LONDON
THE NED
PART LUXURY HOTEL, PART SOCIAL PLAYGROUND, THE NED COMBINES BEDROOMS, RESTAURANTS, BARS, LIVE MUSIC, SPA AND MEMBERS’-ONLY SPACES TOGETHER UNDER ONE SPECTACULAR ROOF. BY SAMANTHA READY
I wonder if it’ s an age thing( or a Covid thing) that time seems to have blurred; either way, it’ s hard to believe that The Ned is fast approaching its 10th birthday, all while staying as freshly relevant as it did when it first opened its iconic doors in 2017. Walking a fine tightrope between exclusive members’ club, boutique city hotel and acclaimed destination dining, the result of visiting, regardless of your reason or access rights, remains as spectacular as its architecture.
Housed in the former Midland Bank headquarters in the heart of the city, the building was designed by Sir Edwin‘ Ned’ Lutyens in the 1920s. Today, the space has, thankfully, retained all of its previous incarnation’ s grandeur. Towering verdite columns rise towards the ornate ceiling, original walnut banking counters remain in place and restaurants spill out around the room, with live music at its centre adding to the constant buzz. It is impressive in photographs, but considerably more so when you’ re standing beneath it.
The main area is surprisingly easy to navigate once you get your bearings. To the left sits Millie’ s Lounge, so busy for breakfast that reservations are recommended even for hotel guests, before switching pace for afternoon tea. To the right, Cecconi’ s brings its signature Italian glamour, equally suited to date-night dinner as it is for serious weekend brunching. Straight ahead, the main bar wraps around the room with the circular Nickel Stage at its centre, where live music provides an almost constant soundtrack to proceedings. Beyond, further to the right, you’ ll find hotel check-in and concierge alongside Electric Bar & Diner and Kaia, while heading left takes you towards the building’ s grand staircase and down into its subterranean levels, home to the spa and, hidden within the former bank strongroom, the ultraexclusive The Vault. This all means you can quite easily spend an entire stay eating, drinking and exploring without ever needing to leave the building.
Yet, for all that grandeur, our arrival was wonderfully relaxed, utterly personal and, reassuringly, properly London.
We had barely made it up the steps before Scott, one of The Ned’ s concierges and a proper East Ender, had taken us under his wing. Before we had even reached check-in
we knew where to find the“ best mac and cheese ever”( Electric), that we should have sushi at Kaia, why we needed to try the unlimited rib eye at Lutyens(“ it’ s number 35 in the top 101 steak restaurants, it is so good!”) and, importantly, given our dinner reservation that evening, that the arancini at Cecconi’ s were an absolute must. He also sorted out our breakfast reservation at Millie’ s and gave us the nod for the best spots for an evening aperitif before disappearing in a hubbub of‘ cor blimey guvnor’ pleasantries.
It was a warm, funny and very personal welcome to a hotel, that, given its sheer size and exclusive stature, could have easily felt anything but.
Check in complete, it was time to find our room, which, aided by the sheer delight of the receptionist who practically squealed that it was her favourite room on the floor, we knew we’ d be in for a treat upon discovering.
Our‘ Heritage’ room on the fifth floor revealed another side to the grand building( and fully justified reception’ s excitement). Up here, away from the energy of the
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