Hayman's Gin Palace at The Langham, Oxford Circus

London’s better hotels such as Claridge’s, The Savoy and the Connaught often boast at least two great bars, each with separate identities. The similarly luxurious Langham has a bar to be proud of,  Artesian - a divine amethyst-tone chinoiserie shrine to its late creator David Collins. Until the end of November 2013, it also has a second bar -  Hayman's ‘gin palace’ in its Palm Court. It is billed as 'an enchanting evening venue' open from Thursday to Saturday inclusive. Quite how Count Basie-era live jazz and a grandiose Art Deco room, lit sex shop red, ‘evokes the glamour of the mid-1800’s’ is anybody’s guess. Humdrum furnishings, odd lamp groupings, and two monumental funeral black plinths topped by red floral displays suggest that the palm-free Palm Court’s designers are stuck in another century -  the mid 20th  - and not in a way I need to see revived. Pretty as they look, prepped at a penumbral bar devoid of interest, Alex Kratena's (£16) cocktails are similarly disappointing: yuza and cedarwood using Hayman’s 1850, suggests a new addition to the Berocca range. 'Kombucha and sloe' comes on like one of those strident fruit flavoured ciders from Sweden that are doing the student festival rounds. Tasting dishes (£7) are suggested for each cocktail. Our gin and tonic gravadlax with nashi pear is duly tasted... and left unfinished. Accompanying cocktail? I've switched to champagne by now. My date tweets a picture of some sort of cinnamon and apple crumble arrangement in what looks like a new jar from Bonne Maman. We move on to Edition London, a hotel possessed of three bars I'd much rather be in. The Palm Court is a potentially truly great space. Not tonight. 

The Langham London, 1c Portland Place W1B 1JA 7636 1000 

www.london.langhamhotels.co.uk

See a version of this and simailar reviews at www.squaremeal.co.uk

David Collins: obituary reproduced from SQUARE MEAL

Restaurant designer David Collins dies

(menu)

David Collins – undoubtedly the biggest name in the restaurant design world – has died after a short illness. The 54-year-old had been diagnosed with skin cancer three weeks ago; his death, which took place in the early hours of this morning, was due to complications caused by the cancer.

Collins’ signature dining rooms are some of the most well-known and luxurious destinations in the capital, and include The Wolseley, Claridge’s Bar and The Blue Bar at The Berkeley. His style was opulent, rich in colour and glamour, and famous for its attention to detail: for The Blue Bar, Collins commissioned pieces in a unique shade of periwinkle blue – one of his favourite colours.

Collins trained as an architect in his native Dublin, but moved into interior design after graduating. In 1985, he founded David Collins Studio, which established itself as the go-to agency for projects throughout London and globally, including Bob Bob Ricard, J Sheekey andRestaurant Gordon Ramsay and, more recently,Bassoon bar at The Corinthia, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Rooms at Fortnum & Mason, and Brasserie Zédel.

Both the studio and the man behind it have won countless awards, including designer of the year accolades fromHouse & Garden, Elle Decoration and Wallpaper magazines. Madonna was a huge fan of The Blue Bar (pictured, below left) – so much so that she reputedly had Collins design a version of the bar for her own house.

Keith Barker-Main, Square Meal contributor andMetro columnist, was a friend of Collins.

‘I first met David when he was a student,’ he told Square Meal. ‘Here was clearly a kind, reflective, stylish lad with a cheeky glint in his eyes and a stream of delightfully dry observations to share. As to his prodigious design talent, the fine London interiors he leaves behind – The Connaught Bar, Artesian and The Blue Bar are among my favourites – speak volumes. David was a class act with a wickedly witty edge.’

Square Meal editor Ben McCormack paid tribute to Collins and the legacy he has left behind.

‘David Collins deserves to be remembered as being as much of a key figure in the transformation of London’s restaurant scene over the last 20 years as Terence Conran and Gordon Ramsay,’ he said. ‘His memorable designs for restaurants including Nobu Berkeley St, Cecconi’s and, recently, Colbert put him at the vanguard of the restaurant world and played a central part in making eating out in London as much about enjoying a glamorous night out in cool surroundings as eating fine food. Our condolences go to his family, and all those who worked with him at his design studio.’

Collins leaves behind his mother, two sisters and one brother.

This story was published in July 2013. ©SquareMeal

This article was first published on www.squaremeal.co.uk

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