The Langham Hotel

Just when the cold weather and London underground delays were testing my resolve and love for this city, I finally arrived at The Langham Hotel. Whilst being given a personal tour by the lovely Minjoo Leutwiler-Lee, the Executive Housekeeper of the hotel, I was once again reminded of why London is the most incredible city in the world.

Built between 1863 and 1865, The Langham once completed was the largest hotel in London with construction so groundbreaking (with the first use of hydraulic lift systems in England) that the Prince of Wales attended the hotel’s grand opening.  No surprise that an inspired Arthur Conan Doyle set certain Sherlock Holmes adventures in and around the hotel.  Also, the hotel is quite the celebrity having starred alongside Pierce Brosnan’s 007, doubling as the St. Petersburg Grand hotel in ‘Goldeneye’. 

The Langham achieves an enviable balance of being extraordinarily beautiful and stylish yet unbelievably comfortable.

From the helpful hands of the porters to the ridiculously friendly receptionists - I say ‘ridiculously’ because I just didn’t think such service still existed - the staff are incredibly welcoming.  Having met several members of the management team, I began to understand that this is something that comes form the very ethos of the hotel. 

Navigating through various rooms used for events, it’s clear to see that the hotel has been meticulously cared for and that the current management feel very strongly about preserving its natural style. Seeing Minjoo light up showing me the breathtaking chandeliers in the ballroom confirmed this and it is completely understandable when you see just how stunning this hotel is.

So I leave The Langham, ready to love my London yet again thanks to this almost 150 year-old hotel.

Exclusive Product Launch Confirmed

You will hear it here first and I can't wait to be the one to tell you all about it!

Desmond Talbot is holding a launch night for the much anticipated introduction of our floral designs presented in the stunning L'Anverre glassware vessels.

The work we show will be a combination of stunningly designed glassware and of course, the unique style of Desmond Talbot floral designs.

The launch night is Tuesday the 2nd of November at a great gallery in Covent Garden and the exhibition will run for a week in the space. 

So if you are interested, please contact me and I will look forward to meeting you there.

We will also be having some light live music as well as canapes and wine to celebrate!

chris.lewis@desmondtalbot.com

Art London

Last night saw the launch of this years Art London fair, and this year there is a little something special on view...namely our work!

For years I have been going to this fair and witnessing extraordinary examples of sculpture, painting and all thats in between and finally I got to attach a little badge to my best grey blazer that said 'exhibitor pass'.

The fair begins in the reception area with floral work by Desmond Talbot combined with glassware from L'Anverre, and what a beginning it is.

The glass and flowers are stunning, truly stunning. There's a real sense of occasion and Autumnal bliss with the work our florists have created. It's a small piece of heaven at the beginning of what was an amazing fair launch.

So enough about our work, I wanted to take you through the rest...

Highlights for me included some incredibly scaled and crafted sculpture work, if you have been to the fair or are heading this week, you will know which ones I mean instantly. Unfortunately I didn't take the artist name down, mainly due to the fat that I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.

I did manage to take down the name of Rick Kirby however, his work sits proudly in the garden as you enter through the gates. 'Crescent' is one of those pieces that is so brilliantly raw you can;t help but I think 'I wish I could do that' and this piece will inspire you to try by it's very nature of patchwork metal and obvious welding lines.

There is of cause the usual spread of more traditional paintings in beautifully finished antique frames. For me, the beauty in this works does come from the frame however, I've all ways been a sucker for a stunning frame and the style of painting is not my thing, not to belittle the talent of cause but this is a section I tend to graze rather than study.

What this year has over previous years I think is a sense of substance. Whilst there have all ways been a few stand out pieces in each show, this year I found myself saying 'stunning' a lot more often and in hind sight, I find it hard to pick the one thing that caught me more than anything else.  A true testament to the level of skill we have in this country when it comes to the art's.

In over view, any self respecting art goer needs to be there but for the people of London who just like looking at art if it's in front of you, I would still recommend you get off the sofa and head down, even for a casual perusal (yes I did just use the word 'perusal' in an artistic context) it is well worth it.

Art London runs 7th - 11th October at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.