Weddings At The Ned London: Sitting in the heart of London, The Ned London opened a couple of months ago and we were lucky enough to be invited to stay and see the new hotel in all its glory.

Housed in the former Midland Bank building, The Ned was designed by Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens in 1924. It’s a truly stunning spectacle as you enter, stepping onto the black and white chequered floor and through the banking hall – the rows of desks that once hosted bank clerks, now transformed to cool booths and bar areas.

Sunday brunch was in full swing and, as we arrived, strains of jazz wafted through the foyer creating the most relaxing atmosphere.

The Ned hosts nine restaurants, situated off the reception, and 252 bedrooms, all boasting 1920s and 30s design. Bedrooms range from the super cute ‘Crash-Pad’ to the ultra luxurious Lutyens Suite. The buzz as we checked in was fabulous, and the service exquisite. A trend of the stay, as we were to discover!

We were led to our lodgings – the Heritage Suite – through long corridors and up in a beautiful lift. The décor is so grand and stylish, it felt as if we had been transported to the 1920s!

The Heritage Suite

Located on the Grade one listed fifth floor, the Heritage Suite used to be the office of the bank’s CEO. With original panelling, beautiful wooden floor and authentic rugs, the suite combined 1920s glamour with modern comforts. A super comfortable sofa, elegant leather lined desk and sparkling chandelier created a fabulous welcome for us, and the view over London is simply magnificent.

The bedroom is very impressive, with a half poster bed, stand alone bath and gorgeous panelled wardrobe which hides beautiful tapestries on the doors.

The bathroom has amazing marble floors and gorgeous brass fixtures as well as a rainforest shower. The hotel’s Cowshed spa products made a really welcome treat – they’re wonderful, and a great taste of what’s on offer in the spa!

Having been utterly stunned by our suite, we ventured off to explore the vast hotel.

Leisure facilities

It has two pools – one indoors and one outdoors – as part of the Ned’s Club membership. Hotel and spa guests have use of these facilities as well, during their stay.

We visited the gorgeous heated pool up on the roof of the hotel. Looking out on the London skyline – St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye – the infinity pool is surrounded by loungers and bars for relaxing and making the most of your stay, above the hustle and bustle of the streets below. The staff were so welcoming and friendly up there as we took in our surroundings.

The members club is, of course, adult only, and as we took our young daughter with us, we didn’t visit most of the facilities. We do love the idea of Ned’s Club downstairs, though. Through a two metre wide, 20-tonne vault door lies an all hours cocktail bar and lounge, holding more than 3,000 original safety deposit boxes.

The Club also offers a gym, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, traditional Moroccan Hamam and a range of treatments.

In addition to spa and leisure facilities, The Ned offers a nail bar, barbers, salon and makeup parlour – everything you need for top to toe maintenance!

The Restaurants

Choosing where to eat for dinner was a challenge! With nine restaurants, we really were spoiled for choice! Italian, British, American, French…. We settled on Kaia, an Asian Pacific inspired restaurant offering delicious and healthy food.

Not only is the food delicious, but it is so prettily served, it seems a shame to spoil the dishes by eating them! But we did and enjoyed every bite. From the cute cocktails we started with, to the amazing black cod I chose for my main, to the roasted pineapple dessert, I couldn’t fault anything. We also ordered loads of side dishes and it truly was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten!

After enjoying our meal we wandered through the hotel, soaking up the evening vibe and enjoying the elegant light thrown about by the flickering candles. The place has such a chic, sophisticated feel, without feeling stuffy and forced.

Turn Down

Returning to our room, the turndown service was beautiful. A lovely note from the hotel accompanied a cute London charm bracelet for our daughter – such a sweet thought! Two gorgeous cakes also accompanied the gift – a chocolate ganache and a lemon curd – heavenly!

The bed was so comfortable – fresh, new and clean, such a treat to sleep in!

Breakfast

The next morning we again, had to choose where to enjoy our breakfast! We went for classic British this time – Millie’s Lounge – where they offer traditional fare – full English breakfasts, breakfast baps and toast, as well as every kind of egg you could imagine! The avocado and poached egg on toast were simply divine.

The restaurant was bustling and busy, with lots of guests dining and business meetings going on, but the staff were attentive and friendly – so helpful.

