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Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop, the newsletter that’s like an extra hour in bed - a reminder that the clocks go back an hour next Saturday night!

We went pumpkin picking this weekend, so we’ve officially put our own guide to the test - you can find it at the bottom of this email. 🎃

This week, the Ospreys host the Dragons in a derby at St Helen's, Swan Lake comes to the Grand, and Al Murray and Jonathan Pie are both in town. Plus, there’s Swansea Comic Con, a Spooky Castle, an indie book show, 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 sign saved from Swansea's St David's car park before it was demolished is now on display at Swansea Museum.

🔌 Swansea Council closed Oxford Street car park this week while new ultra-rapid EV chargers were installed.

🎨 A colourful new mural celebrating Welsh women and music has been painted outside Swansea Building Society Arena.

🏗️ Plans to turn one of Swansea's historic surviving copper smelting buildings into homes have taken another step forward.

🎨 Swansea teenager Makenzy Beard, who taught herself to paint in the family garden shed during lockdown, is appearing on TV’s Portrait Artist of the Year.

🎄 A free community Christmas dinner for people who may be struggling is returning to the Brangwyn Hall on Tuesday, December 1st for its 10th year.

🏃 Swansea is getting its own full marathon next year as The Great Welsh Marathon moves to the city after more than a decade in Carmarthenshire.

Swansea city centre has a new pocket of greenery, Mowbray Yard, named after the late council regeneration officer Huw Mowbray 🌳

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

This three-bedroom detached house in Sketty features a large garden, a main bedroom with en-suite, and a driveway for multiple vehicles. £390,000 via Annie Rees Estates powered by eXp.

🍽️ Swansea Scoop Dinner Club: Our own social dining night returns to Flynn's Delicatessen. Enjoy a three-course Welsh dinner and meet new people in a friendly and relaxed setting - come solo, with a friend or as a couple. Two tickets left.
Thursday, October 22nd | 6.30 PM | £36 per person

🥩 The Coal House Opening: New steakhouse The Coal House, in Gorseinon, is now taking bookings from tomorrow onwards.

🏺 Pottery Painting, Wine and Tapas: Paint a hand-thrown plate or vase with an autumn or Halloween theme at Olive Wine & Tapas Bar, Llanrhidian, with a welcome drink and nibbles.
Thursday, October 22nd | 6 PM - 9 PM | £45 per person

🛍️ TGJones in Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre is set to close in February 2027, and the Post Office inside it will shut days earlier.

🌭 The Dog House has become the Albert Hall’s newest food trader.

🤖 Businesses in Swansea and South Wales will be able to test-drive robots before deciding whether to buy them.

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

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

🚶 Swansea Council Sport and Health Sessions: Nordic walking, low-impact aerobics, outdoor sessions and 60+ dance at venues across the city.
Various times | Free/low-cost

🌍 Gaia: Luke Jerram's six-metre illuminated Earth, made from NASA imagery, at Swansea Minster, with late viewing some nights. Until 31st October.
Free (donations welcome)

🖼️ Heaven in the Ground: DARCH's sound and sculpture installation at Mission Gallery, imagining life underground among insects, fungi and bedrock. Until 28th November.
Gallery hours | Free

🎨 Paint Along Like Bob Ross: Beginner-friendly landscape painting at Penllergare Valley Woods, materials provided.
10.30 AM - 12.30 PM | £32.13

🕹️ Actual Reality Arcade: Dodge barrels, build Tetris walls and become Pac-Man in a life-size retro arcade at Taliesin. Until 23rd October.
11 AM - 4 PM | Free

🩰 Swan Lake: Imperial Classical Ballet's 20th-anniversary tour, with a full live orchestra, at Swansea Grand Theatre.
7 PM | £35 - £42

🏺 Pottery Painting with Craftsea: Paint a piece on the Albert Hall stage, ready to collect from Mumbles three weeks later.
6 PM - 8 PM | From £24.20

🚶 Art Collection Tour: Guided walk around the public art on Singleton Campus. Until 29th October.
Various times | Free

