The Trading House London Restaurant Review

The City can be daunting if you’re looking for good beer and a bite to eat. With suits generally resigned to the fact they’ll be paying £6 for a decent brew and triple that for a decent meal, we average Joes are often forced out to find haunts without an EC postcode. But we may have found somewhere for everyone at The Trading House restaurant on Gresham Street.

Located just a few minutes strides from Bank, The Trading House fuses Phileas Fogg/faux-Victorian trading house decor with a vast selection of spiced-twist cocktails, a traditionally British G&T list, Champagne, wine, and one of the best craft beer menus we’ve found in central London. And we haven’t even mentioned the food yet.

Don’t be fooled by its Grade II-listed exterior and design; formerly the Bank of New Zealand, this place could be daunting to the average punter but, in reality, is far from intimidating. The menu reflects this with options like a curate-your-own deli board and a section entitled ‘Home Comforts’. Think pies, steak sandwiches and even schnitzel.

Choosing what to taste off the deli, rotisserie, and BBQ-inspired menu was far from easy, but our party went for an array of starters, with the standout being the Baked Camembert, which came with a bacon and onion crust — it’s not reinventing the wheel, but it’s those extra little touches which impressed at the restaurant.

For mains, we enjoyed the Lamb and Chickpea Tagine, the Fillet Steak (cooked to perfection), and a delicious Pork Belly off the Specials, served with creamy mash, bacon and an onion fritter. The real star of the show, however, was one of the Trading House’s Hanging Kebabs. Succulent meat, fluffy chips and a bit of theatre. What more could you want?

As you can probably guess by now, the Trading House is a place of juxtapositions. The building is stunning, and the vast space is filled with the sound of a talented pianist or vocalist almost every night. But this is glorified pub grub in the best sense of the phrase. And thankfully, the prices reflect that, with the majority of main just a shade over the £10 mark and rarely rising above £15 — excellent value for money.

While the food was a surprising success, from the minute we stepped into the venue, we knew the drinks wouldn’t disappoint. The beautifully presented soft-bound beer menu is titled ‘The Anthology of Ales’ and will have any beer enthusiast foaming with 90-odd crafts, all described in detail. Try the Big Wave by Kona, a 4.4% golden ale, and the Einstök Icelandic white ale. You’re looking at around £4–£6 a bottle.

Cocktails are similarly excellent here, and the menu is extensive. All your classics are on show, as well as a vast selection of gin options and even some beer cocktails. They’re all generally priced around £7–£10.

Overall, we loved our evening at The Trading House restaurant. Perfect for some after-work cocktails or a bite to eat, this contradiction of a bar won’t deliver bells and whistles. But if you want high-end vibes without the price or fuss, we can’t recommend it enough.