Langan's Brasserie
Encyclopedia
Langan's Brasserie is a London
restaurant
on Stratton Street, Piccadilly
. Opened by the Irish entrepreneur Peter Langan on 20th October 1976 in partnership with the actor Michael Caine
, the restaurant (which had previously housed the ornate restaurant Coq D'or) quickly attracted celebrities and became financially successful. Whilst reaching the peak of its fame in the 1980s, Langan's Brasserie remains a popular venue today.
Richard Shepherd
, the former head chef at the Michelin starred Capital Hotel
in London, joined the Caine and Langan partnership in 1977 and introduced a menu which has little changed since then. The menu demonstrates a French/English influence and became famous for serving dishes such as bangers and mash, fish and chips and spinach souffle with anchovy sauce.
A notorious alcoholic, Peter Langan died at the age of 47 on 7th December 1988, several weeks after a fire at his home in Essex which he is alleged to have started himself. Langan's name was kept by the restaurant and Shepherd subsequently bought Caine's share of the company in 1999 to become the sole owner of Langan's Brasserie and the group's other restaurants.
Langan's Brasserie is particularly noted for its artwork. Its downstairs walls are adorned with works by artists such as David Hockney
(who also designed the menu), Lucien Freud, Francis Bacon, Gerald Moira
and Patrick Procktor
amongst others. A wall in the bar area is currently reserved for young contemporary artists to exhibit their work. Upstairs at the Brasserie, a smaller room (opened in 1979) known as 'The Venetian Room' features murals specially commissioned by Procktor.
The Langan's brand has been expanded to include: Odin's (a restaurant acquired by Langan in 1967) and Langan's Bistro which are next door to each other in Devonshire Street in Marylebone
and Shepherd's in Marsham Court, Westminster
, which was opened in 1993.
Previously, the Langan's chain had included another Langan's Bistro in Paston Place, Brighton but this has since closed. Another Langan's Brasserie was opened in 1986 by Peter Langan in Coggeshall
, Essex, near his home. After Langan's death in 1988, the head chef of the restaurant, Mark Baumann, adopted the restaurant and it still continues to trade as 'Baumann's Brasserie.' In July 1998, Richard Shepherd opened Langan's Coq D'or on Old Brompton Road
in Earl's Court, which was later renamed Langan's Bar and Grill but closed on 18 October 2010.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
on Stratton Street, Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
. Opened by the Irish entrepreneur Peter Langan on 20th October 1976 in partnership with the actor Michael Caine
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
, the restaurant (which had previously housed the ornate restaurant Coq D'or) quickly attracted celebrities and became financially successful. Whilst reaching the peak of its fame in the 1980s, Langan's Brasserie remains a popular venue today.
Richard Shepherd
Richard Shepherd
Richard Charles Scrimgeour Shepherd is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom. He is currently a Member of Parliament, having represented the constituency of Aldridge-Brownhills since 1979....
, the former head chef at the Michelin starred Capital Hotel
Capital Hotel
Capital Hotel is a small luxury 5-star hotel in London, England. It is located at 22-24 Basil Street extremely close to Brompton Road, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the centre of Knightsbridge....
in London, joined the Caine and Langan partnership in 1977 and introduced a menu which has little changed since then. The menu demonstrates a French/English influence and became famous for serving dishes such as bangers and mash, fish and chips and spinach souffle with anchovy sauce.
A notorious alcoholic, Peter Langan died at the age of 47 on 7th December 1988, several weeks after a fire at his home in Essex which he is alleged to have started himself. Langan's name was kept by the restaurant and Shepherd subsequently bought Caine's share of the company in 1999 to become the sole owner of Langan's Brasserie and the group's other restaurants.
Langan's Brasserie is particularly noted for its artwork. Its downstairs walls are adorned with works by artists such as David Hockney
David Hockney
David Hockney, CH, RA, is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer, who is based in Bridlington, Yorkshire and Kensington, London....
(who also designed the menu), Lucien Freud, Francis Bacon, Gerald Moira
Gerald Moira
Gerald Edward Moira was an English painter who became best known for his murals.Gerald Moira was born in London, the son of a former Portuguese diplomat who became a miniature painter. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1891. His first commission for a mural was by J. Lyons and Co. for...
and Patrick Procktor
Patrick Procktor
Patrick Procktor RA was a prominent English artist of the late 20th century.-Early life:Patrick Procktor was born in Dublin, the younger son of an oil company accountant, but moved to London when his father died in 1940...
amongst others. A wall in the bar area is currently reserved for young contemporary artists to exhibit their work. Upstairs at the Brasserie, a smaller room (opened in 1979) known as 'The Venetian Room' features murals specially commissioned by Procktor.
The Langan's brand has been expanded to include: Odin's (a restaurant acquired by Langan in 1967) and Langan's Bistro which are next door to each other in Devonshire Street in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
and Shepherd's in Marsham Court, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, which was opened in 1993.
Previously, the Langan's chain had included another Langan's Bistro in Paston Place, Brighton but this has since closed. Another Langan's Brasserie was opened in 1986 by Peter Langan in Coggeshall
Coggeshall
Coggeshall is a small market town of 3,919 residents in Essex, England, situated between Colchester and Braintree on the Roman road of Stane Street , and intersected by the River Blackwater. It is known for its almost 300 listed buildings and formerly extensive antique trade...
, Essex, near his home. After Langan's death in 1988, the head chef of the restaurant, Mark Baumann, adopted the restaurant and it still continues to trade as 'Baumann's Brasserie.' In July 1998, Richard Shepherd opened Langan's Coq D'or on Old Brompton Road
Old Brompton Road
Old Brompton Road is a major street in the South Kensington district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London.It starts from South Kensington tube station and runs south-west, through a mainly residential area, until it reaches West Brompton and the area around Earl's Court tube station...
in Earl's Court, which was later renamed Langan's Bar and Grill but closed on 18 October 2010.