Toast the City: Steel Yard founder tells us why his venue should win

Monday 15 September 2025 6:20 pm

Our Toast the Metropolis Awards are celebrating the Metropolis’s high spots and takes place this October. This week: The Metal Yard music venue.

The finalists have been introduced for the inaugural Toast the Metropolis Awards, with the best eating places, bars, inexperienced areas and extra being whittled all the way down to only a handful of names.

Now it’s your probability to vote to your favourites. To get you within the temper, we’ve requested a few of the finalists why they assume they need to win. This week: Metal Yard occasions reserving supervisor Charlie Adams.

Meet Toast the Metropolis nominee venue The Metal Yard

Why do you should win a coveted Slice of Toast?All the pieces for us begins with relationships. Individuals purchase from folks. Lots of our staff run their very own manufacturers or membership nights so we perceive the obstacles that may give you venues. That’s why we make issues as easy and easy as potential, whether or not it’s a celebration, present or company occasion. When folks really feel taken care of they have a tendency to return again. We consider that dedication to ease and real hospitality is what makes The Metal Yard stand out.

Inform us about yourselfI labored in gross sales for a few years earlier than realising I needed to be extra buyer dealing with and a part of nightlife. At 32 I took the leap, moved to Berlin and began on the very backside as a kitchen porter. From there I labored my approach up and by no means regarded again. That have taught me resilience and the significance of teamwork, and gave me a love for the business.

Inform us one thing we didn’t find out about Metal YardThe Metal Yard takes its identify from the Stahlhof, the riverside compound that was the Hanseatic League’s London base from the thirteenth century. It was as soon as a walled little metropolis of its personal with retailers, warehouses and even a chapel. Over the centuries it survived wars, the lack of royal privileges, looting and the Nice Fireplace earlier than Cannon Avenue Station rose above it. There are additionally tales of river pirates and smugglers alongside this stretch of the Thames which add a mischievous edge to its historical past.

What’s your favorite factor in regards to the Sq. Mile?I like how the previous and new sit so intently collectively. You possibly can stroll previous a glass skyscraper one second after which stumble throughout a Roman wall or a medieval church the following. That blend of putting trendy structure and hidden layers of historical past offers the realm a lot character. It seems like London’s complete story is packed right into a Sq. Mile and that makes it not like anyplace else.

What’s your fondest reminiscence of the Sq. Mile?One in all my greatest reminiscences must be at The Metal Yard itself. We hosted an 80s day celebration final Halloween and my mother and father, who’re each of their seventies, got here together with their associates. All of us dressed up, the music was loud and so they danced all afternoon. It was superb to see them let free, benefit from the environment and be a part of one thing that introduced collectively completely different generations on the identical dance ground.

What’s your secret Metropolis hotspot?There’s a little bit bar we discovered that does pints for £3.50 from noon till 9pm. In the midst of the Sq. Mile that’s a uncommon discover. Generally it’s the easy issues.

What’s your favorite factor to have on toast?My dad’s cheese on toast. He melts the cheese within the microwave first then spreads it over toast with pepper, salt, celery salt or generally garlic powder. It’s easy and at all times jogs my memory of my childhood.

Discover out extra in regards to the Toast the Metropolis awards this October

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