First impressions

The Langham has just celebrated its 140th anniversary, a milestone that befits a hotel brimming with fusty antiques and nurturing a boarding school whiff of furniture polish and taxidermy. But the Langham has no such traits. The vast arched stone entrance gives a nod to the hotel’s origins as London’s first grand hotel (when built it was the largest building in London), but there’s no fustiness. Pale stone walls, elegant paintings and smooth mahogany furniture make for an attractive lobby, although what will remain of these after the hotel’s upcoming refurbishment is not certain.

At a cost of £50 million, a comprehensive redecoration will bring the Langham into line with its fashionable rivals, and if the new hotel bar, Artesian, is anything to go by, the new look will be sensational. Overhauled by modish designer David Collins, who has the Wolseley and Berkeley under his belt, the Langham’s former polo-themed bar has thrown off its chukkas and baize in favour of lush textures in silver, white, black and purple. The leather floor, bevelled mirrors and lilac marble ooze opulence and fun, and together with the bespoke rum, bottled exclusively for the hotel, ensures the bar is fast becoming a hangout for the trendy media types who work nearby.

When the same design team has overhauled the restaurant, whose incongruous palm trees and Moroccan lanterns are crying out for the scrap heap, the designers will move onto the bedrooms and lobby, with a finish date set for the end of 2008. In the meantime though, the food, service and location mean the Langham is still a winner.

Why it’s special

The hotel’s history makes it a London institution, and the location, five minute’s from Oxford Circus tube station, is unbeatable for access to the West End, shopping and media offices surrounding BBC Broadcasting House.

Hitting the sack

The 427 bedrooms include 47 Langham Hotel Club rooms, located in the relatively new wing of the hotel, added ten year’s ago when the hotel acquired an adjoining bank building. Navigating the route between the two parts of the building isn’t easy and it was a relief when, on arrival in reception I was escorted to the Club check-in.

The modest desk located in a corridor outside the Club lounge was a disappointment after the grand lobby, but staying in the club rooms has its advantages – drinks and food in the lounge throughout the day, including evening cocktails and afternoon tea, free local calls, complimentary pressing of one garment, use of the health club and use of the boardroom for up to three hours, among other extras.

My room had a mediocre view of nearby buildings and non-descript but inoffensive décor, in beige, cream and gold tones. All the essentials were there – broadband internet (charged at £20 for 24 hours), minibar, hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities, and so forth. The marble bathroom was slick and spartan and the shower offered a refreshing morning blast.

Sampling the food

The current restaurant, Memories, is on death row, and it couldn’t come a moment too soon – the spectacular room, with a vast high ceiling and huge curved windows is spectacularly undersold. The renovation and name change will be completed this summer, but head chef David Collard will stay on, so it’s worth mentioning the food. Collard has Michelin starred experience with such luminaries as Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, and offers a two-course dinner from £30, with three courses from £36.50, a reasonable price for this quality of cuisine.

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