Weddings at The Ned London

Once we had enjoyed our breakfast, we took a tour of the wedding and event facilities. There’s only been one wedding there so far, so you could be among the first to wed there! The Ned has six Grade one listed meeting rooms and two outdoor terraces available. The Tapestry Room is bold and impressive, with high windows and historic wall coverings, holding up to 210 guests. The Saloon is light, and elegant, with low windows looking out over the city and accommodating up to 120 guests.

This would certainly be an amazing wedding venue – the hotel feels like a breath of fresh air and a break from the norm. The unique building stood vacant for eight years and has truly been reborn in a most magnificent way. The service is stunning, the leisure facilities and Member’s Club are magnificent, and the styling is elegant, stylish and chic. The Ned is most definitely worth experiencing for yourself.

The Ned London

The city of love is just a two and a half hour train journey from London and as we pull into Paris’s Gare Du Nord, it is evident that romance permeates this air. While couples kiss at the station, others stroll hand in hand; those that have been separated greet each other once again with warm embraces, it is a cliché that for once, I didn’t mind seeing.  We are here for a weekend break staying at the boutique Banke Hotel in the Opera district just a stone’s throw from one of the city’s biggest shopping centres and a walk to many of the much loved Paris sites.

Our early Saturday morning arrival meant that Paris was just waking up when we pulled into the station.  With this in mind and our light luggage load, we decide to take a twenty minute stroll down Rue La Fayette to the Banke Hotel on this perfect sunny day.  The beautiful thing about Paris is its buildings and walking is most certainly the best way to appreciate them.  The numerous street side cafes allow you to observe Paris life further and so half way down we stop for a café au lait and pastry at the pretty little corner café, Le Maison Bleu, before heading on to our Paris abode.

The Banke Hotel, as its name suggests, occupies the premises of a former bank headquarters.  It is, I think, one of the most theatrical hotel entrances one can find in Paris.  This dominant corner building belies the opulent and very warm welcome that lies within.  Marble steps and a large chandelier lead newly arriving guests into a spectacular lobby crowned with a glass cupola and furnished in deep Baroque red.  On either side of the lobby, the hotel restaurant and bar provide contemporary furnishings in gold, purples and velvet and another viewpoint to appreciate this vast and stunning space.

Past guests of Banke Hotel have commented widely on how warmly and friendly the staff are so I was pleased to find that this was indeed true as we were welcomed and shown to our room.  This hotel is all about ambiance and as we journey down a softly lit hallway we take in the hotel’s extensive art collection and jewellery pieces collected from around the world and carefully displayed in glass cabinets.  The subtle smell of burning incense provides a sensory addition to viewing these extraordinary pieces from different cultures.  If you choose to spend your honeymoon at Banke Hotel, I would suggest staying in one of the decadently furnished suites where leather rugs and damask headboards accessorise the designer furniture.  The suites are located on the sixth floor so views are also worthwhile with the Sacre-Couer sitting quietly in the distance.  Luxurious marble bathrooms are equipped with hot powerful showers and toiletries from The White Company provide the ultimate in pampering.

If you can tear yourself away from this charming Paris residence, then take a stroll just 10 minutes up the road to the pretty little street of Rue Des Marques where you’ll find a cute selection of independent shops including, delis, patisseries and boutiques.  If you are more of a designer label shopper then, the famous Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is a stone’s throw from the hotel.  Housed in a stunning stain glass domed building, this department store has been an institution of fashion since the 19^th Century.  Visiting Paris in August is advantageous in that the city is notably quieter due to the French taking their summer holidays during this time.  You’ll find a few shops and restaurants also close for the month but plenty are still open to entertain and keep the buzz. 

After a spot of lunch at one of the delis on Rue des Martyrs, we continued walking up to the famous Sacre-Couer.  To have this architecturally stunning Basilica located within minutes of the Banke Hotel is amazing.  The church sits on the highest point of Paris and offers panoramic views of the country’s bustling landscape.  The dominance and strength that this sacred stone building represents must be comforting to the Parisians as it perches so peacefully at this point, observing and protecting its city below.

What is so nice about staying at a centrally located hotel like Banke, is that when your feet get weary from all the walking, you can easily and quickly return for a well-deserved afternoon rest.  There is a small gym and Hammam in the hotel which is perfect for relaxing in or the Lola bar provides street side tables where cocktails, coffee and tapas are served daily. 

