The Ned

The Ned
Name	The Ned
Location	27 Poultry, London, United Kingdom
Opened	2017
Architect	Sir Edwin Cooper (original), Tom Dixon (interiors)
Owner	Reuben Brothers
Former names	Midland Bank Building

The Ned is a hotel and members' club occupying a repurposed early 20th-century banking headquarters in the City of London. Housed in a landmark building adjacent to Poultry and Mansion House, it combines hospitality, dining, nightlife, and private club facilities under one roof. The property brought together restoration architects, hospitality groups, and cultural programmers to create a hybrid venue intended to serve residents, professionals, and international visitors.

History

The building was completed in 1924 as the headquarters of the Midland Bank and designed by Sir Edwin Cooper. The site sits near Bank of England, Mansion House, Royal Exchange, and London Stock Exchange and replaced earlier Georgian and Victorian structures associated with the City of London. During the 20th century the premises witnessed events linked to World War II, postwar financial expansion, and regulatory changes involving institutions such as the Bank of England and Financial Services Authority. Following corporate consolidation that involved HSBC and city consolidation trends, the building became surplus to requirements, leading to redevelopment discussions with stakeholders including the City of London Corporation and heritage bodies such as English Heritage.

Acquisition by the Reuben Brothers initiated an adaptive reuse project that involved conservationists, planners, and international hospitality partners like Aman Resorts-adjacent designers and restaurateurs. Restoration emphasized retention of original banking hall elements while introducing contemporary interventions comparable to projects at Claridge's, The Savoy, and The Langham, London. The venue opened in phases beginning in 2017 and attracted press coverage from outlets including The Guardian, The Times, and Financial Times for its scale and business model.

Architecture and Design

The original architecture reflects Classical and Edwardian Baroque motifs associated with architects such as Sir Edwin Cooper and contemporaries like Charles Holden and Sir Aston Webb. Exterior façades incorporate Portland stone, sculptural allegories, and Campanile-like massing visible from Threadneedle Street and Cheapside. Interior spatial organization centers on a three-level banking hall, mezzanines, and clerical floors once occupied by institutions connected to Lloyds Banking Group and interwar finance houses.

Conservation work involved collaboration with the Victorian Society, Historic England, and conservation architects who have worked on projects including St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and Royal Opera House refurbishments. Contemporary interventions by designers allied with Tom Dixon and restoration teams introduced bespoke fixtures, lighting installations, and tilework while preserving features comparable to those in buildings by Edwin Lutyens and Gilbert Scott. Structural upgrades complied with standards common to projects near Bank Underground station and within the City of London Conservation Area.

Amenities and Services

Facilities mirror those found in major urban hospitality complexes such as The Ritz, London and members' institutions like Soho House and Raffles Hotel. Amenities include bedrooms and suites, a members' club, private meeting rooms, event spaces, and a rooftop swimming pool similar in function to installations at Shangri-La The Shard. Wellness services, spa treatment rooms, and fitness suites align with offerings from groups like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and boutique operators associated with Bamford-style wellness programming.

The property also provides concierge, valet, and business services used by professionals from nearby institutions such as Barclays, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. Private hire rooms have hosted product launches, press conferences, and receptions for cultural organizations including British Film Institute, Royal Academy of Arts, and various embassy delegations.

Dining and Bars

The Ned houses a variety of restaurants and bars curated with input from prominent restaurateurs and chefs associated with groups such as D&D London, Caprice Holdings, and celebrity chefs who have worked at venues like Gordon Ramsay's establishments and Nobu-aligned projects. Large dining rooms occupy the former banking hall while smaller outlets and private dining rooms flank mezzanine levels.

Multiple bars provide diverse programming: a ground-floor brasserie, a members-only cocktail bar, and a rooftop bar with views toward St Paul's Cathedral, The Shard, and Tower Bridge. Food concepts have included pan-European brasseries, Mediterranean kitchens, and grill rooms reminiscent of menu types served at Hakkasan and Sketch. Beverage programs emphasize cocktails, curated wine lists, and collaborations with producers who supply to institutions like Selfridges and upscale retailers.

Events and Cultural Impact

Since opening, the venue has hosted fashion presentations, industry awards, and cultural forums involving organizations such as British Fashion Council, British Film Institute, and broadcasters like BBC. It has been used for film shoots, music events, and book launches connected with publishers such as Penguin Random House and cultural institutions like Museum of London.

Critics and commentators in outlets including Financial Times and The Economist debated its role in urban regeneration, heritage conservation, and the changing landscape of hospitality in London's financial district, drawing comparisons with transformations around South Bank and King's Cross. The site has influenced debates on adaptive reuse exemplified by cases like Tate Modern and Battersea Power Station redevelopment.

Ownership and Management

Ownership rests with the Reuben Brothers, a property investment group involved in other London holdings including projects near Mayfair and King's Cross. Operational partnerships have involved hospitality operators, designers, and food-and-beverage teams with experience at institutions such as Aman Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, and private members' clubs like Soho House.

Management structures combine in-house teams and external brand partners for membership, events, and hotel operations, interacting with regulatory authorities such as the City of London Corporation and licensing bodies responsible for premises in central London. The enterprise forms part of broader portfolios that include retail, office, and heritage-led investments comparable to those held by groups like Ballymore and Canary Wharf Group.

Category:Hotels in London