A retro-themed canteen and bar inspired by 1970s social clubs in northern cities and an on-trend community hub in Copenhagen has opened in Sheffield. Neepsend Social Club was launched this month on Kelham Island, a former industrial zone now regenerated as a food-and-drink hot spot. 

The venue features functional furniture, fittings and flooring with décor including photographs of historical social clubs; there is a games area for darts and table football, and a stage for live acts with a maroon curtain. A nostalgic menu runs from Hendo’s pickled eggs to chicken and chips in a basket and scampi, and there are freshly cooked sausage rolls on the bar every evening. The drinks offer has a more contemporary slant, with craft beers from new-wave breweries including Sheffield’s Abbeydale and Thornbridge in nearby Bakewell.

The people behind the project are twin brothers Tom and Ben Miller, who previously operated Gravy Train in Kelham Island’s Peddler Market, selling Canadian poutine – chips with cheese curds and gravy.  They came up with the Social Club idea after visiting Absalon in Copenhagen, a ‘Folkehuset’ or community house set up in a former Lutheran church by Lennart Lajboschitz, founder of the Flying Tiger international chain of shops.

Tom says: “We really think the concept can work. We hope people who visit will look around, have something to drink and a bite to eat and feel nostalgic for a different time that is part of British culture.

“We also want to incorporate what we learned in Copenhagen to make the place a community hub. Once we are fully up and running we plan to hold events and to support different charities every few months. There are some fantastic things happening here down at Kelham Island and we want to be a hub focal point for the community.”