A STONE’S throw away from Monument, housed inside the former Midland Bank you’ll find The Ned Hotel. A melting pot for both suits and hipsters (yes, a place like that does exist) The Ned has enjoyed a lot of press and industry buzz since its opening a little over a year ago. The hotel celebrated its first birthday in May by treating their guests to a 10 feet tall doughnut cake featuring 1,000 handmade doughnuts, and a massive birthday feast across their banking halls. As if their ten restaurants and daily live music performances weren’t enough.
The Ned London, exterior
While open to the public, the Soho House and Sydell Group-owned hotel also offers an exclusive membership and guest club to those who can’t get enough of ‘The Ned Experience’. We review its ‘upstairs and downstairs’ and on this occasion, social climbing aside, you’ll want to explore both.
The Ned Roof Restaurant
Upstairs
Taking the elevator up to the 10th floor will land you at the exquisite rooftop. You’ll have to have “friends in high places” or check in for the night, as this floor is reserved for Ned and Ned:ettes members and premium guests only.
If you tick the box for one of the above, congratulations and welcome. From here you’ll be able to enjoy lighter snacks from the bar, either from a table with a view of The City (most of the members will be able to spot their office from here) or from the comfort of a pool-side bed. Your choice, but we recommend arriving early for those ten or so beds where the cream of the crop expose their well-trained limbs on a sunny day. If you’re more interested in a drink than the social tanning club, arrive on a Thursday after work to rub shoulders with suited bankers, or Sunday lunch if hipsters with an American accent are more your preference.
The Ned London, Pool
Downstairs
When the sun descends, follow its example and head down to the new membership and guest lounge, The Parlour, underground. Newly refurbished, this exclusive area entertains with a speakeasy bar and mini conference rooms for intimate business meetings or tête-à-tête brainstormings.
The Vault
Done with work? Stick your head into the next-door vault. The Vault is a former bank basement which now serves as a 24/7 hour cocktail bar where members and guests can sip on a glass of Japanese whiskey or order in pasta from nearby Cecconi’s if they so please. As you enter behind the 20-tonne, two-metre wide vault door, you’re introduced to a bank compartment-dense room.
A bar at The Ned
Rumour has it that each member is treated to a personal safety deposit box, however with a somewhat ambiguous purpose. Gold bar storage? First aid kit? We’re puzzled yet intrigued and dream of owning one just for the sake of it. March on through to the next room, where famous DJ Black Coffee sometimes hits the decks. Don’t attempt at any Travolta dance movements though, as the atmosphere here oozes ‘cool and classy laid-back’. Pretty much like the rest of the hotel.
by Anna Madsen
The Ned Hotel, 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
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