TWO Swansea businessmen are bucking the trend of the ever-contracting pub and bar sector by expanding in the city.

Bruno Nunes and his business partner Mike Griffiths have run the Peppermint bar in Wind Street for just over two years and in 2011 took their successful model to Cardiff and opened a second Peppermint bar in Mill Lane in the heart of the capital.

Last year the duo took the reins at the Wig pub in St Helen's Road in Swansea and they are now working on revamping the former So Bar in Wind Street.

The business partners have a long history of working together including a stint at the Revolution bar in Wind Street.

Mr Nunes said: "We are proud to be local and independent and focused on making sure we deliver what is best for Swansea.

"Not being a chain puts us in an advantageous position as it allows us to focus on what works best for Swansea."

The 31-year-old has worked in a variety of venues across the world, from Revolution in Wind Street where he was general manager to a 4,500-capacity nightclub in Santa Cruz, Portugal.

He said: "The great thing is we believe in our product and we don't have a head office to answer to.

"Our business allows us to trade with a modest margin as we keep our costs quite tight.

"Mike and I take an active management role."

The Peppermint boss and his business partner have developed a working relationship with Enterprise Inns, which owns the Wig pub, the So Bar and Peppermint in Cardiff.

Mr Griffiths said: "Enterprise is our landlords at The Wig and we lease the business from them.

"Enterprise has been directed by the Government to start supporting licensees.

"In this business when things start to down turn it is easy to get caught up in the trap of trying to cut back in everything like investment.

"It is all about staying mentally strong and being passionate about your business.

"We opened Peppermint in Cardiff in August last year on Mill Lane.

"We do have a lot of visitors there from Swansea.

"We have a good working relationship with Enterprise in Cardiff and we have a good rapport with the regional manager."

The duo are now hoping to have the former So Bar in Wind Street open in the next two to three months having taken possession of the building last year.

Mr Griffiths added: "They put it up for a commercial lease and the day it went live on the website happened to be the day I checked it out and within hours we had put an offer in."