Text by Anna Madsen
Named after British architect Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens, The Ned, which opened a few months ago, is the new, hot London hotel currently on everyone’s lips. This is for several reasons; firstly, it’s housed inside the former Midland Bank building in the heart of London’s buzzing financial district the City. Yes, correct: The Ned is in what used to be an immense bank, complete with a bank vault, 3,800 safety deposit boxes and several armoured doors. Vacationing at a bank? Surely Gordon Gekko would jump up and down in excitement. Secondly; it’s ‘yuuge’ like Donald Trump would say. The Ned features nine restaurants across 3,000 square meters with Hugh Grant-favourite Cecconi’s being one. You’ll also find a rooftop with pool, a spa with pool (if it rains, which it rarely does in London, right?) a fully equipped gym, grooming salons and library-style relaxation lounges along with 252 bedrooms. Thirdly, perhaps most importantly: thanks to the collaboration with Soho House & Co and New York-based Sydell Group, The Ned is one of those rare places where the finance set effortlessly rubs shoulders with the creative crowd. Finally.
What to expect.
Upon entering the building, your eyes will land on the so called ‘goldfish tank’, which is banker jargon for the circular podium where the clergymen and women were once sat during the Midland Bank opening hours. Today, it serves as centre stage for the live band du jour which is playing Gatsbyesque jazz every evening, all supervised by Alexa Chung’s brother Dom Chung, the Head of Entertainment.
Hotel check-in is hassle-free, much thanks to the former Miss Italia, Rosita, who informs me of all the hotel facilities. One of the main attractions is the rooftop bar on the 9thfloor, closely guarded by an army of Nedettes who won’t let anyone who’s not a hotel guest or a member at private “The Ned Club’ pass. Yes, the rooftop (like The Vault bar) is off limits for the public, as otherwise it would probably get extremely crowded. Especially at sunset-hour when the lucky few who managed entry are gathering around the pool with an Aperol Spritz in one hand and their iPhone in the other, trying to create that perfect #squadgoals picture with their group. ‘Friends in high places’ one could cleverly call it.
What to eat.
Most notable, the rooftop bar ‘The upstairs Ned’s Club’ tempts with fresh fish dishes, many of them with spicy mayo and cut-to-precision veggies. The healthy Malibu Kitchen serves up the obligatory avocado toast, coconut bowls and agave-sweetened desserts as no white sugar passes through their doors. Asian fusion is a feast for the eye at Kaia, which is all about the raw, ricey and spicy. If you are ‘liquid lunching’ go for the signature drink ‘The Ned-Groni’, which stands up very well on its own for elegant imbibing.
Where to sleep.
Unnecessary, as you quickly become very attached to The Vault, the 24/7 open bar with nightclubbish vibes in the basement (a Nedette tells me their wildest nights are Thursdays). However, you will need a room to park your LV luggage and take a shower. Ranging from ‘The Pad’ to the more sophisticated large-scale suites, each bedroom is channelling a 1920s interior, completed by old-school candlestick telephones and decadent silver trays with a Whiskey bottle and accompanying crystal glasses. Champion of the flapper, Francis Scott Fitzgerald would instantly feel at home.
Conclusion.
Yes, there are definitely some good reasons to get into bed with The Ned. A city holiday, a business trip mixed with pleasure or if you’re in need of a ‘staycation’, The Ned will hook you up. You can bank on it.
Full article: http://www.vogue.it/en/news/daily-news/2017/08/08/summer-city-the-ned-london-hotel-bank-midland/