Since 1935
Our Story
A refined café by day. A boutique bar by night.
A New Destination for Glynneath
Leicester House is a café and bar at 14 High Street, Glynneath, in the heart of Neath Port Talbot — now open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30am to 7:30pm (closed Mondays). Set inside a beautifully restored 1935 heritage building, it's a space where the community comes together — from the first coffee of the morning to the last drink of the evening.
Whether you're a local looking for a new favourite spot, a walker stopping in after a day in Waterfall Country, or a visitor exploring the Vale of Neath, Leicester House is somewhere to slow down, settle in, and enjoy something crafted with care.
Café by Day
From early morning, Leicester House serves as a speciality coffee shop and café. Expect carefully pulled coffees, fresh pastries baked locally, and a quiet space to read, work, or catch up with friends.
Through the afternoon, expect artisan teas and homemade cakes — and our kitchen is on its way, launching with breakfasts. We source as much as we can from producers across Neath Port Talbot and the wider South Wales Valleys — supporting the businesses and farms that make this area special.
For families, remote workers, book clubs, or anyone who just wants a really good cup of coffee on the Glynneath High Street — the morning at Leicester House is for you. See the full offering on our menu.
Bar by Night
As evening comes, Leicester House becomes a boutique bar. We bring something different to the Neath Valley — ales on tap, carefully chosen wines and Welsh gins, with a curated craft cocktail menu arriving soon, in a setting that feels more members' club than chain pub.
Think exposed brick, warm lighting, original features from the 1930s building, and a soundtrack that sets the mood without drowning out conversation. Whether you're celebrating with friends, enjoying a quiet drink after work, or meeting someone for a first date — the bar at Leicester House is designed to make the ordinary feel a little special. And when there's a big match on, three screens with Sky Sports mean you won't miss a minute.
We're proud to champion Welsh craft breweries and distilleries alongside international favourites. If it's made with passion, it belongs on our shelves.
A Building with History
Leicester House has been part of Glynneath since the 1930s. By 1935, the building at 14 High Street was home to Blodwen M. Jones, Boot & Shoe Dealer, whose large display windows showcased ladies' and girls' clothing alongside sturdy footwear for the town's mining families.
The name "Leicester House" was itself a statement of ambition — a nod to the English East Midlands city that was the heart of British hosiery and footwear manufacturing. The Jones family were woven into community life beyond the shop counter, with ties to the Glynneath Welfare Hall where miners gathered for cinema screenings, concerts, and social events.
Over the decades, the building became a Lloyds Bank branch — later Lloyds TSB, then TSB — serving as a financial backbone of the town for half a century. When its doors closed for the last time in February 2021, it joined a wave of bank closures across the South Wales Valleys, leaving Glynneath without a single branch on its High Street.
Now, we've brought it back. Leicester House has been lovingly restored to its original character — preserving the heritage features that make it special while creating a new café and bar for the Neath Valley. It's a return to what 14 High Street was always meant to be: a place where the community comes together.
The Story in the Walls
The restoration didn't stop at the frontage. Inside, the history of 14 High Street is told in the details: display cabinets lined with vintage boots and shoes in tribute to Blodwen M. Jones — "Blod" to her regulars — whose shop dressed Glynneath's mining families; the gilded "Bwts" glass above the bar; Clarks and Start-rite boxes from the stockroom years; a Singer sewing machine in the window where boots were once mended.
Every corner keeps a little of the shop this building used to be — so bring your coffee for a wander.
Made by Many Hands
The restoration was a community of makers — the mural artist who painted the shopfronts along the café wall, the woodworkers who raised the reclaimed timber, the lighting makers behind the stained glass and the filament glow. We filmed it as it happened.
For the Community
Leicester House isn't just another café or bar — it's about investing in Glynneath's High Street. Like so many towns across the South Wales Valleys, Glynneath has seen businesses come and go. We believe a restored heritage building with a new purpose can be a catalyst for the High Street — a reason to visit, a place to linger, and a space that belongs to the community.
We're planning to host local events, support community groups, and partner with nearby businesses and producers. Whether it's showcasing local art, hosting a quiz night, or simply being the place where people meet — Leicester House is for Glynneath first.
Now Open
The restoration is complete and the doors are open — Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30am to 7:30pm. Come and see what 14 High Street has become.