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Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop, the newsletter that's like 20 degrees and sunshine on an autumn weekend 🍂

This week, Van Morriso’s in town, Swansea Grand's Arts Wing has two comedy nights, and there's a glut of fungi festivals and autumn walks. Plus, an Oktoberfest bingo rave, an acrobatics double-bill, a weekend of markets, and tons more.

Whatever you’re up to, have a good one and I’ll catch you on Wednesday!

Andrew.

P.S. 13,000 Swansea locals read the Scoop! Know someone who’d enjoy it? Forward this email to them and ask them to subscribe for free.

The Swansea stories worth knowing about this week, in 30 seconds.

💙 A Swansea family is raising £50,000 for a robotic walking device to help their son learn to walk.

🍽️ Swansea Council is looking for café and restaurant operators to run the new pavilions at Castle Square Gardens.

🚍 A new motorhome stopover where visitors can stay for up to four days has been approved at Fabian Way Park and Ride.

🚴 £500,000 is being spent to widen a 1.75km stretch of one of Swansea's most popular walking and cycling routes.

🎾 Plans have been submitted to turn the former tennis courts in Mumbles into three purpose-built padel courts.

🚆 New direct train services between Swansea and Bristol are on track to launch this December.

🏢 A Swansea student accommodation block on St Helen’s Road is being turned into housing for homeless people.

The autumn equinox fell on September 23rd, when daytime and nighttime are roughly the same length. As the nights begin to draw in, I grabbed a few shots of the evening scenes on Swansea Bay.

📱 Join over 95,000 people and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

This four-bedroom property in Reynoldston (built in 2015) has an en suite, countryside views, and ample driveway parking. £649,995 via The Greenroom.

Ula in Mumbles is launching an Adult Happy Meal - £10 for a burger, fries and a cocktail or pint - every Wednesday and Friday from 4 PM - 6 PM.

The Swigg in Swansea Marina has launched a new menu, including burgers, tacos, and chicken.

Truffle has launched three new autumn menus - Dine Before Dark, an Evening Menu, and Saturday Lunch.

🍰 The team behind Slice in Sketty is opening a new daytime eatery just around the corner.

🍷 Swansea’s new Cosy Club has confirmed it will open its doors in time for Beaujolais Day.

☕ Crafty Smuggler Coffee is opening a new location in Llansamlet tomorrow.

🥪 American sandwich chain Which Wich has been given the go-ahead to open in Swansea.

🧳 Swansea Jobs Fair: Meet employers and apply for hundreds of UK jobs in-person at the Swansea.com Stadium on Friday, October 9th from 10 AM - 1 PM.

Grow Cymru is looking for donations of coats or jackets for children, young people and adults. You can drop them off at Unit 12, St David’s Shopping Centre.

Ospreys Vacancies: Ospreys Rugby are recruiting casual staff to fill a number of roles as they prepare to launch the new season at St Helen's.

Researchers at Swansea University are looking for participants to help them discover how yoga and walking change brain activity and mental health.

The best events in Swansea this week, at a glance:

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

🤩 WEIGHT(LESS): Mimbre combine acrobatics, movement and humour in an uplifting show about hope and resilience at Harbwr, Singleton Campus (PWLS Festival). Runs 5th & 6th October.
11.45 AM & 1.45 PM | Free

🤩 Drop Me If You Dare: Joli Vyann explore strength, vulnerability and connection through dance and acrobatics at Harbwr, Singleton Campus (PWLS Festival). Runs 5th & 6th October.
12.30 PM & 2.30 PM | Free

🔬 Science Corner: 10 Year Celebration: Oriel Science marks its 10th anniversary with a free drop-in Science Corner, open daily throughout October.
10 AM - 4 PM | Free

📖 Three Poets in the Parlour: Book Launch: Poets Peter Thabit Jones, Christopher Norris and Mark Lewis launch three new collections in the front parlour of the Dylan Thomas Birthplace.
6.30 PM for 7 PM | £10

🛍️ Student Shopping Night 2026: Quadrant Shopping Centre's Student Shopping Night returns, billed as "bigger and better."
6 PM - 9 PM

🎃 Pumpkin Pottery Painting Workshops: Craftsea bring a Halloween-themed pottery painting night to the Albert Hall.
6 PM - 8 PM | £27 per pumpkin

🏛️ BCW Heritage Centre & Gardens Visit: The Bible College of Wales in Sketty opens its Heritage Centre and gardens, telling the story of founder Rees Howells.
1 PM | Free

