The Trading House Review

If, like me, you were obsessed with the BBC’s drama ‘Taboo’ based on the dealings of the East India Trading Company, then The Trading House is a spot for you to get really excited about. Set within a Grade II listed building that was formerly the Bank of New Zealand, this bar and restaurant in Bank is based on ‘days gone by’ when ‘explorers and adventurers were the talk of London town’, and it does not disappoint.

Upon entering, we were greeted by a gorgeously lit wooden panelled bar set within a grand, old-world styled space, with a spiral staircase leading up to a mezzanine – which can be booked for private events – and is where we spotted a musician singing along to the familiar sounds of Ed Sheeran and Usher.

You can tell just how much attention has gone into the décor and set-up, and to great effect – think tapestries set alongside taxidermy, pineapple light fixtures against wooden bookshelves, the room is filled with a collection of curiosities from across the globe. It’s popular too, and bankers from this part of the City can be seen everywhere you look, enjoying the atmosphere and a cocktail or craft beer after work.

The cocktail menu is extensive, with each drink paying homage to the City’s trading past. I settled for the ‘Treasure fleet’ – a refreshing and light gin cocktail, combining all of my favourite things – elderflower liqueur, apple juice, fresh mint and lime, delicious! My guest chose the ‘End of the Earth’, a combination of white rum, vanilla and pineapple, as well as a marshmallow to garnish. It’s not as sweet as it sounds, and with the perfect amount of crushed ice, it went down a treat.

At the back of the room sits the restaurant, a quaint and quieter space for diners to enjoy the vast and extensive menu. Much like the premise of the bar, the menu features food from across the globe – from home comforts, to hanging kebabs, there’s something to cater to everyone.

We kicked off with pork crackling with chili, spring onion and sweet apple sauce to nibble on, the perfect accompaniment to our cocktails that was just the right amount of crunch and chew, before moving on to the crispy calamari and baked camembert. The camembert was particularly good, seasoned well with garlic and featuring a be-jewelled bacon crust and a fig chutney that I’ve since dreamt about more times than once.

For our mains, my guest opted for the salt and pepper pork belly hanging kebab, which arrived at our table on an impressive hanging skewer with a plate of chips, while I went for the vegetarian option of the butternut squash, goat’s cheese and mushroom pie with a deliciously creamy mash. The pork belly was tender and well-seasoned, and the pie had a surprisingly spicy warmth to it with a deliciously thick and buttery pastry. After some serious carb loading, we decided to split a dessert and opted for the old classic sticky toffee pudding, which was a real treat; light and moist, with a delightfully sweet toffee sauce, it made for the perfect end to a charming meal.

I’ll definitely be back; with great service and a buzzy atmosphere, this bar is definitely one to add to your ‘must visit’ list. Even if it’s just to work your way across the globe via the irresistible cocktail list, as well as load up your Instagram feed with images of the cool and quirky artifacts dotted around the room.

You can view more information about The Trading House as well as its menus, here: http://thetradinghouse.uk.com

Instagram: @tradinghouselondon

Written by Simran Maini-Hoskins