I'm writing this as someone who has loved The Inn at Langley (and the town) for the last five…read moreyears, visiting multiple times each year. This summer was my first visit since the new ownership took over.
If you've never stayed at the Inn before, you'll likely have a wonderful experience. But for returning guests, as other recent reviews have mentioned, there have been some noteworthy and disappointing changes. So this is mostly a heads-up to returning guests, or perhaps feedback the new owners will consider.
First, the positives: the location is absolutely wonderful. The rooms and views can't be beat, and Langley will always be one of my favorite places to stay. The staff was pleasant and very responsive when we had a small issue with our cottage. They quickly made things right and went above and beyond what we expected.
That said, I agree with other reviewers that the changes have taken away much of the charm, warmth, and welcoming feeling I loved about the Inn. It feels like the owners implemented "improvements" that may have worked in their other ventures and assumed they'd work here, too. I don't think the changes added value to the Inn and, in some instances, did the opposite.
* We were sad to see the Inn no longer uses Sweet Sisters for its toiletries. Sweet Sisters is a local shop that created the Inn's signature scent years ago (forest + sea ... the BEST scent). I loved that the previous owners supported a small local business. The new products aren't bad; they're just standard boutique-hotel products. I'm curious why the new owners chose not to continue that relationship.
* While every staff member I interacted with was nice, I didn't see a single familiar face. I don't know whether previous employees chose not to return or weren't given the opportunity, but it felt odd and sad not to see anyone from before.
* The lobby layout has changed. It used to feel more welcoming, with complimentary snacks and items to purchase. Now the check-in desk is immediately inside, and those things are gone (snacks are now in the rooms). It's not a major issue, but it doesn't feel like "value added." We used to enjoy stopping in for a snack and chatting with whoever was working. Now there's little reason to go in after check-in.
* Our biggest disappointment was breakfast. The complimentary breakfast under the previous ownership felt special and was something we looked forward to every morning. Now it feels like an afterthought. We skipped it our second day because the first was so lackluster.
* The new breakfast system requires filling out a card the day before, choosing whether you'll dine in or have breakfast delivered, and selecting a time. I understand advance notice for room service, but I didn't enjoy committing to a restaurant time the night before. I go to the Inn to relax, not to worry about dropping off a card before the lobby closes and making it to breakfast at a specific time.
* The breakfast itself left much to be desired. The egg dish looked cool and tasted fine, but the pastry was somewhat dry and not particularly enjoyable. We were also given a whole plain piece of fruit and half an avocado, with oil drizzled on it. I think they could have done something more special with those items, especially when much of the Inn's current advertising is about their new Michelin star chef. Compared with the previous stellar breakfast, I expected more effort. The food was fresh and nothing was bad; it just did not come close to what the previous owners provided. Again, the change decreased the value for me.
* Lastly, we were disappointed by the changes to the restaurant for dinner. My mom is vegetarian and I'm pescatarian. The previous owners made sure vegetarians had their own version of every course (when asked ahead of time), and primarily served seafood, which worked well for me. The new chef, at least as stated on the website, does not accommodate dietary restrictions, and the menu is very meat-heavy. Because of that, we didn't dine there, so I can't speak to the food itself. We were disappointed that the restaurant is no longer an option for us, and we certainly don't feel we'd be welcomed there based on how it's advertised.
These changes left us feeling less welcomed and made us wonder about the kind of business we were supporting. Between seeing no familiar employees, moving away from a small local business, and a dining experience that now feels less thoughtful and inclusive, the Inn has lost some of the warmth and sense of community that feels so characteristic of Langley itself.
We still had a lovely stay, and I'm sure I'll return because I adore Langley and the Inn's location is hard to beat. But my expectations will be lower. I'll know I'm primarily going for the location and town, rather than the Inn itself. If prices increase, however, I likely wouldn't return because, in my opinion, these changes have decreased the value rather than added to it.
