OUR STORy

TRADE was founded in 2014 on Commercial Street, Spitalfields, by Frankie and Marion Boltman and their son-in-law, Alex Stone.

We set out with a simple ambition: to build the world’s best local café. A place that served exceptional coffee, proper food and warm, genuine hospitality without gimmicks or fads.

Our coffee was inspired by Alex’s time in Australia, where café culture is serious about quality but relaxed in spirit. Our food brings together influences from the delis and diners of New York and Melbourne’s café culture with a focus on generous, flavour-led dishes made from scratch.

Food and hospitality run deep in the family. Marion and Frankie had already built and exited two successful London restaurant groups, French Franks and Thanks for Franks, before starting TRADE. As far back as our family records go, we have been bakers, cooks and restaurateurs.

In the early days of TRADE, you would have found Marion and Alex smoking meat in the back garden, baking cakes in the basement and serving customers in between. That hands-on approach shaped who we are. We became known for our cured meats, especially our signature pastrami, and for our commitment to making as much as possible ourselves.