The Steel Yard – London [Review]

Published April 8, 2024

Situated in the heart of the City of London underneath railway arches

The Steel Yard made headlines back in 2015 when it became the first club in the City of London to be granted a 6am licence. With its blank canvas, exposed brickwork, high ceilings, and expansive arches, it quickly established itself as one of London’s most respected venues, with a few iconic brands hosting events over the years.

I recently visited on a Saturday night, and after a 5-minute walk from Cannon Street station, I arrived at the entrance on Allhallows Lane around midnight, where I was met by friendly security staff.

After scanning my ticket, I stepped inside the club to find the cloakroom. This was a little difficult to locate because there were no clear signs, but after quickly looking around the the lobby area, I went upstairs and found the cloakroom on the left and the ladies toilets to the right. (The short passageway to the toilets was problematic as there wasn’t enough space for people to pass each other)

My next stop was to grab a drink; After finding a bar up another set of stairs, which was the VIP mezzanine area, we ordered three double vodkas & lemonade which came to £39 – not a bad price for a club in London. (Cash and cards are accepted)

It was finally time to head to the main room, where the music was pumping. The Steel Yard has a capacity of 850, and on this night the event was sold out, so I was expecting the main arch to be hot and stuffy, but there was a lovely steady breeze throughout, which was refreshing as the dancefloor was packed.

The venue boasts a Nova Line Array Sound System set-up, which was quite impressive because, in my experience, Sound Systems are where numerous venues fall short. The lighting system was also in operation, and the event featured various visuals & dancers that helped set the vibe in the arch.

After a short time, I went for a walk to check out the other arch, which was in full motion. It wasn’t too busy yet, as it was still early in the night. I headed to the main bar, which was a nightmare. The bar was full, the bartenders couldn’t keep up, a few drinks had run out, and I waited around 40 minutes to be served. I felt sorry for the staff, but an establishment of this size requires some changes to ensure a better wait time and that the bar is continuously restocked.

Before returning to the main room for a dance, I had to go to the toilets. After a short battle through the tight passageway upstairs, I made it to the toilets, which are a nice size with large mirrors in the middle. There was also a toilet attendant, ensuring the toilets were kept clean. (All venues should have this.)

The club does have a smoking area which is located at the entrance to the right, sectioned off by barriers, plenty of standing space.

Overall, a good time at The Steel Yard. The event I attended was really fun, with a nice crowd, and the DJs did a fine job of keeping everyone dancing until 6am. One thing to note is when you come outside to leave, you cannot turn left onto the main road; you need to go another way under an arch and back around to the main road. This felt a little unsafe on my own with not many people around.