Images courtesy of The Ned

Soho House and Sydell Group partner on this project, what does it mean to be working on such an ambitious opening together?

To give you some background on the partnership, Nick Jones (Soho House Founder) immediately fell in love with the old Midland Bank Building on Poultry Street and spoke to Ron Burkle, his chairman, the moment he left the site.  Ron knew that making the vision for The Ned a reality would require a collaboration of many skills and suggested that Soho House work on the project with Sydell Group. The Ned is a much bigger project than either Soho House or Sydell Group have undertaken before, so the partnership makes sense. While The Ned houses some Soho House brands – Cowshed, Cheeky, Neville and Cecconi’s – it’s very much a separate entity. It’s run by a new team, separate to both Soho House and Sydell Group.

The Ned is located in the City of London, who will be its clientele and are there limits on who can join?

We’re very excited to be located in the City. It’s as busy as Soho and much better looking; it’s the capital’s engine room for commerce but also has more than its fair share of culture for one square mile. The City is developing at a rapid pace and we’re proud to be part of that change.

In relation to clientele, The Ned is for everyone – it has eight public restaurants that offer different experiences, whether you want a quick coffee and baguette from Café Sou or a three-course dinner with drinks at Cecconi’s. There is also a whole floor dedicated to meetings and events, with six spaces that can be hired out.

Equally Ned’s Club is a social and fitness club for everyone. We expect many of our members to live and work in the area. Unlike the Soho House membership criteria, a creative background is not necessary to apply. We will however be looking to accept members who share our creative values, embrace our event programme and appreciate the heritage and culture of the building.

The Ned is the most ambitious London hotel opening of the past twenty years. What is it that makes it very different?

The Ned offering is pretty special. We have a range of men’s and women’s grooming services and six private hire rooms with a dedicated reception area. ‘Ned’s Club’ offers members access to a rooftop pool, 950 sqm gym with spinning, boxing, yoga and pilates studios, a spa with a 20 metre indoor pool and a hamam. Members will also have access to the bank’s original vault, with its twenty tonne, two-metre-wide door. This will house the Vault Room lounge bar, which contains over 3,000 stainless steel safety deposit boxes and inspired the design of Fort Knox in the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger. We have a vision that The Ned will change the face of the City of London with its offering. We want to be known as a place that’s full of culture, great food and amazing design.