Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop, the local newsletter that's the reason your tea goes cold every Sunday morning 😂

The summer holidays are now in full swing, which means keeping the kids entertained has officially become a full-time job, but I’ve got you.

This week's highlights include three huge days of live entertainment at Singleton Park, the Festival of Archaeology at the National Waterfront Museum, markets, comedy, family activities, and more than 50 other events happening across Swansea.

Whatever you're up to, have a great week and I'll catch you on Wednesday!

Andrew.

P.S. Over 11,000 Swansea locals read the Scoop! Know someone who’d enjoy it? Forward this email to them and ask them to subscribe for free.

The ruins of Swansea Castle were once the scene of one of the strangest events in Welsh history: a man hanged twice within sight of its walls, declared dead by nine separate witnesses - and walking around town again within weeks.

To understand how that story ended up being investigated by the Pope himself, you have to go back more than 700 years, to a rebellion, a botched execution, and a lord's wife on her knees praying over a corpse.

This week, we share the story of William Cragh - the man who was hanged twice, and lived.

Read The Swansea Man Who Cheated Death.

Work continues on the revamped Castle Gardens, with Swansea Council sharing a new progress pic.

⚡Two Swansea electricians have invented and patented a safer way to protect buildings from lightning strikes - in a shed in Morriston.

💙 A 76-year-old Swansea Bay healthcare worker is still going strong after 50 years in the NHS - and has no plans to stop.

🎨 A new mural inspired by Dylan Thomas’ poetry has been unveiled in Swansea city centre as part of the Muriau Mawr trail.

🎓 Three men who started a student volunteering charity in Swansea more than 60 years ago have been honoured with honorary master's degrees from Swansea University.

🅿️ Swansea Council has taken over running the former NCP car parks at Orchard Street and The Kingsway.

🏗️ Plans have been submitted to transform Gorseinon's former 3M factory site into a neighbourhood of up to 400 homes.

🎓 A former asylum seeker has graduated from Swansea University with a master's in Welsh, having arrived in Wales without knowing the country had its own language.

🚨 Life-saving bleed control kits have been installed along Swansea's seafront and beaches this summer.

🏗️ A Swansea woman is on a mission to save the original signage from St David's Car Park before it's demolished.

🌡️ Swansea Council is exploring a £100 million plan to pipe low-carbon heat from a wastewater treatment works to buildings in Swansea's Maritime Quarter.

🎓 Kev Johns MBE has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Swansea University, recognising a lifetime of service to the city.

🔧 Swansea Grand Theatre is investing in seating and cooling upgrades this summer as part of a strong year for the venue

Even when I’m away from Swansea, I’ve got Scoop on the brain - so when I saw this little family of swans on a midweek break, I had to grab a quick clip… but what happened next, I definitely didn’t expect. Wait for it…

📱 Join over 85,000 people and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

This 3-bedroom semi-detached house in Birchgrove features an attic conversion with an ensuite, two reception rooms, and has quick links to the M4. £270,000 via Blackbear Property.

🍽️ The Beefeater at SA1 in Swansea is set to shut its doors on September 10th as owner Whitbread pulls the plug on its entire Beefeater estate.

💔 The British Heart Foundation shop on Oxford Street in Swansea is closing as part of a major national restructure.

👴 Ageing Well Activities for 50+: Enjoy activities across Swansea, including movie and soup specials, coffee mornings, bowling and social walks.
Various times | Free

🎨 Pottery Painting with Craftsea: Create personalised ceramics at Albert Hall including mugs, vases and ornaments.
6 PM - 8 PM | £22

🎨 Composition: Tips & Tricks for Illustrators: Swansea Illustrators Club workshop at Elysium Gallery on the Harmonic Armature grid system, suitable for all skill levels.
7 PM - 9 PM

🍵 Over 50s Afternoon Tea with Entertainment: A delightful tea for over 50s at Waunarlwydd Community Centre, hosted by Swansea Council's COAST grant.
1 PM | £2.17

🎤 Talisman Poetry & Spoken Word Open Mic: Swansea's longest-running open mic night at Down By Here on the last Thursday of each month.
7.30 PM | Free

🎶 The Ibiza Orchestra Experience: Concert at Singleton Park featuring a 26-piece orchestra, vocalists, DJ, and performances of iconic dance music tracks from Ibiza.
6 PM - 11 PM | From £29.45

🏄‍♀️ Paddle Board for Age 60+: Paddle boarding at Lliw Reservoir for ages 60 and above with Swansea Sport and Health.
10 AM | £3.50

