Name: The Trading House
Address: 89-9 Gresham Street, London, The City, EC2V 7NQ, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7600 5050
Rating: 8

When you nose around the City it doesn’t take long to realise that unless you work here, you really don’t know it at all. There are so many grand looking buildings, who can tell what’s going on behind those doors; which is exactly the situation at the Trading House. Located in what was once the Bank of New Zealand building, one look inside and the interior alone will be worth your while.

Spread around a vast island bar, there is a slight gentleman’s club kind of feel to the place. Paneled wooden walls and high ceilings complete with delicate looking chandeliers box you into the stylish space and a decorative peacock keeps watch from its perch on the bar. Above the main room a mezzanine balcony looks out over the pub, no doubt a prime spot for private lunches and power broking in this part of town.

So far, so City, the Trading House has all the looks but what sets it apart is the entertainment. Live music every night – yes, EVERY night – adds an informal spirit to the tavern-luxury it’s got going on. And then there are the refreshments.
When the beer list comes in the form of a chunky almanac, you know it’s serious. The Trading House’s beer list is enough to give even the most jaded craft ale drinker a judder. Page after page, beers are dissected and expounded upon in the guide that gives you simple tasting notes along with the prices and the ABVs. The pub has two of its own brews on draught – one of which is the fine Pacific IPA – along with a range of brewery offerings from around the world. The bottle selection includes a mix of lagers, pale ales, porters, wheat beers and Belgian beers. We tried the excellent Tripel Karmeliet, a rich, cloudy triple at a punchy 8.4%. The pub also works hard on its cocktail list and we can recommend the Lavender Sazerac to anyone who likes a new take on a classic. The other interesting idea is beer and cocktail pairings, which is pretty much the greatest thing we’ve ever heard. Can’t decide between a beer and a cocktail? Have both.

Where the drink list is international, the food is easier to pin down. A mix of pub classics – think gammon, egg and chips, pies, lamb hotpot – it keeps things simple with what it calls ‘home comforts’. We opt for one of its famous hanging prawn kebabs and a half rotisserie chicken. The chicken was a big portion of well-seasoned, moist meat that came with peri peri sauce. The prawn kebab was a looker, delivered on a vertically suspended skewer, but was too small at £13.95 and in need of some bread and salad to go with the chips it hung above. However, looking across tables with pie envy, there didn’t seem to be much wrong with the other meal portions.

The Trading House might appeal to its local crowd in the City but its incredible building, big beer list and cocktails make it more than just another City pub and one worth seeking out.

The Trading House

Credit Cards Accepted

Live Music Played

The Trading House Picture Gallery

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