142-146 Whitecross Street,
The City,
London,
EC1Y 8QJ
0845 604 9904
The ViewLondon Review
The Trader makes the most of a semi-pedestrianised thoroughfare and becomes a focal point of Whitecross Street.
The Venue
When you turn the corner onto Whitecross Street, you immediately notice the beige building that’s home to The Trader. It’s a large building that usurps most of the other businesses on the road by stealing the sunshine. Its plethora of picnic benches outside do no harm to its pulling power on warmer days either.
Inside, the old tried and tested approach of polished wooden floors, clean and neutral colours and seating galore do enough to make it a classy version of the norm. However, there isn’t much to the venue that speaks of personality and a winning smile to keep you coming back for more. The bar itself is large and impressive, giving customers a great choice of where to stand along its circumference and there are flat screen TVs with pictures as sharp as some of the suits at the bar.
The Atmosphere
The Trader does it all during the week because at weekends it closes to the public and pimps itself out for private functions (although this may change in the future with possible Saturday openings). The types that inhabit these shindigs could be anyone’s guess but parties, weddings and such keep it booked up. Between Monday and Friday The Trader definitely has a type. Women and men both choose to rock up in power suits, straight from the office at lunchtimes and after work. Everything is very clean and tidy and the staff present themselves well.
The Food
The open kitchen nestled up against the bar serves a collection of British dishes. No surprises, but there is a hearty selection. Scampi and chips, fish and chips and a range of filled and stacked burgers are among the meals that cost no more than £6. There are also a few snacks if you don’t have the room for the full experience.
The Drink
Starting with the slightly disappointing side of the drinks, the wine list only offers three or four of each colour and you might expect more from a pub of this size. The beer lover, however, is catered for with a large range of lagers and ales. Draught options include Hoegaarden, Becks Vier, Stella, Kronenbourg and Leffe and there is also Doom Bar, Cumberland Ale and Cornish Bitter among the interesting choices from the cask.
The Last Word
The Trader has a quaint location and uses the traditional charm of the British pub as its hook. There is a good range of beer and it’s a pleasant place to drink.
The Trader has been reviewed by 2 users