🤩 Big Book Giveaway: Hundreds of free books to take home at the Digital Technium, Singleton Campus (PWLS Festival). Runs 6th & 7th October.
From 10 AM | Free

🎶 Come to Sing!: Delyth Jenkins leads a fortnightly sing-song at the National Waterfront Museum, picking up some simple Welsh along the way.
11 AM - 12 PM | Free

📷 Mark Griffiths: An Incremental Demise: New photography exhibition on land use opens at The Welfare with a screening of Hollow Mountain, a short film about quarry blasting in South Wales.
Various times | Free, ticket required

🎬 The Blue Trail: Film Club: Gabriel Mascaro's Brazilian drama about a 77-year-old woman fleeing forced relocation screens at Pontardawe Arts Centre's Film Club.
2 PM & 7 PM

📷 Beginners Autumn Photography Walk: Photographer Vaisey Bramley leads a 1-mile walk through Penllergare Valley Woods, teaching composition and manual settings among the autumn colour and fungi.
1.30 PM - 3.30 PM | £10

🌳 Conservation Task Day: Join Swansea Council for seasonal habitat maintenance at Bishop's Wood Local Nature Reserve, Caswell.
10 AM - 2 PM | Free

💐 Swansea Floral's Flower Arranging Demonstration: Adrian Cooke arranges flowers live to the title "Shades of Autumn" at Christwell United Reformed Church.
2 PM - 4.30 PM | £8 (pay at door)

📖 Uplands Poetry Night: with Owen Sheers: Owen Sheers headlines Uplands Poetry Night at Bar Saint James, with a Q&A plus guest poets.
6.30 PM - 9 PM | Free - £8

♿ 'Disability: A History of Resistance': Award-winning historian David Turner discusses his book on 500 years of disabled lives in Britain, at the South Wales Miners' Library.
5 PM - 6 PM | Free

🏖️ Bay Campus Beach Clean: Swansea University's monthly litter-pick along Crymlyn Burrows nature reserve, open to all.
1 PM | Free

📚 Spooky Fiction: Carly Reagon in Conversation with Luke Blake: Carly Reagon talks to Luke Blake at Waterstones Swansea about her new chiller, The Midnight Lodge.
6 PM | £3 - £25

🎬 Moonlight: Barry Jenkins' Oscar-winning coming-of-age drama screens at Volcano Theatre.
7 PM | £3

🎃 Ceramics Workshop: Spooky Pumpkins Pottery: A Halloween pumpkin pottery workshop at Founders & Co on Wind Street.
6.30 PM - 9 PM | £29.90

🎨 Wednesday Adults' Workshop: A Glynn Vivian workshop for older people, responding to the artists in the current exhibitions, or bring your own work.
1 PM - 3 PM | £3 per workshop

🎨 Urban Arts 50+ Creative Focus Art Class: A relaxed visual arts session for over-50s at Urban HQ, with a creative warm-up, guided activity and all materials provided.
1.30 PM - 3.30 PM | Free

🎟️ Back Stage Tour: A free 30-minute peek behind the scenes at Taliesin Arts Centre. Weekly until 26th October.
Various times | Free

🖼️ Art Collection Tour: A free hour-long walk around Singleton Campus to see Swansea University's art collection, meeting at Fulton House. Weekly until 29th October.
Various times | Free

🎭 The Revlon Girl: Neil Anthony Docking's Olivier-nominated play about the Aberfan mothers who met every Tuesday above the Aberfan Hotel comes to Pontardawe Arts Centre. Runs Wed 7th to Thu 8th October.
7.30 PM | £25

🌱 Tyfu Tawe: Gardening Sessions: Lunchtime gardening at Swansea University's Bay Campus raised beds, open to students, staff and the community.
1 PM | Free

🎶 Dying & Rising: Celyn of Gwent: Queer Welsh sonic artist Celyn of Gwent blends electronica, folk ballads, visuals and poetry in a solo response to the climate crisis at Volcano Theatre.
7.30 PM | £8 - £20

🎭 New Dawn Fades: Brian Gorman's play with music about Joy Division, New Order and 1970s Manchester comes to Taliesin Arts Centre, with Josh Lonsdale returning as Ian Curtis.
7.30 PM | £26 (Under 26s/Students £24.50)

