IT seems a touch ironic that Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal is in line for a major design award.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has singled out the £1.5m refurbishment as one of the most remarkable and innovative buildings in the world.

Spectator isn't suggesting the completed works are not innovative enough, but they are a darn sight less so than the original designs. Who remembers the blue-glass fronted extension initially suggested? Now that was what you would call innovative and remarkable.

Spa-rkle renewed?

Spectator wishes Coast and Country Hotels all the best with their impending re-development of the Croft Spa.

Last year it looked as if the old coaching inn's days were numbered when the hotel group sought planning permission to convert the buildings to a number of flats, apartments and houses. It appeared to be a tacit admission that they couldn't make a go of it.

Many readers will recall the hotel's halcyon days when it was the number one choice for dinners, weddings and Sunday lunches. We hope its owners can recreate that era.

Andy's slip

THERE'S many a slip 'twixt script and microphone, and even the admirable Andy Kluz is not immune, bless him.

Watching a Tyne Tees news bulletin about a disagreement between Cleveland police authority chairman Ken Walker and his chief constable over the arming of officers, Spectator clearly heard Andy refer to the latter as Sean Penn.

Two cinemas where the aforesaid Mr Penn appears with increasing infrequency are just down the road from the Billingham TV studios.

What Price (pun intended) a quiet word in the earpiece after that lunchtime bulletin?

More focus

The Charity Commissioners were responsible for the Brothers of St John of God shortening the title of their charity's name, which I noted in this column last week.

Brother John Martin, provincial of the Order, told a colleague that the commissioners thought the title needed to be "more focussed."

So it's now The Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God Charitable Trust" in place of a 15-word phrase, which Bro John thought "rather cumbersome."

On bar duty

A week after placing his football club into administration, Darlington chairman George Reynolds was spotted in Bar 66 at the stadium. Sleeves rolled up, Mr Reynolds was loading and unloading the dishwasher.

He looked a broken man. A far cry indeed from the happier times when he was acclaimed the club's saviour.