Is dead owner haunting his restaurant? (From Gazette)

Is dead owner haunting his restaurant?

8:00pm Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(4)

COULD famous restaurateur Peter Langan be playing tricks on his protege, more than 20 years after his death?

Mark Baumann, owner of Baumanns Brasserie, in Coggeshall, thinks the previous owner is keeping an eye on his restaurant.

The 47-year-old co-owned the famous Langan’s Brasserie in Mayfair, London, with actor Michael Caine.

He persuaded the then 21-year-old Mark to join him as head chef after sampling his cooking at Hintlesham Hall, which was owned by Ruth Watson, the star of Channel Five’s Hotel Inspector.

The pair opened the then Langan’s Brasserie in the village in 1986, but two years later, Mr Langan died after a house fire.

Mr Baumann took over the restaurant after the tragedy and said the 16th century building had hardly changed under his ownership.

But he claims strange incidents have been happening more and more frequently. Salt and pepper shakers flying across the room, knives and forks moving across tables and paintings jumping off the walls are some of the strange occurrences happening on almost a daily basis at Baumanns Brasserie, Mr Baumann claims.

And it is not just staff who have noticed the supernatural goings-on. A woman who had not taken her gold watch off for more than 20 years was shocked to see it fall to the floor while she was enjoying her meal.

Other customers reported cold spots and the sounds of falling cutlery, but when they looked there was nothing to be seen.

Tables eight and 12, which is where Mr Langan used to sit, are particularly affected and his picture still overlooks the latter.

Mr Baumann said: “I am kind of hoping it’s got something to do with Mr Langan. He will probably be keeping an eye on us. He was always up to mischief and causing little bits of havoc and having fun.”

He is hoping an expert may be willing to investigate the occurrences, and said his old boss was more than welcome to stay, as he found it quite enjoyable to see what will happen next.

He said: “The man was an absolute genius. He was a great man with great ideas. It is coming up to 25 years since we opened the restaurant and we ought to do something to remember him.”