Last Saturday, Westbrook Walk in Alton became the gathering point for a passionate community of wargamers, as The Iron Sprue officially opened its doors.
The shop is a dedicated haven for fans of tabletop games like Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons, as well as those who enjoy painting miniature figures. Owner Tim Hull-Daley — a hobbyist since the early 1990s — had a clear vision from the start.
"The wargaming community is not always fully understood, so I want The Iron Sprue to become a space for them to gather, enjoy what they do and find a home."
The store is stocked with an impressive range of fantasy, historical and sci-fi miniatures, collectible card games, and rulebooks covering Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, Bolt Action, Frostgrave, Halo Flashpoint, Moonstone and more. Inside you'll find painting tables, gaming tables, a commission painting studio, demo games, paints, brushes, basing materials and supplements — everything a hobbyist could need under one roof.
Opening day exceeded all expectations.
"It went extremely well, swimmingly in fact. There was a really good turnout, with a queue at the door — so that was very encouraging."
And the events calendar is already packed. The Iron Sprue hosts Dungeons & Dragons nights, demo games, painting sessions, after-school clubs, weekend sessions and tournaments.
New to the hobby and wondering how it all works? Tim puts it simply: "Usually it's two armies fighting each other over land and resources. Mainly it's done by throwing an obscene amount of dice — but there are also cards involved." There's even Blood Bowl, described as "fantasy American football — gnomes and elves versus vampires. It's a lot of fun!"
As for the name? A sprue is the frame on which miniatures are cast — the leftover frame once the figures are removed. But as Tim explains, it's also something more: "It sounds like a Dungeons & Dragons tavern, like a pub — which is where every D&D campaign seems to start!"
Welcome to The Iron Sprue. Pull up a chair, roll some dice, and make yourself at home.