Pressing metal in Gateshead (7)
I believe the answer is:
ironing
'pressing' is the definition.
(I know that pressing can be written as ironing)
'metal in gateshead' is the wordplay.
'metal' becomes 'iron' (iron is a metal).
'gateshead' becomes 'g' (head letter of 'gates').
'iron'+'in'+'g'='IRONING'
(Other definitions for ironing that I've seen before include "Pressing and smoothing" , "Levelling out" , "Household task" , "Household chore" , "Smoothing with heat" .)