Langham relisted                     (Venues)

The Langham, London has just reopened its gilded doors following a restoration and refurbishment programme that has taken over five years. At an investment of some  £80 million The Langham promises guests and event planners luxurious efficiency through 380 guest rooms and suites and 15 function rooms. Bethany Hutton-Stigga (1-5-09) 

History

The Langham was opened in 1865 by HRH The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and billed as Europe’s first "Grand Hotel". Innovations that followed included the first hydraulic lifts and London’s first air-conditioned hotel.

Langham Hotels International bought the property from the Hilton Group and began its  five-year refurbishment shaping it into Langham’s flagship hotel. Today, The Langham stands at the heart of London's West End between theatreland and the retail bustle of Regent Street and Bond Street.



Destination Restaurants & Bar

These new spaces were designed by David Collins Studio and include the The Landau restaurant, Postillion, its 16-seat private dining room, and Artesian (left), a glamorous cocktail bar with an exclusive list of over 70 rums.

Hand-cast iron gates lead to Palm Court, historically the home of the original Afternoon Tea for over 140 years. This can now be relived with innovations such as Bijoux Tea, an indulgent tea with delicate pastry selections inspired by the collections of top jewellery designers. At 18.65 hours (five past seven – a nod to the hotel’s birth year), guests enjoy a complimentary soupcon of champagne with canapés to put them in the right frame of mind to peruse the list of over 40 champagnes.

Suites

Richmond International created five new schemes for the new Grand Rooms and Suites taking its cue from the English residence but with contemporary elements.

Guests' rooms are adorned with bespoke furniture pieces, accessories and specially-commissioned artwork. Richmond's design brief was to induce a warmth and residential feel that set The Langham apart from other London luxury hotels. Comforts include the Langham Blissful Bed.

The contemporary element sees all rooms fitted with new flat screen televisions, a state-of-the-art in-room entertainment system and MP-3 player connectivity. They also feature wireless internet access and a new IP telephone system.

Meetings & Event Spaces

The Grand Ballroom's (above) heritage lies in the Victorian era when it was tradition to lay a red carpet for brides from All Souls’ Church across to Langham Place to the hotel’s entrance.

The listed Grand Ballroom has been at the centre of the restoration programme which has preserved its period detail. It  accommodates up to 375 guests.

Langham House, originally a separate residence, now houses a business centre and four new contemporary business suites for 10-60 people. A further seven Private Carriage Rooms (pictured left) build on the theme from The Landau restaurant. These are more traditionally styled and best suited for intimate gatherings with menus specially created by Andrew Turner, the creative force behind The Landau.

Aside from the kudos of of hosting their events at The Langham business guests can draw on a service tradition that's been refined over three centuries making it business-responsive for today's needs. 

The Twist 

A “Book Butler” has been hired to select reading matter for guests, on request. This pays homage to The Langham's historical connection to the literary world fed by its  location close to Fitzrovia, the city’s original artistic and bohemian quarter. Notable figures include Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and Somerset Maugham. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle even mentioned the hotel in several of his Sherlock Holmes stories. Today, The Langham, London hosts regular book launches, literary and artistic events.

Guests can even take books with them and return them when they've finished reading.

En Route
A further investment of £2 million is earmarked for a luxury spa which is planned for the latter part of 2009. This will complement its existing fitness centre and 16-metre swimming pool which will also be refurbished. This will be the first outlet for Langham’s luxury spa brand Chuan Spa in Europe, which features holistic rituals based on the values of traditional Chinese Medicine.

What they said:

“Despite the current economic climate, this sizable investment in our London flagship clearly demonstrates our commitment to expand The Langham brand internationally and to become recognised as one of the leading global luxury hotel companies.”             Brett Butcher - CEO, Langham Hotels International

“The Langham is back, looking even more beautiful than when she first opened in 1865, and once again, we have spared no expense to ensure the highest level of comfort with service the way it was always meant to be.”                                                          Katie Benson - MD, The Langham,  Regional VP, Europe & North America.

Also screened:

       May Fair                      InterContinental Park Lane

RK  _________________________________________