Oral Histories

Our oral histories discussing personal experiences with - and conversations about - Sheffield's alcoholic drinks scene are archived with Sheffield City Archives and the University of Sheffield Special Collections

Neil Adgie - Little Mesters Brewing

Neil Adgie, co-owner of Little Mesters Brewing, grew up in Sheffield and returned for university before careers in teaching, insurance, and IT. He reflects on his background and passion for homebrewing, which led him to join friends at Little Mesters around 2019. After challenges in their first small premises, the brewery relocated to a new site in Attercliffe. Neil discusses the value of quality, experimentation, and local roots in craft brewing, and Sheffield’s collaborative brewing culture.

Alex Barlow - Triple Point Brewing

Alex discusses his early experiences in hospitality and long-standing career in the beer industry. He talks about working in pubs during university, training at major breweries, and later roles in the UK and Prague, where he helped launch new beer brands. Returning to the UK, he discusses how he founded Triple Point Brewing while navigating changes in his family life. Alex explores challenges in defining “craft,” the importance of community, and Sheffield’s unique beer scene. He also reflects on the impact of COVID-19, changing drinking cultures, brewing innovation, and his hopes for the industry’s future.

Jeff Boss - StarmoreBoss

Co-founder of independent drinks retailer StarmoreBoss, Jeff reflects on his background in music and alcohol, and how working in Record Collector, Oddbins, and behind the bar at different pubs developed his ethos and approach to drinks. He discusses the cross-over between the music and hospitality industries, and the innovative approach he applied to running Shakespears on Gibraltar Street. Jeff highlights the city’s collaborative business culture and its role in shaping the UK craft drinks movement, but how challenges like economic pressures, shifting drinking habits, and regulation changes are impacting the industry. He also talks about StarmoreBoss' place in Sharrow Vale and how they developed their unique niche in Sheffield's drinks scene.

Maurice Champeau - Crookes Social Club

Maurice, originally from Oldham, moved to Sheffield to manage Crookes Social Club from 2014. He reflects on his early experiences in pubs and his career, including managing bands, and how he now manages the Social Club. Maurice discusses changing drinking habits, the impact of COVID-19 on social life, and challenges faced by venues. He highlights the role of live music in Sheffield’s culture and its connection to alcohol choices. Maurice talks about gender differences in drinking, the significance of "craft", and the unique drinking scene in Sheffield. He discusses the importance of adaptability, strong community ties, and how the local alcohol industry could be supported going forward.

John Cherry - Locksley Distilling

John reflects on his upbringing in 1970s Sheffield, early exposure to alcohol, and changing drinking habits. Influenced by time in France and the USA, he contrasts UK culture with European drinking through his work in hospitality, tour operating, and wine retail in New York. A turning point came after meeting US distillers - St George, Oakland - leading him to set up Locksley Distilling in Sheffield in 2013 with his wife, Cynthia King, and following a 'craft' ethos. He discusses and advocates for clearer craft definitions and labelling, linking affordability to economic conditions, and highlights the cultural role of pubs. He sees future growth through better regulation and the impact of online sales.

Jules Gray - Hope Hideout and Sheffield Beer Week

Jules shares her journey through the beer industry, beginning in Durham, where she was often the only woman in male-dominated spaces. She talks about how after working in international beer corporations in Burton-on-Trent, she grew disillusioned with the lack of passion and wanting to focus on independent businesses. Returning to Sheffield, she wrote for Exposed Magazine, founded Hop Hideout - a women-owned, family-friendly beer shop and tasting room - and set up Sheffield Beer Week. From these experiences, she reflects on inclusive pub spaces, the North East’s beer culture, and caution over defining “craft” beer too rigidly.

Dani Hill - Seven Hills Whisky Festival and Sheffield Cocktail Festival

Dani discusses her career in the hospitality industry, managing independent bars, and organising events like the Sheffield Cocktail and Whisky Festivals. She reflects on her time working at venues such as Leadmill, and how that led to wanting to showcase Sheffield’s independent scene - while her student nightlife once revolved around drinking and going out, she notes a shift in younger generations towards health and shared experiences. Dani discusses the strengths of Sheffield's bar tending community, but highlights the lack of industry support and visibility. She talks about how collaboration, better funding access, and stronger promotion would benefit Sheffield’s unique bar and nightlife culture.

Brian Johnson - Bath Hotel

Brian discusses his early life in Sheffield, growing up around a strong local pub culture. He recalls how his Jamacan-born father drank at more traditional pubs, while Brian preferred the music scene in town, when he also visited the Bath Hotel as a non-drinker in his late teens. After starting in steelworks, he moved into bar work at the Concorde Sports Centre, City Hall, and Rising Sun, eventually running the Bath Hotel in 2000 and again from 2021. He reflects on major changes in drinking habits, pub ownership, and local demographics that have affected the Bath Hotel and his working lifestyle. Brian highlighted the decline of traditional pubs, the rise of microbreweries in Sheffield, and the importance of pubs as community spaces, dedicated to keeping the Bath a welcoming place, and valuing its role beyond just serving alcohol.

Jay Kerr - Walkely Beer Co

Jay recounts his journey through Sheffield’s hospitality and alternative music scenes, culminating in his current role as manager at the Walkley Beer Co. Moving from New Ollerton in 2002, he discusses his roles at Corporation nightclub behind the bar and music promotions, where he met a like-minded community and started putting on gigs at pubs across the city. After a break from hospitality, he reflects on how he rediscovered his passion for the industry through cask ale and the supportive, social atmosphere of pubs away from the city centre. Jay also critiques the use of "craft" as a label, and the value of independent venues and pubs in Sheffield for local people.

