Steam Whistle Brewing

Steam Whistle operates in the historic John Street Roundhouse at the foot of the CN Tower.

About the venue

Pilsner and Locomotive Halls retain original brick-and-beam interiors with large windows and high ceilings. Cobblestone patios include locomotives and exposed rail tracks. The site is across from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and about a two-minute walk from the GO and UP Express station. A full-venue buyout is offered for outdoor events of up to 6,000 attendees.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a winery or brewery and unique venue in Toronto, at 255 Bremner Blvd., Toronto, ON.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Locomotive Hall: up to 800
• Pilsner Hall: up to 350
• The Tap Room: 75 seated dinner, 180 cocktail reception
• Mezzanine: up to 42
• Partial Room: up to 30
• Founders Room: up to 20
• Station Room: boardroom table for 15
• Full venue buyout: up to 6,000

Capacity

The venue does not publish a single maximum for every room, so ask for the capacity of the specific space in the layout you want: seated dinner, standing reception, theatre or classroom.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts weddings, corporate events, galas and fundraisers and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the wedding planning hub, corporate holiday party hub, gala planning hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• Which spaces are used if the weather turns on the day?
• Must all alcohol be bought from the venue, and how is it charged?
• What time must outdoor music end under the local noise bylaw?
• Is there a shuttle plan or nearby lodging for guests who should not drive?
• Are tents allowed, and who supplies them?
• Does the production area stay open during your event?

Planning entertainment here

Barrel rooms and patios suit acoustic music and roaming entertainment. Outdoor sound usually has an end time, so plan louder entertainment indoors.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

The venue’s information points to public transit nearby. Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: steamwhistle.ca/pages/events