson is a captivating speaker.”
Centre for Forensic Science, Sydney

“A wonderful speech, thank you.”
Audience member, D-Day Museum, New Orleans

“The best – and the best-received – of all the 100 events we have put on here.”
Ed Tracy, Executive Director, The Pritzker Military Library, Chicago

Best Speaker (vote by audience members).
Brisbane Festival

“Neil Hanson offered the audience a great display of verbal pyrotechnics.”
Sydney Festival

“A vivid, engrossing, witty and very entertaining speech. You saw for yourself how well it went down with our audience.”
University of Perth, Western Australia

“My husband was literally crying with laughter.”
Audience member, Melbourne

“Thank you so much – your talk was brilliant.”
Meriel Jeater, Curator, Museum of London

‘A spellbinding talk. Thank you.’
New Zealand Book Council, Wellington

• After Dinner Speakers