The five-star Langham Hotel in London has embarked on a £50m restoration project.

The revamp will comprise a newly designed lobby, Palm Court and guestrooms as well as a refurbished bar and restaurant by London architect David Collins.

The new bar – called Artesian – is due to open in early January 2007, and work on the restaurant will start shortly after, with a summer completion scheduled. Work will continue on the guestrooms, lobby and court throughout 2007.

Collins said: “The bar will be a chic, comfortable ‘best-kept secret’ in the heart of the newly re-invigorated hotel. Taking into account the hotel’s incredibly rich history, our aim is to create an architectural style and story whose intrinsic impact will be to feel exciting and new, but not necessarily look all new.”

London-based hospitality consultants the Gorgeous Group are overseeing the new bar menu, which will feature cocktails and a grazing menu which will change throughout the day. Details: www.langhamhotels.com