GETAWAYS
A magical stay at
THE NED , LONDON
THINK GRINGOTTS WIZARDING BANK , MINUS THE GOBLINS . AND FOOD . LOTS OF FOOD . MAGIC ? MAYBE . YOU ’ LL HAVE TO VISIT THE NED FIRST HAND TO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF . BY DONNA MARTIN
Just walking into The Ned is an experience in its own right , and not just the first time you do it . But wait , let ’ s start with walking up to The Ned . The building is quite something else – I imagine even the most unemotional , stoic person would be visibly impressed by the architectural masterpiece .
The abandoned 100-year-old Midland Bank was transformed between 2012 and 2017 – inspired by Sir Edwin ' Ned ' Lutyens ' original masterpiece at 27 Poultry – into a chic 252- room hotel with nine restaurants in the 3,000 square metre former banking hall . Talk about extraordinary .
As you weave between the 92 colossal verdite columns on the ground floor , the aromas of spices from around the world fill your nostrils , giving you a preview of the many flavours you can experience at The Ned , including Cecconi ’ s ( Italian ), Kaia ( Asian-Pacific ), and Mailbu Kitchen ( Californian ). Sounds of live jazz originating from the raised central stage filters through the area , and seems to seep into the sumptuous fabrics of the décor , making you feel like you ’ ve stepped back in time – to an era far away from the bustle of normal life .
If the ground floor was all that The Ned had to offer , it would still be one of the most spectacular hotels in London , but , incredibly , there is even more to explore . Of all of The Ned ’ s many offerings , for me , the literal ‘ crowning glory ’ is Ned ’ s Club Upstairs .
After checking into my room ( which is almost unbearably classy – think 1930 ’ s London , brass and mahogany furniture , beautiful chandeliers , and even a vintage perfume bottle nestled between whisky glasses on the table ), I ventured up to the roof . Open-air bars in London aren ’ t exactly uncommon , so I expected a slightly nicer version of a typical London rooftop , but this was something else entirely .
The views of St Paul ’ s Cathedral and the London skyline are unparalleled , especially from the infinity pool . Yep , the infinity pool , perfectly placed next to sprawling lounge sofas , surrounded by multiple indoor and outdoor bars and even a restaurant serving a mouthwatering international menu . If I could conjure up my own personal London heaven , this would be it .
After a few cocktails , followed by a painful reluctance to leave the luxury and views behind , I headed back down to the ground floor for an evening of food , glorious food , starting with drinks and a few cheeky prestarters at Kaia . The long wooden bar is a great spot to people watch , and I enjoyed some crispy prawns with wasabi mayo , and pork gyoza with ponzu and wasabi , before making my way to the night ’ s main event : Cecconi ’ s .
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