Master sommeliers to open private members club for the trade

Master Sommeliers Gearoid Devaney and Xavier Rousset are to open Trade, a members’ club for the hospitality industry, in Soho next month, offering membership for as little as £100 a year.

Trade will open in December 2018

The pair opened wine-focused restaurant Cabotte in 2016, specialising in Burgundian wine.

Adding to their portfolio, Trade will be a social space with a focus on quality food and drink, where “like-minded hospitality professionals can socialise with their peers outside working hours, be they chefs, sommeliers, bartenders, baristas, food and beverage producers and suppliers, or those working front of house”.

Based in a basement in Soho, at 23 Frith Street, the intention is for the space to also be used as a hospitality hub, for networking, idea sharing, training and motivating the next generation of talented individuals.

“When Gearoid first mooted the idea of a hospitality members’ club, I straight away thought it was a brilliant idea,” said Rousset.

“This is a unique concept for our industry, a place where we can exchange ideas, relax and socialise with peers and London is the perfect city to do this. So many different industries have their own club, at long last we’ve got ours!”

Described as “never elitist but with a premium offering at sensible prices”, its ever-changing wine list will reflect Rousset and Devaney’s desire to open up the world of wine to those interested in both “classic and esoteric” wines on any budget.

Devaney is the director of Burgundy specialist importer Flint Wines and co-founder of Cabotte restaurant in the City, and also consults on wine lists and staff training for London restaurants.

Rousset meanwhile is the owner of Marylebone’s Blandford Comptoir and Comptoir Cafe & Wine and co-founder of Cabotte in Gresham Street, and was the founder of both Texture and the 28-50 Wine Workshop group.

Heading up the bar at Trade will be Musa Ozgul, previously of members’ clubs Chess Club and Quo Vadis, who will oversee a regularly changing cocktail list featuring drinks from leading guest bartenders.

The club will have links with catering colleges and offer training, talks, masterclasses, tastings, dinners and careers guidance from industry leaders through its ongoing programme of member events.

Membership is open to anyone working in, or connected to, restaurants, bars, hotels, clubs, plus suppliers to the hospitality industry. The subscription fee will be accessible enough to enable all levels of staff to join this inclusive club.

Membership applications open on 1 October 2018, and individuals whose membership is accepted before 31 October 2018 will be eligible for Trade Founder Membership at the reduced price of £100 for the first year’s membership. Standard membership for the trade will be £190 a year, and £75 for under 25’s.

Trade will launch in early December 2018 and will be open seven days per week, from 11am until late.

Membership applications must be made by email to member@tradesoho.co.uk.

Gearoid Devaney MS
Xavier Rousset MS