🎺 IBBSS 2026 Gala Concert: Grand finale of the International Brass Band Summer School 2026 at Swansea University Bay Campus with guest soloists.
7 PM | Free (£5 suggested donation)

🎉 Ladies Night: Ladies Night at The Lodge in Gorseinon with Slippers & Dreamboys, Chaos Bingo, and more.
Doors open at 6.30 PM | £12

🍺 Sausage and Cider Festival: Featuring live music from Scouting for Girls, tribute acts, silent disco, axe throwing, ciders, sausages, and family-friendly entertainment.
12 PM - 10 PM | From £34.95

🏺 Festival of Archaeology Summer Roadshow: Meet local detectorists, engage in finds identification sessions, make time capsules, enjoy live music, and explore the new Ann Francis treasure hoard display at the National Waterfront Museum.
11 AM - 4 PM | Free

🏉 Beach Rugby Wales: Annual touch rugby festival in its 20th year, featuring 60 teams in a competitive 6-a-side format on Swansea Bay Beach.

🎻 National Youth Orchestra of Wales: 80th Anniversary concert conducted by Andrew Gourlay at Brangwyn Hall.
3 PM | £20

⏳ Deep Time Walk - Swansea Beach: Explore Earth's 4.6 billion-year history on a guided walk from The Observatory, hosted by The Environment Centre.
10 AM - 1 PM | Free

🎤 Saturday Night Comedy: Weekly comedy show at the Problematic Pub Comedy Club with Hatty Preston, Sam Michael, Drew Taylor, and host Sandro Ford.
7.30 PM | £17.00

🏙️ Pontarddulais Market: Local food producers and makers unite offering delicious food, sweet treats, crafts, and homewares at Heol St Teilo Street.
10 AM - 2 PM

🎉 Bingo Lingo: Bingo rave at Patti Pavilion featuring stage battles, fast-paced bingo, weird prizes, and dance-offs.
6.30 PM | From £14

👗 For The Love of Vintage: Browse vintage clothing, shoes, accessories, and more at Barnardo's Superstore in Parc Tawe.
9.30 AM

🎥 The Road of Excess: Documentary screening at the Taliesin following Welsh skate legend Mathew Pritchard's journey of redemption through extreme sports, followed by a Q&A.
7.30 PM | £14

🦜 Wildlife of the Estuary: Exploring Loughor’s Coastal Habitat: Guided walk through Loughor Foreshore Park to explore the rich coastal wildlife, from plants and insects to saltmarshes.
10 AM & 1 PM | Free

🎪 Vicky Park Market: Sunday market at Victoria Park with street food, coffee, flowers, jewellery, dog treats, and tons more.
10 AM - 2 PM | Free

💻 Slow laptop or broken computer? Swan CD in Tycoch has been fixing Swansea's tech since 1997 – covering everything from PC, Mac and laptop repairs to upgrades, phone fixes, and the supply and setup of new machines for homes and businesses. Pop into 38-40 Carnglas Road, call 01792 521158, or visit swancd.co.uk.

Are you a local small business looking for customers? A classified ad in Swansea Scoop puts you in front of 11,000+ Swansea locals for just £50. Pick your date, write your ad, pay online, and you’re done.

*The above is sponsored content

Monday July 27th
Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Noah’s Yard | Groucho Club Jazz Night | 8.30 PM
Down By Here | Neutrals + The Boneless Ones + On A Broken Edge | 7 PM

Wednesday July 29th
Down By Here | Open Mic | 7 PM

Thursday July 30th
Pontardawe Arts Centre | Stringfellows | 7.30 PM
The Bunkhouse | Josh Jones | 6 PM

Friday July 31st
Down By Here | Sump + Wild Eyed, Wicked & Oblivious + Dark And Twisties | 7 PM
Hangar 18 | Son of Man | 7.30 PM

Saturday August 1st
Down By Here | ABABCB Magazine Launch w/ Egg Spectrum + Hari Powell + James T Morgan + Paul Edwards + Kian Azari + TOURISM + Małgola, No | 7 PM
Sin City | Disco Panter: For “Shaggy” | 7 PM
The Black Boy | Amy Winehouse Tribute | 8.30 PM

Sunday August 2nd
The Bunkhouse | Heavy on the Ride | 6 PM

Thanks for reading the Swansea Scoop. If you enjoyed it, share it with a friend who would find it useful.

Catch you on Wednesday!

Andrew.

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