The Ned

The spa at The Ned feels like another world. Even moving through the changing rooms to the pool, every detail is exceptional, and you forget you’re in a spa. The whole hotel has that same sense of stepping into somewhere magical, as if its doors opened just for you. The rooms are beautiful, the interiors feel carefully designed, and the grand entrance, restaurants downstairs and atmosphere all add to it. Service is seamless and housekeeping is impeccable. The Ned isn’t just a hotel, it’s an experience. It’s the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in. If I were a hotel, I think I’d be The Ned.

The food, service and ambience were superb, and I can’t fault a thing. We went for a wonderful brunch to mark our golden wedding anniversary, with our youngest son visiting from Switzerland. If you’re taking the Underground, get off at Bank and use exit 9, which comes out just 50 feet from the front door.

The food was okay, but the service made for a disappointing Valentine's Day dinner. We expected a lovely evening, yet our server seemed unhappy to be there. After seating us, he took five minutes to say hello. He asked about water, and when we chose tap water, he pulled a long face as if offended. That set the tone. Our drinks took 20 minutes. When we asked if he knew where they were, he rudely said, "At the bar." Eventually he went to get them and bring them over. The rest of dinner passed without incident, but his interactions stayed basic and he looked unhappy all night, maybe he'd had a bad day. We were glad when someone else served our table; the difference in attitude and professionalism was clear. We didn't want to make a big deal of it and spoil the evening, but for almost £200 on dinner, you'd expect good service.

There were four surprise charges on the final bill, and that’s why I’m giving one star. The hotel has good facilities and is nice, but the constant extra costs overshadowed the stay. The pool costs £15 per person on top of the room rate. Breakfast is only included up to about £30 and doesn’t cover drinks like coffee or orange juice. Service charges get added to that, and there’s another one just for staying, even though things like turndown weren’t provided. It feels like every interaction is another chance to take money. Hard pass in future. This endless tipping and service charge culture should stay in the US.