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THE STEELYARD: WHEELS OF STEEL

The Steelyard is just what the capital needs...

In a town without Plastic People, where there's talk of sniffer dogs at Fabric and breathalysers at clubs, hearing about a new space from the guy who started SE1 and Cable (now both sadly deceased) is a breath of fresh air. A set of arches with a giant crane previously used for lifting and storing trains, Steelyard is London's new industrial clubbing space with a 6am license and 60 dance events planned for 2015.

“It's certainly good for a new venue to be introduced to London at a time like this,” says Paul Jack of London Warehouse Events. “All we ever hear about is another club losing its license or being shut down. It's really important for a venue of this size to show that nightclubs and club nights can be operated within the demands of local authorities and police, and that they can also co-exist in amongst other businesses.”

Procured by Cable's Euan Johnston, who also owns Crucifix Lane, and two partners, LWE have Scuba's Hotflush Reflexion party and Hot Since 82 in March, while RAM is there all night with Andy C as part of LEAF, also in March. A permanently kitted out space, currently they're trialling soundsystems to find the perfect one and the venue has three main archways with bars, including one that can hold 800 clubbers. Sounds perfect, right?

“Prior to the venue being used for events, it was an indoor golf putting green and driving range, and before that, trains from the overground line above would be lifted into the arches by the crane and tracking in order to be serviced,” says Paul. “A section of the steel crane and the tracking can still be seen in one of the arches, which gives the venue both its name, and its industrial, decadent character.”

Offering a big-scale warehouse venue with a strong identity, it offers flexibility for promoters to call upon at a time when it's needed. The Steelyard is a gift. “It has been built with club events strongly in mind, though it can equally cater for the high-end corporate stuff, and all kinds of other styles of events,” adds Paul.

Previously known as Unit 13, one-off events from Solidgrooves and Flux brought Deniz Kurtel, Bill Patrick, Redshape, Losoul and Voyeur to the venue towards the end of last year, while Percolate threw a warehouse party with Prins Thomas last month. The music policy is bang-on, too.

“Clubs, raves and dance events have long been housed and held in railway arch spaces,” concludes Paul. “The Steelyard offers an industrial feeling venue, with a large dancefloor space. Its exposed brick arches and listed steel works set the tone really well.”

 

HEAVY METAL

WHAT'S COMING UP AT THE STEELYARD?

RAM
Friday 6th March | Andy C all night

SOLO DANZA 2015 OPENING PARTY
Saturday 7th March | Mara Trax: Maayan Niddam & Vera, Nastia, Dennis Christopher

HOT SINCE 82 – KNEE DEEP IN LONDON
Friday 20th March | Hot Since 82, plus more TBA

HOTFLUSH PRESENTS REFLEXION
Saturday 28th March | Scuba, Dense + Pika, Function, Jack Haighton