The Langley (Bar/Restaurant/Club)
5 Langley Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JA (Map)
Cuisine: Modern British
Average Price: ££10
Tel: 0871-223-1084 ?
Email to The Langley
Transport: Covent Garden
The Langley London Review
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Sandwiched between Mexican restaurant Café Pacifico (who serve the best salsa in the whole of London – fact) and the world-renowned Pineapple Dance Studios (where they do a different kind of salsa altogether) lives the ever popular restaurant-come-bar-come-nightclub, The Langley. Despite its uber central location a mere stone’s throw from Covent Garden tube, this place can be a little difficult to find and the modest exterior belies the labyrinth that sits below...
Having navigated our way down the retro concrete stairs, through the many doors, round the maze of concrete corridors and through the open-plan bar, we finally made our way to the restaurant. It came as no real surprise to learn that The Langley used to be in an old underground station...
The restaurant itself was pleasantly laid-out with an equal mix of spacious tables and booths with comfy sofa-like seats. Whilst on our journey towards the restaurant, we noted that despite it being a Thursday night, it wasn’t overly busy. My guess is that, given the Covent Garden location and late-night opening, this place fills up at the weekend.
From the off, the service in the restaurant was prompt, friendly and attentive and our server was exceptionally polite. Having perused the huge selection of food on offer, my guest opted for the Sticky Chilli Lamb Rump and I couldn’t resist the Sizzling Chicken Fajitas, having watched the table next to us have them delivered as we arrived. The house red was a tasty and well-chosen fruity Merlot that we gladly tucked into whilst waiting for our mains. Both of which arrived promptly and were perfectly proportioned.
Having polished off our sumptuous and hugely satisfying meal, we decided that the desserts on the menu were just too good to resist. Within a blink of an eye (which was probably bigger than my belly) an incredible and obscenely sized banana split arrived for me (complete with banana liqueur and Maltesers) along with profiteroles (with Baileys and white and dark chocolate sauce) for my guest. Dribble. And then it was on to cocktails… we plumped for margaritas and mojitos and were by no means disappointed. Both were exceptionally well prepared with fresh ingredients.
All in all, this is a great post-work or post-shopping venue for food, drinks and maybe even a spot of dancing. I’d go back for the mojitos alone… If I was forced to make one criticism, it would be this – on the menu they have Double Vodka Redbull listed as a cocktail. Gasp!
The music wasn’t exactly to my taste either – dancey/charty/poppy/housey music - but was by no means loud or offensive. The general atmosphere when we visited was chilled out and relaxed, despite the over-excitable Thursday night post-work groups of co-workers.
On this particular night, my guest and I didn’t feel like dancing (in fact, after all that food we only felt like sleeping) so it was time to a-shimmy and a-salsa our way back through the disused underground station and back outside. Now where did I put my compass?
Sophie Atkinson (28 02 2010)
The Langley London Description
On the site of a former tube station and flower market, The Langley is a hidden classic. Featuring original brick walls, murals, a funky restaurant and spacious booths, The Langley is a hang out for those who value great music and great service.
The Langley features a basement lounge bar and restaurant with a cool, retro style. Funky house and disco tunes provide the backdrop to this groovy late night bar and restaurant, with contrasting bare brickwork and Philip Stark chairs.
Admission after 10pm
Thu: £3 after 10pm
Fri-Sat: £5 after 10pm
Half price wine before 7
Customer Reviews for The Langley
The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of The Langley.
“I spent saturday night with a group of girlfriends for drinks and dinner at this bar. It was a superb night out, staff were very helpful, food was great and by the time 9pm came the place was buzzing... tracks played were awesome too (very old skool....) and couldn't keep off the dancefloor. The Langley bar definitely seems to have turned a corner in the last few weeks and i shall be going back for more!”
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Londoner, London (9 months 3 days ago)
“Th Langley has long been a favourite of mine, I've been coming here for approximately 10 years and in that time it has changed, occasionally there have been bad bar staff etc but generally it's a good bar and very popular. Almost too popular. However I will say this for it, well priced food, well priced drinks, good staff, nice decor, and good music. However, NOTHING SPECIAL if you go there time after time or want something more unique. I will say this, when I went to see a band play there, I was told first that they would play at 9pm, ok fine, then asked door staff and they said midnight-1am. On a Thursday school night? You're having a laugh! But I do like the Langley. Good fun.”
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Moushka, London (10 months 10 days ago)
“I went to The Langley recently with friends on a friday after work and I was so impressed after reading the reviews on here it must have clearly changed managemeant as the staff were very helpful and friendly, the food was great, quick and tasty and reall value for money considering being in Covent Garden. The cocktails were great at just £3.95 in happy hour and Mojotos were just out of this world. I would recommend it to all of my mates and will be returning next weekend for their Therese act....Cant wait”
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[ Unknown ], London (1 years 23 days ago)
“Really disappointed with this place. I went with work mates on a Friday night. Bar staff were very rude and the barman wearing a waistcoat was very cocky as if on a big power trip. Some bar staff didn't know how to make drinks... I received a mojito that wasn't muddled or even shaken! Possibly the worst drinks we've ever had. Will not be returning, ever.”
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Ginni , London (1 years 10 months 8 days ago)
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“I love The Langley! Regardless of other comments I find the place just the the right mix of unpretentious Londoners who want to let there hair down after work. Drinks are a good price in happy hour and reasonable after, considering the location. There are plenty of beautiful people wandering about which makes the evening more enjoyable ;)
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katie ball, London (2 years 17 days ago)
“Do not waste you time going here. This used to be a decent place but has degraded massively in the past 6 months. I had myself and 7 others on a door list for Friday, got there on time and they knocked all of us back. The useless doorman even tried to tell me I wasn't on the doorlist after I showed him I was. This place tried hard to be something it clearly isn't. It's overpriced and the service has always been terrible.”
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Braden Fraser, London (2 years 3 months 1 days ago)
“Never eat here! Our dining experience was abominable with rude staff, terrible food, shabby and freezing cold dining conditions.”
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S B, London (2 years 3 months 27 days ago)
“The place has potential because of its setting and location. We had a high school reunion. And there is no customer service, there's only a maximum of 2 people at the bar, and loads of people are trying to order drinks. The security is poor, there's no security patroling. Which i think is bad, for a city like london. Music sucks!”
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fdb, London (3 years 9 months 11 days ago)
“Truly dreadful place. Basically full of people who think they are cool but don't really know where to go. Soulless is too kind a word. Lots of 30 something guys hanging out with late teenage girls and it all feeling like a bit of a mess. Inattentive barstaff who looked at us indignantly when we didn't leave a tip. If you like this sort of thing then you'll love it here. If you like going to genuine places then avoid like the plague.”
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Delboy, London (4 years 1 months 8 days ago)
“one of the late night london chain, its a lively venue for some later than 11pm drinking, with decent music and a pleasant crowd. however, the mostly male bar staff are a major negative factor - being of the "im so cool it hurts" variety, expecting healthy tips whilst criminally under-poring spirits. (im sorry, but for £3.75 a go, i expect rather more than a 3/4 of a single shot of gin with my tonic). disappointing for what could be a very good venue.”
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edmundg, [ Unknown ] (6 years 5 months 5 days ago)
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