WEEKEND AWAY: The Ned, London
Kathryn Otto and her partner took a trip to the capital to enjoy a weekend at London’s former Midland Bank headquarters
Established in 2017 by Chairman Ron Burkle, The Ned breathed new life into the former Midland Bank headquarters, designed by Sir Edwin 'Ned' Lutyens in 1924. The Grade-I listed building offers ten restaurants and bars, 248 art deco-inspired rooms, a range of men’s and women’s grooming services and ‘Ned’s Club’, where members have access to a rooftop pool, gym, spa and late-night lounge bar in the bank’s original vault.
Design
The interior aesthetic of The Ned is rooted in the faded glamour of a 1930s transatlantic ocean liner. The hotel’s designers spent time looking back through the bank’s archives to discover what the building looked like back in its 1930s heyday and used inspiration from ships from that era, including The Normandie, as well as the Art Deco grandeur of long-distance passenger train, the Orient Express, creating a masterful homage to the golden age of travel.
Rooms and Suites
Each of The Ned’s bedrooms and suites were carefully repurposed from the Midland Bank’s former offices. Chanelling the 1920s and 1930s, each room is furnished with vintage pieces, brass and mahogany furniture, chandeliers and richly patterned furnishings decorate the rooms.
Food and Drink
Set beneath 92 verdite columns and rows of heritage walnut banking counters, the former banking hall now offers cuisine from everywhere, from Britain to Italy and North America to Asia.
Public restaurants read like a global culinary itinerary. Guests can opt for the polished comfort of Millies Lounge, a grand, very British brasserie or the timeless Venetian elegance of Cecconi’s. Health-focused diners will enjoy the superfood salads, flatbreads and juices from Malibu Kitchen or Kaia’s Asian-Pacific-inspired healthy bowls. Cantina Malibu serves up creative Mexican dishes, while Electric Bar & Diner, the sister restaurant to Soho House & Co’s Electric Diner Portobello, offers a mixture of diner and deli favourites.
The Nickel Bar serves up a casual menu of time-honoured American staples, but the jewel in The Ned’s crown is Lutyens Grill. Ranking 38th in the world's best steak restaurants, it pairs exceptional cuts with the theatre of old-school gueridon trolley service.
On the ground floor sits The Parlour, an intimate jazz and cabaret bar, with guests enjoying live entertainment over dinner and plenty of cocktails and Library Bar, a private Champagne and martini bar exclusively for Ned’s Club members.
Our Experience
The Ned is one of those places that makes you feel special from the moment you walk through the doors. Right in the middle of the City of London, it somehow manages to feel calm and welcoming whilst still having all the energy and atmosphere you’d expect from a city hotel.
The interiors are beautiful throughout, with so much attention to detail in every space. There’s a real warmth to the hotel despite how grand it feels, and every corner has its own character and so much history, including the 20-tonne original vault door that is used within the underground private cocktail bar
What really stood out to us, though, was the team. Everyone we met was friendly, professional and genuinely welcoming, making the whole experience feel effortless from start to finish. Kieran, who checked us in, was especially friendly and immediately made us feel at ease from the moment we arrived. The service never felt overly formal; just thoughtful and natural in a way that made us feel special.
Our highlight was definitely our evening meal at the award-winning Lutyens Grill. The food, atmosphere and service were all exceptional and it really felt like a special dining experience. Marina, who looked after us during dinner, was fantastic and made the evening feel even more memorable with her warm and attentive service. Afterwards, we enjoyed drinks beside the rooftop pool within The Ned’s private members’ area, which was the perfect way to end the evening and take in the London skyline.
There’s such a great atmosphere across the hotel, whether you’re having a quiet morning coffee or enjoying drinks in the evening with the live music.
The Ned is much more than just a hotel stay in London; it’s an experience in itself and somewhere you genuinely look forward to returning to. Leaving definitely felt difficult, which says it all.
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