Hospitality members' club Trade launches app for resources and discounts

A members' club for those in the hospitality industry has launched a free app offering perks and business advice.

Trade members' club was founded by Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney with a site in London's Soho in 2018, which permanently closed in March during the first national lockdown.

It relaunched in September as the Black Book restaurant and bar, which is open to all.

The new Trade app will offer resources on licensing and employment lawyers, links to advice lines and mental health support, as well as various discounts and offers at hospitality venues and gyms. Members can advertise job vacancies or upload their CVs. There is also a marketplace to buy and sell surplus furniture.

Devaney said: "Xavier and I took time out during lockdown to consider what the industry would find useful given the new challenges we're facing, thinking back to the vision we had when we first launched Trade. Now seems like a better time than ever to launch an app-based hub in which to share resources, advice, news, ideas and jobs."

Trade's existing 1,600 members will become founder members of the app. The club is offering a further 100 VIP memberships priced at £120, which include all the founder member benefits.

The Trade Hospitality app can be downloaded from both the App Store and Google Play. Hospitality professionals will need to provide proof of employment to gain access.