'Incredible' London woman found dead more than a week after she was last seen in Soho

A beloved 55-year-old woman has been found dead in the River Thames after she went missing more than a week ago.

Natasha Reddington-Romanov, 55, described by friends as an “icon of Soho”, was last seen leaving a night out in central London around 2am last Friday (September 20).

On Saturday morning, police were called after a body was found in the Thames near Vauxhall Bridge.

Police on Saturday afternoon confirmed the body is believed to be that of Natasha.

“Work was undertaken to confirm the identify of this person,” said the Met in a statement.

“Officers believe that the body discovered is that of Natasha Reddington-Romanov, a 55-year-old woman that had been reported missing from Southwark.

“Natasha’s next of kin have been informed of this development.”

Police say Natasha’s death is being treated as “unexpected, but not suspicious”. “A file will be prepared for the coroner,” they added.

Natasha was reported missing on Tuesday (September 24) after she failed to turn up to work.

She had last been seen between Greek Street and Bateman Street in Soho, around 2am last Friday, as she headed home from a night out.

She had not been seen since, which friends described as “very out of character”. “It’s honestly a nightmare,” close friend Tracy Kawalik told The Standard on Friday.

Last Friday, Natasha had dinner in Chinatown with a friend before going for a drink in Little Italy, then heading to old Soho jazz club Trisha’s - also known as The Hideout and New Evaristo Club.

Natasha previously spent around a decade working behind the bar of the long-running club where she was hugely well-known - even appearing in Anthony Bourdain’s show The Layover - but most recently worked in an office.

After Trisha’s closed around 1.30am, Natasha and friends headed to nearby bar Raincall for more drinks.

But when they arrived to find a queue of people waiting to get in, Natasha told friends she had decided to head home to her flat on the Old Kent Road. But she is not believed to have made it there.

Concerns were raised when Natasha failed to turn up to work on Monday - something Ms Kawalik described as “completely not like her”.

When she again failed to come in on Tuesday morning, her workplace began calling her next of kin. The police were contacted, and a missing persons investigation was launched.

Ms Kawalik says Natasha had seemed her usual self on the day she went missing. She had had a long phone call with a friend, when they discussed Christmas plans and what she was planning to cook for an event the following weekend.

Ms Kawalik described Natasha as “incredibly glamorous, and very, very funny”.

“She’s a bit of an icon of Soho,” she told the Standard on Friday. She’s been around Soho for some time.

“She was formerly a dancer at Madame Jojo’s. She also famously worked behind the bar at Trisha’s for years. She’s Trisha’s best friend.

“She’s an incredible human being. She’s so kind to everybody.”