Workers’ Yard at Woolwich Works

A sunny courtyard at the centre of the Woolwich Works complex, surrounded by Grade II listed former Royal Arsenal buildings and designed to blur the line between indoor and outdoor events. Workers’ Yard accommodates up to 1,000 standing and serves as both a standalone outdoor space and — more commonly — an extension of the Fireworks Factory and Workers’ Bar that open directly onto it through large doors and glass walls.

Workers’ Yard in Summer

From June through September, the courtyard takes on a festival character. A shipping container bar appears alongside a sand beach with colourful deck chairs, transforming the industrial setting into something looser and more playful. The combination of heritage architecture, open sky, and the casual setup makes it one of London’s more distinctive outdoor event spaces — not a rooftop terrace bolted onto a building, but a purpose-designed courtyard with real infrastructure around it. Summer parties, BBQ events, outdoor catering, and festivals have all used the space effectively. The Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair and food festivals are among the events that have made Workers’ Yard their home, and the format suits anything from corporate away days to wedding celebrations with an outdoor element.

How Workers’ Yard Connects to Woolwich Works’ Indoor Spaces

The courtyard’s real versatility comes from its relationship with the buildings around it. The Workers’ Bar — a vast glass-walled space — runs parallel to the Fireworks Factory and looks directly onto the yard. The Fireworks Factory’s large doors open straight into the courtyard, creating a combined indoor-outdoor space that can handle events at genuine scale. Hiring the Fireworks Factory, Workers’ Bar, and Workers’ Yard together produces one continuous venue stretching from the 1,500 square metre factory floor through the bar and out into the open air. For events using the Fireworks Factory as the main space, Workers’ Yard provides natural overflow, pre-dinner drinks, and a change of atmosphere between programme elements. The indoor-outdoor flow works particularly well for events running across an afternoon and evening, where guests move between settings as the mood shifts.

Woolwich Works’ Courtyard Practicalities

Workers’ Yard is primarily an outdoor space and works best from May through September, though it can be used year-round for shorter periods. The alcohol licence runs to 23:00 with extensions available. Natural confetti only — petals are permitted, but biodegradable substitutes are not. Real candles are allowed in enclosed holders. Transport links are strong for a south-east London venue: the Elizabeth line puts Woolwich Works within easy reach of central London, with Woolwich Arsenal DLR, the Thames Clipper pier, and London City Airport all nearby. The riverside location adds character to arrivals, particularly for guests coming by boat.