Founders Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney plan to relaunch Trade as an app, which is being billed as a virtual version of the former members’ club, providing “a hub for hospitality professionals to access an ecosystem of resources, perks and tools to equip them in a post-lockdown world.”
The Trade app will be free for all hospitality professionals to access and will feature news, a forum, access to post-lockdown support, a jobs board and a perks section that will offer discounts and extras at number of restaurants and bars alongside deals for other businesses including gyms and hotels.
Trade's paying membership base of 1,600 members will become Founder Members of the Trade app, giving them exclusive access to other members clubs such as 67 Pall Mall, discounts on F&B at the new The Black Book and other exclusive perks.
“Xavier and I considered what the industry would find useful in the wake of the pandemic, thinking back to the vision we had when we first launched Trade," says Devaney. "Now seems like a better time than ever to launch an app-based hub in which to share resources, advice, news, ideas and jobs.
Slated to launch in 2020, The Black Book will be open Tuesday to Saturday evenings until late, offering a diverse selection of wine from its Coravin cellar, plus “rare gems” from Trade's eponymous Black Book, alongside a new food and cocktail offering.
“We thought long and hard about the future of the physical club and realised the only way to thrive post-pandemic was to open our doors to anyone who appreciates good wine and food," says Rousset. "We expect many of our hospitality friends and members to return when we re-open; Trade quickly became the industry’s hangout, and we don’t see that aspect changing.”
Described by its founders as a social space with a focus on high quality food and drink, "where like minded hospitality professionals can socialise with their peers outside working hours" Trade was launched in 2018.