When it comes to dining in France, ‘Charcuterie’ is the option of foodies and Paris is full of these often cosy establishments where cured meats artistically hang in trendy bistro windows.  The streets surrounding Banke Hotel are lined with candlelit cafes and restaurants to eat in and although it is always nice to experience the Parisian way of dining alfresco, if you are staying at Banke for more than one night, you must also try their avante-garde Mediterranean menu at Josephin restaurant.  Not only is there an extensive list of freshly caught seafood but their charcuterie menu is equally satisfying.  All this comes whilst one sits on sumptiously upholstered gold sofas.

As we end our evening with a digestif at the lobby bar, I can’t help but look forward to my night’s sleep – did I mention how comfortable the beds are at the Banke?  Firm but cushiony mattress, super soft cotton sheets, the puffiest pillows and to top it off a sleep spray in The White Company bathroom bag provided.  With the last swig of my Cognac I am gone – thank you Paris and goodnight.

• hotelbanke.com
• Written and reviewed personally by Abbie Ting at the 5 Star Weddings’ team

Set in a pretty town in North Hampshire, The Elvetham is your quintessential picture-perfect country venue. We were invited to visit experience a real wedding day at this gorgeous historic house, and we could not wait to see all that was in store.

The Elvetham dates back to 1086 when it is mentioned in the Domesday Book. We uncovered all sorts of historic treats whilst we were there – Queen Elizabeth I visited in 1591, and a tree she planted is still in the grounds today, and Jane Seymour, one of Henry VIII’s wives, loved The Elvetham too. And we can see why. If there was as much charm and beauty back then as there is today, they would have fallen in love with the place!

The hotel is set in 35 acres of beautiful gardens, with a sunken rose garden, sweet chapel, winding stream and formal lawns, and as we travelled along the sweeping driveway I was transported back to the days of elegant ladies in huge dresses – think Pride and Prejudice – although no sign of Mr Darcy…

First Impressions

We were the only guests staying as they had a wedding party the weekend we stayed, so we took our time to take in the 19^thcentury grand red brick mansion house with its impressive old wooden front door. Persian rugs and high, painted ceilings greeted us alongside stained glass windows, and through them, glorious views.

Our suite was beautiful, with a lovely traditional feel and views out over the garden through pretty leaded windows. The bathroom was modern and clean with a huge bath and shower. It would be a great space for a bride to get ready, and as we gazed over the gardens, we got a little glimpse of our bride with her photographer, getting some shots amongst the sprawling grounds.

With the sun high in the sky, we explored the grounds. You really couldn’t ask for a better location for wedding pictures. Beautifully manicured lawns, flowers in bloom, lines of trees and in the distance, cows grazing, and we even spotted some deer. The Elveham is private and secluded, whilst still being within reach of London, for city brides who want a country wedding.

Weddings at The Elvetham

When it comes to weddings at The Elvetham, they have a ‘one wedding a day’ policy, and you can have exclusive use of the venue. There is a range of options for the ceremony; the Summerhouse, an outdoor venue, has the rolling Hampshire countryside as your backdrop; then there’s The Oak Room, Morning Room and The Library, all of which can be transformed to suit your theme, colour palette and wedding size. With beautiful oak panelling, stone fireplaces and stained glass windows, these rooms make an impressive backdrop for your wedding photos. Then there’s the Conservatory, for a little outside/inside feel – light and airy, but undercover!

The Elvetham can cater for up to 120 guests for a seated wedding breakfast or 200 for informal dining. You can also hire a marquee and have your celebration in the grounds, if you need to cater for a larger number of people, up to 600. The Elvetham also has 72 guest bedrooms, so your guests don’t have to go far to get some rest after celebrating with you all day.

They have a wonderful dining menu, which we sampled al fresco, as the evening was so warm and sunny. We enjoyed our dinner outside, sampling a duck terrine and salad, beef and roasted vegetables and a gorgeous pistachio mousse, which were also on the menu for the wedding guests. We then watched the wedding cake cutting before retreating to our suite for a lovely comfortable night’s sleep.

Breakfast the next morning came with gorgeous views and was so relaxing. Breathing the country air just seems to slow time down a little and help you relax.

And then we were on our way, still dreaming of getting lost amongst the rhododendrons and those corseted ladies strolling through the rose gardens. The Elvetham’s definitely a perfect escape for your country wedding. Thank you for having us!

The Elvetham
Fleet Road, Hartley Wintney, Hook, RG27 8AS

General Enquiries & Accommodation 01252 759562
Weddings: 01252 847293

The Elvetham is a 5 Star Wedding Directory trusted supplier. See their listing here.