The Ned, the posh collaboration between Soho House and Sydell Group, has splashed onto London’s scene, following four years and around £200 million (US$256 million) in renovations.
The property, the first collaboration between Soho House founder Nick Jones and Sydell Group founder Andrew Zobler, acts as both hotel and membership club – guests can crash for a night or join and reap the benefits of additional access (though members of Jones’ Soho House do get preferential rates when booking rooms).
Formerly a Midland Bank built by English architect Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens in 1924, the restored property now includes nine restaurants, 252 guest rooms, spa services and ‘Ned’s Club’ – a members club offering a selection of social spaces such as a rooftop with a pool, hamam and late night lounge bar.
The building’s floors and ceilings have all been preserved and incorporated into the property’s new design – sort of hyper-modern Edwardian – including 92 green African verdite columns, and hundreds of walnut paneled counters.
Each bedroom and suite mixes vintage pieces, with customized furniture, as well as hand-knotted rugs and rain forest showers.
Dominating the building is the bank’s vault, which has been transformed into ?a lounge bar as part of the Ned’s Club social spaces. The vault contains over 3,000 stainless steel safety deposit boxes and inspired the design of Fort Knox in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger.
The hotel project came to fruition in part due to Soho House shareholder and businessman Ron Burkle, who introduced Zobler and Jones and has been heavily involved in the project throughout.
