The owner of a beloved city centre bar in Swansea, and a former Royal Marine has decided to move on from his role after he realised the bar needed ‘fresh energy’. Lee West, who served 17 years in the Royal Marines and his dog Copper had welcomed guests into the pub for over five years.
But Lee has now handed over the keys to the Castle Street bar to the Llansamlet-based Mumbles Brewery and said he’s ‘truly excited to see it flourish’. In a post on the Copr bar’s Facebook page, Lee said “From having £900 in the bank when lockdown hit with thousands in liabilities owed, I really can’t describe the heartache and sacrifice it took over a few years to still exist.
“I had zero experience in working anywhere apart from the Royal Marines for 17 years and no business knowledge. Coupled with losing Paul and feeling completely isolated and lost. My stubbornness and your support made it happen though… and Copper… charm offensive of course!!” The ‘Paul’ he mentions in his post is Paul O’Dwyer who was killed in a paddleboarding tragedy in Haverfordwest in 2021.
Lee has donned, multiple hats over the years, here, he is with a book that he penned on his experiences in the Marines.
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Lee explained that after Covid, he was focused on making the bar a ‘successful and appealing business’, and having secured the foundation for this, he was now ready to move on. Lee said: “After Covid survival mode I’ve been progressing COPR to the position of a successful, appealing business and after achieving the foundations of this I’ve had to do some soul searching over how it best moves to the next level. My impartial reflection is that it needs fresh energy and to be part of a bigger family so that I’m not having my hands down toilets in the morning and doing the accounts and marketing in the afternoon whilst driving to get stock!!”
Apart from his usual responsibilities as the owner, the former owner had gained a reputation of giving back to the community. In December 2022, Lee went above and beyond for a homeless man known only as Dave when he housed him at his empty studio apartment while he got back on his feet. Prior to that, in 2019, the bar invited people to come in and buy a drink and/or food for a homeless person and a member of staff would then find someone in need to receive it.
Lee also regularly did a lot of work to support the armed forces. A veteran himself, Lee decided to offer free meals and drinks for veterans for Remembrance Sunday in November, 2022. For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here
Lee felt the new owners, the local Mumbles Brewery, fitted perfectly into his vision for the bar to move to the next level, saying: “I’m honest and level headed enough to see that I’ve done my best and I need to let someone else smash it through to the next level! Mumbles Brewery are the perfect choice for this; local, independent, full of ambition and growth with amazing products to suit COPR’s brilliant customers. I’m truly excited to see it flourish. COPR is going to be bouncing this year!”
Lee West made his decision to sell his pub after some ‘soul searching’
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
However, Lee assured the loyal customers of Copr bar that they still hadn’t seen the last of him and his dog, Copper. He said on Facebook: “COPR customers haven’t got rid of me fully just yet as I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be joining the Mumbles family in a low key capacity, I mostly foresee promoting Mumbles globally by Wolfing the World. I will also be on hand for the transition as nobody else has seen everything go wrong and right at COPR a million times!! I just won’t be stood serving you your latte or stout.”
“I hope you’ll support COPR Bar Mumbles Brewery as much as you did before and be part of what will be the best independent brewery bar in Wales. I turned down some approaches by some huge Welsh independent breweries, because I believe Mumbles has the right ethos and potential to smash it!!”
Since the announcement, Lee has been inundated with messages of support from across the city. One person commented under the post: “Always welcomed us everytime we came. Legend of a man and a true gent we will always going forward support and pop in when on the road Onward and upward mate”
Another wrote: “What an achievement in bringing this to Swansea. Love the beer and the look and feel of the places in Swansea. Good luck with whatever and wherever your path in life takes you next.”