The Langham London, one of the city’s most endearing hotels, continues to evolve and innovative, determined to stay at the forefront of British luxury.
It’s mid-morning on a clear if not chilly Sunday and at Palm Court, the lavishly-decorated lobby lounge of The Langham London, the city’s good and great are doing what any self-respecting English person does in late spring: they’re taking tea. It’s a timeless scene – the hotel was the birthplace of afternoon tea after all – as affluent diners lounge on velvet stools and chaise lounges in royal blue and burgundy, serenaded by a pianist and waited upon by staff in immaculate cream jackets.
It may seem a little fuddy duddy when compared to the bold and brash hotel chains dominating major cities from London to New York; houses of slumber which count in-house DJs, neon-bathed bathrooms, salt menus and rock star concierges among their selling points. But the Langham London is at the forefront of a renaissance within the luxury world, one that represents a shift away from incessant minimalism, lifestyle soundtracks, pool parties and overly chatty staff and a return to the golden age of elegant, unashamedly luxurious grande dame hotels.
Built in 1865 by John Giles, the Langham remains the largest and arguably the most iconic of London’s traditional style hotels. Located in Marylebone, across from the BBC’s new-look headquarters and close to Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus, the Langham is located in the heart of the city’s luxury precinct and despite dark days during The Great Depression, WWII, and its stint under the Hilton banner, was beautifully restored to its previous grandeur by Hong Kong’s Langham Hotels International. A GBP80 million (US$134 million) renovation in 2009 included a reduction in guest rooms, new event spaces, new bars and restaurants, and a beautiful restoration of Palm Court.
Today Palm Court remains one of London’s most sought after bookings, thanks sumptuous décor, razor sharp service, and the constant innovation of multi-award winning pastry chef Cherish Finden, whose Tiffin tea journeys have helped the Langham snatch the coveted top afternoon tea ranking from stiff local competition.
That same innovation goes into each of Langham’s restaurants and bars. The Artesian Bar, located on the lobby level, is a showcase of rare spirits and mixology that’s equal parts art and science.
Here, in a bar regularly regarded as one of the best on the planet, three of the game’s best players, Alex Kratena, Simone Caporale and Silviu Stan, create inspiring cocktails that are playful interpretations of classic recipes, served in decadent surrounds popular with the city’s work-hard-play-hard financiers. A ‘butterfly wheel’ helps the uninitiated select a cocktail based on flavor combinations, from the Langham Martini, with Tanqueray Ten gin and artesian vermouth, through to the Super Panda, with Botran rum and Kamm & Sons ginseng spirit, mango, citrus and almond, served with an inflated ‘panda head’ garnish.
Around the corner Roux at the Landau is synonymous with world-class French cuisine. Father and son Albert and Michel Roux Jr, along with young Roux protégé Chris King and acclaimed restaurant manager Franco Becci, bring together two generations of culinary pedigree with a menu of classically-constructed French dishes with modern touches. The adjacent Postillion, created by designer David Collins, remains of if the city’s most sought after private dining rooms.
Langham’s heritage continues into the 380 lavishly-appointed guest rooms above. Enjoyed in years past by everyone from eccentric millionaire Hetty Green, Napoleon III and Oscar Wilde, through to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Diana, Princess of Wales, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Don Bradman and Noël Coward, the Langham’s guest rooms and suites range from simple but elegant Classic Rooms all the way to the acclaimed Infinity Suite, an opulent two-bedroom space with bespoke furnishings and double-height ceilings.
My Grand Langham Room epitomizes the grande dame’s legacy to a tee; a king sized bed flooded in natural light thanks to ample windows, stands off with two comfortable arm chairs, a sizable work desk, and a graceful sideboard-cum-mini bar. The bathroom features an oversized shower, a bath, and double vanities, like any regal reprieve should, while hints of technology – from the 42-inch flatscreen television to the MP3 player and high-speed wifi connectivity – gently nudge this Austenian space firmly into the 21st century.
In addition, guests in Grand Langham Rooms or any of the hotel’s larger suites of apartments, have access to the hotel’s chic Langham Club, which serves light, intimate breakfasts and evening cocktails in a space akin to a sophisticated private living room. It’s the perfect spot in which to reflect the rich history that’s passed through such hallowed halls, and the noble future still ahead for his truly unique hotel.