🌕 An Orchestral Tribute to Tim Burton & Dark Fantasy by Moonlight: An 18-piece chamber orchestra plays music from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice beneath a giant glowing moon at Brangwyn Hall.
7.30 PM | £36 - £66

😂 Cal Halbert: 100 Impressions In One Hour: BGT finalist and top UK impressionist Cal Halbert brings his impression-packed show to Swansea Grand's Arts Wing.
7.30 PM | £14

🌱 Ministry of Absurdism: Plants: Down By Here's absurdist comedy night returns with a loosely plants-themed line-up, led by Captain Ali Hancock.
7 PM

🚶 Rhossili Wellbeing Walks: A relaxed hour-long National Trust stroll around Rhossili, more about chatting and scenery than distance or pace.
11 AM - 12 PM | Free (parking charges apply)

🦌 Flossy & Boo: Carw: Families follow Carw the deer through the Welsh mountains in this cosy show at The Welfare, with a free workshop after.
10.30 AM | Pay What You Can: £5 - £15 (£10 suggested)

🪟 The Shape of Things to Come: The Swansea Scores by Rachel Helena Walsh: Rachel Helena Walsh performs new Fluxus "scores", DIY instruction pieces made for Volcano's shop-window stage. Runs 8th - 10th October.
Various times | Free - £8

📖 Francis Gooding with Andrew Green: The Script Of The Stones: Francis Gooding launches his book about a single Gower clifftop walk, in conversation with Andrew Green at Mumbles Tabernacle.
6.30 PM | £10

😂 Friday Night Comedy: Simon Emanuel, Simon Wozniak, Tommy Smith and Tom Glover headline this week's line-up at Problematic Pub Comedy Club.
Doors 6 PM, show 7.30 PM | £18

💃 The Legends in Vegas: After Hours: Strictly stars Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite bring a Las Vegas-themed dance show to Swansea Building Society Arena.
7.30 PM | From £35.20 (+£3.95 booking fee)

🟦 Welcome Group: Mosaic Workshop: Learn mosaic basics at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, then help make collaborative pieces for public display.
1 PM - 3 PM | £5 per workshop

🎤 Quiz Night: A community quiz for the Swansea Veterans Hub at Landore Social Club. Email to book a team.
7 PM | £2

📚 Meet the Author: Alice Hughes: Alice Hughes signs her debut, Every Other Hour, about travelling Wales by bus, train and on foot, at Cover to Cover.
2 PM | Free

😂 Saturday Night Comedy: Simon Emanuel, Simon Wozniak, Dan Glynn and Harry Stachini headline this week's line-up at Problematic Pub Comedy Club.
Doors 6 PM, show 7.30 PM | £18.45

📜 History Day / Diwrnod Hanes: A day of local history from the Historical Association and the Royal Institution of South Wales, with a morning at Swansea Museum and an afternoon at the National Waterfront Museum.
10 AM - 3.30 PM | Free

🍄 Fungi Festival: Penllergare Valley Woods marks UK Fungus Day with a fungi talk, crafts, displays and a photography exhibition, plus mushroom soup in the café.
11 AM - 3 PM | Free

🏺 Saturday Family Art Club: Something Old/Something New Ceramics Workshop: Families mix old and new to make clay sculptures at the Glynn Vivian, inspired by this year's Wakelin Award winner.
10.30 AM - 12.30 PM | £3 per child + 1 adult (£2 per extra adult)

😂 Jamie Hutchinson: Can My Mate Come, He's Sound: The podcasting cult hero and "Wetherspoons' own Hunter S. Thompson" delivers an hour of unfiltered stories at Swansea Grand's Arts Wing.
7.30 PM | £19.50

🧺 Mumbles Market: Artisan cheeses, spices and bakes alongside handmade jewellery, ceramics and skincare in The Dairy Car Park.
9 AM - 1 PM | Free

🏎️ Shape of Speed Workshop: At Oriel Science, compete to build the most aerodynamic model car and find out which forces affect how it travels.
11 AM - 12 PM & 2 PM - 3 PM | Free

🎉 Bingo Lingo: Oktoberfest Special: Oktoberfest-themed rave bingo at Patti Pavilion, with dance anthems between rounds.
6.30 PM - 11 PM | From £11.25

🎻 Yscolan: Ceri Rhys Matthews' Welsh Folk Tune School: Bring an instrument and learn traditional Swansea tunes with Ceri Rhys Matthews at Down By Here's fortnightly folk school. All abilities welcome.
12 PM - 2 PM | £15

