Stay here: The Ned review

What’s the deal? 

Situated on historic Poultry Street in the City of London, and within walking distance of the Thames, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern and St. Paul’s Cathedral, this majestic 320,000sq ft landmark is less a hotel, more a time capsule. Conceived in 1924 by Sir Edwin “Ned” Lutyens as the Midland Bank’s headquarters, the Grade I-listed building remained empty for years before it was meticulously restored in 2017 to its former grandeur, and simultaneously reinvented with a contemporary edge.

Entering The Ned today is like crossing the threshold into another realm. Lined with 92 verdite-green columns, the grand lobby is a masterclass in architectural design aesthetics. Every detail has been thoughtfully maintained to evoke the Roaring Twenties: walnut banking counters, velvet upholstery, brushed mirrors and vintage light fixtures. Not to mention live jazz in the lobby and cocktail menus steeped in refinement.

But The Ned is no museum piece. Modern features keep it firmly anchored in London’s unmatched cultural landscape, from the high-tech gym and contemporary artwork (with a strong emphasis on female artists) to the first-rate Members’ areas. And when dusk falls, The Nickel Bar on the ground floor begins to hum with the chatter of astute Londoners and international travellers enjoying a unique space where history isn’t simply preserved – it’s lived.

In an era of sleek chrome-and-glass minimalism, this establishment leans into its maximalist charm: opulent, unapologetically nostalgic and rich with narrative. For the discerning traveller drawn to spaces layered with story, elegance and soul, The Ned offers a rare escape – at once a throwback and thoroughly of-the-moment.

Why stay?

The sense of being transported to a bygone era runs through every nook and cranny. We enter our Large Bedroom to find classical music playing on the radio – a touch that feels artful rather than staged. To the left, a dressing table; in front, a large oak-framed bed with an ottoman at its foot; to our right, two leather armchairs and a beautiful Art Deco cabinet stocked with an assortment of spirits and soft drinks. It wouldn’t feel out of the ordinary if literary giants of 1920s London – say, Virginia Woolf or TS Eliot – popped round for a drink. We make a gin and tonic and raise a toast.

In addition to its three bars, The Ned has seven restaurants that serve everything from pan-Asian cuisine and sushi to modern British, Italian and retro American. We dine at Lutyens Grill, which is housed in the former bank manager’s office – all dark wood panelling, low lighting and immaculate, unobtrusive service. We begin with fresh starters: burrata with wild garlic; scallops with caviar. Then comes the Angus-Holstein T-bone steak – locally sourced, tender and paired with slow-roasted potatoes. For pudding, we enjoy a peach pie and crème caramel – both indulgent and well balanced.

Before bed, in our spacious pastel-green tiled bathroom filled with Cowshed products and adorned with brass fittings, I take a long soak in the bathtub. Afterwards, sleep comes easily – deep, quiet and restorative.

Next morning, a Signature Massage at Ned’s Club Spa resets body and mind, while a swim in the low-lit indoor pool provides a tranquil prelude to lunch at Cecconi’s – an authentic Italian nestled in the centre of the lobby. Accompanied by live music, we commence with pea soup and confit tomatoes, followed by a sweet and perfectly seasoned crab ravioli. The tiramisu we’re served for dessert is rich, strong and impossibly smooth. To finish, an earthy and aromatic Boreal Forest cocktail made with Gin Mare, Vetiver Gris liqueur, lavender, maple syrup and citrus; it’s so evocative that for a brief moment we feel the clock being wound back a century. 

Cathay editors say…

“Living in an age of speed and immediacy, of arrivals and departures, we yearn for permanence – and for experiences that feel authentic, exceptional and even tinged with nostalgia. Few destinations embody these qualities quite like the storied English institution that is The Ned.”