A quirky new independent board game cafe has gone down a storm with board game and beer enthusiasts alike since it launched in Swansea last week. Common Meeple in Brynmill boasts hundreds of different board games suitable for everyone from complete beginners to regular players - and a visit is the perfect way to try games you may not have otherwise heard about or come across.
The new venue, which also serves light bites, snacks, sharers and an extensive drinks menu, fills an previously empty unit on St Helen's Road formerly occupied by a bookmakers pre-pandemic, and adds to the growing community of independent businesses in the area.
It's the city's second board game cafe and has opened just a few months after Social Dice on Wind Street - you can recap our coverage of that business here - after almost two years of planning and preparation. For more stories about new businesses opening in Swansea, go here.
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The business is the brain-child of friends Jack Smith and Mike Lear who met six years ago while serving in the same troop in the army. Jack, who is originally from Somerset, moved to Wales to be with his wife - and Mike and his wife followed shortly as plans for the pair's new business continued to develop.
The couples now proudly call Wales their home and Jack and Mike are excited to build up their new business. "We met six years ago when we served in the same troop, our friendship grew over our love of beer and board games," Jack explained. "We started having board game nights with our partners, alternating from my home and Mike's home and we eventually started talking about owning our own board game cafe."
By 2021, the pair had decided Swansea would be the perfect place for their business, as it didn't yet have a board game cafe and wasn't far from Jack's new home in Neath. Later that year, Mike and his then-pregnant wife, Karina, made the move from their home in Oxfordshire to Swansea so that Mike and Jack could finally put their ideas into action. Since then, Mike and Karina have welcomed adorable baby Lucas.
Common Meeple takes its name from the playing pieces used in board games (meeple) and is a play on words of 'Common People,' Jack and Mike said. The pair want their venue to be a welcoming place and to have a community atmosphere; somewhere people can come to find like-minded board game enthusiasts, or to socialise and play games with friends or family.
"When people come in, we have a discussion with them about what kind of games they like and we make two or three suggestions of games we think they'd enjoy, if they want them," Mike said. "The team can teach people how to play the games too.
"Common Meeple is a place to play games you may not have tried - or play games that are rare or out of print. We had a group in the other day who played Star Wars Rebellion, that game is £80 alone - too expensive for them to buy to just play once, but they were able to play it here," he added.
"We've got a mixture of games of different lengths, difficulties and themes. We've got games that only need two players, games that are better for big groups, child-friendly games, social games, deduction games, word games, quick-play games - hundreds of games."
Over the coming weeks, Mike and Jack are set to add further games into their inventory - and welcome suggestions from customers. They estimate that by the end of 2022, they'll have around 500 games in the board game cafe!
"We've got the best building here, it's a good size and a good location and we can potentially expand upstairs or downstairs. In the future we're looking to have D&D [Dungeons and Dragons] sessions and themed events and we're always open to suggestions of games people want," added Jack.
Turning the former bookmakers' into a board game cafe took a little bit longer than expected but the pair are pleased with their choice of site - and its decor and funky mural. They're also pleased to have an alcohol license so they can serve their beloved beer! On the food menu at the Board Game Cafe you'll finds wraps, salad bowls, light bites, snacks and sharers and there's a wide range of drinks on offer too including local beers, non-alcoholic beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and hot drinks.
Mike and Jack would like to thank their family and friends for all their support, especially their wives and Mike's father-in-law for the "constant support" they've offered. They're proud to say all staff are paid at least the Living Wage.
Common Meeple Board Game Cafe is open six days a week (every day except Tuesdays). On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays it's open from 12pm to 11pm and on Fridays and Saturdays it's open from 12pm to 11.30pm.
It's just £3 per person for a two-hour session and £1 per additional hour after that. Food and drink come at an additional cost.
You can find Common Meeple at 77 St Helen's Road, Bryn Mill, Swansea SA1 4BG, you can follow the business on Facebook here.
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