Alder takes root in Neepsend

Exposed writer Jack Paul speaks to Alder owners, Joe Spriggs and Danny Tennant, to get to the root of the Neepsend bar’s success since opening last year.

In just 12 months, a fledgling Neepsend bar has gone from fresh start to fervent local favourite. For Joe Spriggs and Danny Tennant, the unassuming youthful pair behind Alder, success stems from unique life and industry experience, a willingness to try new things, and an infectious community spirit that permeates the business from top to bottom.

Alder is nestled away on Percy Street in what was once a polish factory. Over the last 175 years, the Victorian redbrick walls have also housed stables, a Land Rover repair shop, a builder’s yard, and most recently The Sheffield Brewery, the remains of which still lay entrenched into the bar’s architecture and decor; two elevated mash tuns watch over every drink poured and served, a third sits next to the bar sprouting pipes like metal vines; amongst the seating area two grated hatches draw the eye, which, when lifted, reveal an aerial view of two empty 1600 litre fermenters; and dotted around in various spots is the Sheffield Brewery logo.

But the bar is no longer run by The Sheffield Brewery, it is run independently by Joe and Danny, 27 and 26 respectively, both born and bred a stone’s throw away in Hillsborough. The pair took over in October of 2021 and quickly established themselves within a highly competitive corner of Kelham Island.

“We are both local and think it’s important to try to keep things as local as we can,” says Joe, the owner, “especially with those we collaborate with.” This communal ethos is one immediately visible to regulars and passing visitors alike. It can been seen in things as small as Danny’s nails, recently given full Alder treatment by Sweet As Hell nails on Abbeydale road, and as substantial as the furniture on which drinks rest – a table made by Brian George who owns the wood workshop next door. Community support is even rewarded with beer: Alder offer a free pint for every bag of street litter collected.

This community spirit naturally extends to the events programming, now a core part of the business and one increasing as they continue to develop their events space. “Two months ago my dad built us a stage and since then we’ve had loads of music on,” says Bar Manager Danny. “Blues, rock bands, jazz bands, acoustic stuff, electronic, covers, 80s, weird art stuff… we really are open to anything.”

“We’ve just bought a huge screen,” Joe adds, “and have already premiered a Skateboard Cafe video here. And we’ve acquired Kelham Island Film Club, so we’ll be playing films most Thursdays. We can show the World Cup now, so we’ll have the games here.”

It should come as no surprise that the events programming has become so diverse and inclusive. Not just because of the boys’ relaxed willingness to try new things, but because of Danny’s musical background. “I studied music production in Manchester. By the time I’d finished my degree I didn’t have plans to do anything with it. I was still producing stuff, but education wasn’t for me and uni made me fall out of love with it. Now that I’m here I have an opportunity to work with bands, to find decent musicians and help things get set up. It’s really helped me refind my passion for it.”

Joe, too, possesses a wealth of experience that has aided Alder’s success. “I did some travelling and when I came back I wanted to get into sales. I started selling car warranty, cold calling people, then moved onto selling steel, then waste services. When I was made redundant I started volunteering at The Sheffield Brewery, selling beer and eventually running their bar. That’s how I met Danny, selling beer to his old work. When Danny left his job I gave him some hours at the brewery and here we are.”

Joe and Danny’s combined industry experience is something that has informed their approach to running Alder. “When you get a pint at a [pub chain redacted] or wherever, it’s a faceless pint. It’s forgettable. Whereas you come here and you’re getting a warm welcome from me and Danny; we’ll try and get to know you, learn your name, and you’re going to get quality pint as well.”

“That’s it,” Danny adds. “I’ve worked at loads of places where everything is by the book, and it never changes. Me and Joe, we have freedom. We can say ‘what shall we have on next week’ and put on whatever beer we like. Spirits, too, we find a good bottle of something we can put it up behind the bar.” Joe chips back in, “We’re in our twenties and we don’t have a boss. We really can do what we want. It’s amazing.”

‘Unique’ is a word that keeps popping up in Alder’s glowing reviews. In a competitive industry it can pay to be different, and in Alder’s case this started at the very beginning: as Joe came up with the name. “There’s a lot of names round here that pay homage to the old workshops and factories. It’s something we could have easily done. This used to be a polish factory, a Land Rover repair shop, a builders yard… I didn’t want to do that. Alders are a great tree that no one really seems to know about. They have a great history in Sheffield. They’re hardy, growing well in areas where others struggle. They help their community, fixing nitrogen in the soil which helps other things grow around them. They’re inclusive, producing both male and female flowers on catkins, which isn’t very common. And Alders sup like nothing else. They love a drink. Just like us.”

You can grab a pint and chat to Joe and Danny in Alder on Percy Street, Neepsend, from Wednesdays to Sundays. Keep up to date with all their upcoming events on Instagram @alder_bar_sheff and for booking enquiries contact via 07956 323390.