💃 X-Q Dance Company Annual Showcase: Young dancers from X-Qlusive Dance show off a year of choreography at Taliesin Arts Centre. Runs 10th & 11th October.
6 PM | £15

🍄 Clyne Gardens Fungi Festival 2026: Fungi displays and talks in Clyne Gardens' Mushroom Marquee, plus four guided walks with local experts.
10 AM - 4 PM | Free (displays/talks) or £5 (guided walks)

🛍️ Marina Market: The monthly market in Dylan Thomas Square, with everything from Indian street food and Welsh cheese to candles and crochet.
10 AM - 3 PM | Free

🦞 Harry Stachini: Lobster: Fresh off a Best Show-nominated Fringe run, Harry Stachini brings his sharp, fast-paced storytelling to Problematic Pub on his biggest tour yet.
7 PM | £14 (+35p service fee)

🚶 Rhossili Nature Walks: A 3-hour National Trust guided walk over Rhossili Down, covering everything from history to local wildlife.
11 AM - 2 PM | £3 (+ parking charges)

🕉️ Dunvant Mind Body Spirit Event: Taster therapies from reflexology to sound healing, plus crystals, pottery and tarot readings at Dunvant Social Centre.
11 AM - 4 PM

We're looking for a handful of Swansea businesses to sponsor some of the Scoop's regular sections this autumn and into 2027.

Nearly 13,000 locals choose to get the Scoop in their inbox every week, and nearly half of them open every edition, so your business gets real eyeballs on it - not just another ad flicked past in a magazine or disappearing down a social feed.

We keep each sponsorship exclusive, so you won’t be sharing the section with a direct competitor and we can provide full data on opens and clicks, so you can tell if the campaign is delivering.

It's ideal for businesses that want to become the name people think of first, whether that's the place they book for dinner, the agent they call when they're selling, or the venue they check for a night out.

And just as importantly, you'd be helping support an independent Swansea publication that stays free for everyone to read 😊

We've got opportunities for What's On, Food & Drink, Local Business and Property, with optional social promotion to nearly 100,000 followers too.

Interested? Reply to this email and let's chat.

Andrew.

Monday, October 5th
Uplands Tavern | Open Mic Night | 9 PM

Tuesday, October 6th
Bay View | Open Mic Night
Down By Here | Cedar Roots + Pan and the Wild | 7 PM

Wednesday, October 7th
Grand Theatre (Arts Wing) | Swansea Jazz Club: Gwilym Simcock Trio Plays Jaco Pastorius | 8 PM
Down By Here | The Down By Here Open Mic | 7 PM
Harry's Bar, Mumbles | Open Mic Night | 8.30 PM

Thursday, October 8th
Swansea Building Society Arena | Party101 (Disney Channel/Nickelodeon DJ throwback night) | Doors 7 PM

Friday, October 9th
The Studio, Swansea Grand Theatre | Dafydd Owain: Ymarfer Byw (support: Al Morrison) | Time not published — check venue
Down By Here | An Evening with Lyn Lawrence | 7 PM
Hippos | Asfixia Social (Brazilian ska-punk/hip-hop, support The Red Bstrds) | 7.30 PM

Saturday, October 10th
The Bunkhouse | Jared Benjamin + archie (uk) | Doors 6 PM
Sin City | Britallica (Britney Spears Metal Tribute) | 7.30 PM
Down By Here | Ceri James + Tich + Manon | 7 PM
Swansea Grand Theatre | Taylormania: Taylor Swift Tribute by Katy Ellis | Doors 7 PM
Swansea Building Society Arena | Boyzlife | 7.30 PM

Sunday, October 11th
The Bunkhouse | The Undercover Hippy (support TBA) | Doors 6 PM
Down By Here | Video Game Music Night with The Iridium Collective | 7 PM
Swansea Building Society Arena | Van Morrison | 7.30 PM
Plough & Harrow, Brynhyfryd | Open Mic Night

October is the month Swansea properly turns towards autumn - the clocks go back and pumpkins are everywhere you look.

This week, we rounded up everything worth planning ahead for: Swan Lake and Giselle, a double-bill from Imperial Classical Ballet, Comic Con, the Ospreys' first home game at St Helen's in around 20 years, and tons more.

Read Plan Ahead: Things to Do in October

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Catch you on Wednesday!

Andrew.

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