Pete Lonsdale - Crookes Social Club

Pete, a lifelong Sheffield resident, reflects on his roles at Crookes Social Club, joining in 1964 and eventually becoming vice-president. After working in engineering and roofing, he retired at 60. He discusses how his social life centred on pubs, beer, and football. Pete talks about cheap nights out in the 1960s, drinking with friends, and differences in beers between Sheffield and other areas. Though pubs have changed, Pete remains deeply connected to Crookes Club, and explains how he hopes to see it returned to community ownership.

Robbie Macdonald - Boozehound and Boston Arms

Robbie discusses his career in pubs and beer retail beginning with his first experiences working in the Student's Union bar in Leeds. After working in design in London, he reflects on how his growing interest in the craft beer scene led to selling specialist beers at festivals and markets with his friend Martin. This venture became Boozehound in 2018, opening a craft-focused bar in Sheffield’s Cutlery Works food hall. He discusses how this turned into taking on the Plough Inn during COVID lockdowns, before opening the Boston Arms micropub in Woodseats. Robbie talks about changes in Woodseats as a neighbourhood and how the pub has evolved as a community space.

Christie McIntosh - Abbeydale Brewery

Christie reflects on his journey from working in pubs as a student to becoming quality manager at the brewery. He discusses his family’s views of alcohol, distinguishing between “good” and “bad” drinks, and how homebrewing sparked his career. Christie explores the popularity of Abbeydale’s Moonshine, the importance of local identity in brewing, and the challenges of defining “craft” beer. He also discusses changing drinking habits, the evolving role of pubs, and gender dynamics in the industry. Reflecting on Abbeydale Brewery, he talks about employee ownership, economic pressures, and post-COVID recovery.

Jake Nickles - H3 Research Fellow and former landlord, Red Deer

Jake reflects on his move from New Zealand to the UK in 2007 and the contrasting drinking cultures. He describes his personal shift in tastes from cocktails to real ale, and how this affected his journey into pub management. He discusses the challenges of running a pub, particularly during COVID-19, how this led to his retirement from hospitality, and critiques current licensing and pricing policies. He also discusses pubs as community spaces, better definitions of “craft” alcohol, and changing drinking habits with age.

Dave Pickersgill - CAMRA Sheffield and District Branch

Dave Pickersgill moved to Sheffield in 1974 and became a key figure in documenting the city’s pub and beer heritage. Influenced early by his family’s drinking habits, he experienced Sheffield’s 1970s drinking culture as a student and later as a teacher. A long-time CAMRA member, he volunteered at beer festivals, helped document historic pubs, and contributed to local beer publications. He discusses the decline of big breweries in Sheffield and the rise of independent ones, valuing cask ale and what constiutes a 'good' pub. Now living in Stocksbridge, he talks about remaining active in Sheffield’s beer scene and preserving pub culture and history.

Jim Rangeley - Abbeydale Brewery

Jim, from Sheffield, studied music technology in Leeds, later working as a school performing arts technician before turning to brewing. Alongside his wife Laura, he began blogging about beer and homebrewing, sparking a deeper passion. He gained practical experience at Blue Monkey Brewery, then joined Abbeydale Brewery, where he helped develop experimental beers including keg ranges and the Funk Dungeon series. Rejecting the term “craft beer,” Jim focuses on historical styles and local ingredients. He discusses Sheffield’s evolving beer scene, Abbeydale’s move to employee ownership, COVID’s impact, and his advocacy for worker rights and industry inclusivity.

Joe Rugg - Pints of Sheffield and Abbeydale Beer Festival

Joe reflects on his international upbringing that shaped his view of alcohol. He talks about how being bored during COVID lockdowns led him to find out more about craft beer, inspiring him to create ‘Pints of Sheffield’ as a way to explore and promote the city's unique beer culture. He talks about how this side project supported local pubs and bottle shops as restrictions lifted. Though he works full-time in marketing, Joe is deeply involved in Sheffield’s craft beer scene, organising events and acting as a consultant for brewers.

Debbie Shaw - Trippets Lounge Bar

Debbie talks about growing up in a pub environment in Derbyshire, noting the generational nature of the trade. She discusses gendered drinking norms, early experiences with alcohol, and her aprehension with alcohol marketed to younger audiences. She values community ties, especially during COVID, and highlights changes in the industry, including shifts in gin, cocktails, and the meaning of "craft." She reflects on the role of food and music in venues, and how she has navigated sexism in the industry. She also refects of Sheffield’s village-like nature and close-knit trade community in the city.

Louise Singleton -Kelham Island Tavern and Blue Bee Brewery

Louise discusses the changing role of pubs in British life, noting how pubs and community bonds changed after the 1980s miners’ strikes and how public health campaigns further shifted perceptions of pubs as unsafe or outdated. Louise reflects on how her and her partner, Josh, took over the Kelham Island Tavern and later Blue Bee Brewery, leaving behind her career in finance. She speaks about raising her children in the pub environment and the challenges of running a business amid rising costs, gentrification, and less council support. Despite setbacks in the industry, she remains optimistic about pubs as essential, inclusive community spaces.

Joe Spriggs - Alder Bar

From his early years going into pubs and clubs in Hillsborough, Joe reflects on his journey into hospitality and running Alder Bar in Kelham Island. He talks about being involved in the Sheffield Brewery Co. before later talking it on and reopening the premises as Alder Bar after the brewery's closure during COVID. He also discusses being involved in managing Hillsborough Social Club and how it is a different environment - both socially and in terms of drinks - to Kelham Island. Joe also talks about setting up a unified hospitality group in Kelham Island, how other UK cities are consolidating their 'craft' and independent brewing scenes, and what makes Sheffield unique.

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