The Landau is David Collins' second artistic venture at Langham Hotel London, after the opening of the deeply glamorous Artesian Bar in January
Contemporary European cuisine, the finest British ingredients, surprising twists and a stunning interior mark the opening of The Landau restaurant at the Langham Hotel, London. With celebrated chef Andrew Turner returning to London to head up The Landau's kitchen and design by David Collins Studio, the restaurant's launch on November 27 concluded the first phase of a multi-million pound refurbishment program, which will see the transformation of the entire hotel by early 2009.
The Landau, named after the lightweight open carriage that was fashionable when the Langham Hotel opened in 1865, has been designed as a freestanding restaurant with its own kitchen and a new street entrance on Portland Place. David Collins Studio spearheaded the Langham's refurbishment by creating an entirely new culinary "corner" for the hotel, including the Artesian Bar, which opened in January 2007 to wide critical acclaim.
Andrew Turner has successfully run many high-profile restaurants "” most recently attaining a 3-star rosette standard for The Latymer at Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa in Surrey and previously at '1880' at the Bentley Kempinski, London, which also won a Remy's Award from Harden's as one of the top 10 restaurants in the city. His other restaurants have been recognized with awards from Decanter, Time Out and Square Meal magazines.
Turner has also worked in hotels, including Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire, The Dorchester and The Berkeley in London, and The Grand in Amsterdam. He has been a consultant for restaurateur Albert Roux and Brown's Hotel, as well as for the award-winning restaurant '1837' in London.
"We give our guests all the things they expect from a professional kitchen" said Turner. “Incredible quality and locally sourced ingredients, with traceability and provenance. The menu is Contemporary European with the best British ingredients and a few surprising twists "” be they from one of the chefs in the brigade who has some great ideas, particular ingredients, or something we have picked up from travels around the globe."
The Landau is part of a jigsaw of rooms and new spaces created by David Collins Studio. Special features include an atmospheric 'wine corridor' linking the entrance lobby to the dining room, where the restaurant's extensive world-class wine collection, chosen by a Master of Wine, is displayed. The oval-shaped, chic, 100-seat restaurant echoes the feel of Artesian's highly acclaimed design scheme, combining Oriental influences with the romance of Victoriana and some exciting contemporary touches. Although a distinctly separate space, elements of this 'contemporary orientalism' have been extended to The Landau's interior. Gilded wall paneling, antique brass chandeliers, silk Chinoiserie screens and timbered flooring inlaid with resin and a palette of pale gold, jade green and pastel blue all lend a fresh contemporary feel.
"We envisaged The Landau as being democratic and approachable "“ the kind of place people would feel comfortable using as a local restaurant, as well as for guests of the hotel." David Collins explained. "Eating out has evolved greatly in the past few years and David Collins Studio has been part of this process. These restaurants of the future should reflect the luxury and service of the hotel and its brand, while being approachable and informal, in keeping with changing social trends."
The Landau is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Background Notes:
Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 when the Langham Hotel in London originally opened as Europe's first Grand Hotel. For 140 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious hospitality. Today, all Langham Hotels worldwide inherit the same philosophy thatreflectselegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses creating a truly unique hotel experience.
Langham Hotels International (LHI) features six properties with over 2,700 rooms in five gateway cities across the four continents, namely, London, Boston, Hong Kong (2), Melbourne and Auckland. In each city Langham Hotels is associated with the prestigious "The Leading Hotels of the World" group, which represents some of the world's finest luxury hotels. LHI is wholly owned by Great Eagle Holdings Limited, a publicly listed company (HKSE: 41) which was founded in 1963 and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1972.
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