🕹️ Street Fighter IV Tournament: Test your skills at Continue?, the Swansea arcade bar, with unlimited play, a big-screen tournament, food, drinks and over 60 games.
6.30 PM | Normal admission prices apply

🎨 Alfred Janes, Maker of Pictures: Glynn Vivian exhibition on the Swansea-born Kardomah Gang painter, alongside this year's Wakelin Award show. Until 3rd January.
Tue-Sun 10 AM - 4.30 PM | Free

🖼️ Artist-led Guided Tour with Paula Pedrosa: The Brazilian photographer leads a tour of her Elysium show on extinct life and geological time.
6 PM

🦨 Chemical Weaponry in Animals: Wildlife Trust talk at St Hilary's Church Community Hall. Almost full.
7.30 PM | Free

🕯️ Craft. Gather. Create: Samhain: Make seed bombs and a spirit bell, then sit down to a seasonal dhal feast at Space at 88, St Helen’s Avenue.
6 PM - 9 PM | £40

🎨 An Evening in Velaris: Fantasy Paint & Sip: ACOTAR-inspired paint night at Bar Saint James, drink included.
6 PM - 9 PM | £60

🩰 Giselle: Imperial Classical Ballet's 20th-anniversary tour, with a full live orchestra, at Swansea Grand Theatre.
7 PM | £35 - £42

🎬 Aberfan: The Green Hollow: The BAFTA-nominated drama marking 60 years since the disaster, followed by a Q&A with writer Owen Sheers, at Taliesin.
6.30 PM | Free (ticketed)

✂️ After School Art & Craft Group: Weekly kids' session at Elysium Gallery; an adult must stay in the building.
4 PM - 6 PM | £5 per session

🦎 Crymlyn Burrows Conservation Session: Help the warden look after the nature reserve next to Bay Campus.
1 PM | Free

😂 Tom Stade: Rules: The Live at the Apollo regular brings his new show, fresh from Edinburgh, to Problematic Pub Comedy Club.
Doors 6 PM, show 7.30 PM | £26 + 65p fee

💍 Sip, Sculpt and Silver: Guided silver ring-making workshop with drinks, at Bluebell Coffee & Kitchen, Sketty.
7 PM - 10 PM | £130

😂 Comedy@The Brunswick: Five comics at The Brunswick Arms, headlined by Gareth Hunt.
7.30 PM | Free

🕺 Retro Rewind: Meat Loaf, Cher, ABBA and Queen at an 80s and 90s fancy-dress student night at Founders & Co, raising money for Brave Arts Theatre Company’s panto.
Doors 6.30 PM, starts 7 PM | From £4.50

🎤 The Magic of Motown: Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and The Temptations hits live at Swansea Grand Theatre.
7 PM | £37

🎬 Pressure: D-Day drama starring Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott at Taliesin Arts Centre.
7.30 PM | £7.75 (£5 for under-26s and students)

🐦 Waterfront Wildings: Under-5s nature session at the National Waterfront Museum. Booking essential.
10.30 AM - 12 PM | Pay-what-you-can (min. £1/child)

🎭 The Shape of Things to Come: The Last Place Left: Georgia Griffiths' solo show at Volcano, set in a future where friendship is sold by subscription. Until 24th October.
6 PM | £5 - £12

💃 Contemporary Dance Class: Weekly class for all levels at the Swansea Wellbeing Centre (16+).
8 PM - 9 PM | £8.30

🦉 Owloween Paint and Sip Evening: Paint a Halloween owl at Croeso Lounge, Mumbles, with a glass of Prosecco.
6.30 PM - 9 PM | £22.50

🛋️ LUSH Cosy Self-Care Club: Meditation, gentle movement and a neck and shoulder massage at the Swansea Wellbeing Centre.
7 PM - 8.30 PM | £23.75

🍂 Autumn Wildlife Walk: Guided walk with Swansea University's Sustainability Team, meeting at Taliesin.
12 PM | Free

🖼️ Richard Glynn Vivian: Retelling the Story: Panel talk at the Glynn Vivian on the gallery's founder.
1 PM - 2.15 PM | Free

🎤 Queenz: Battle of the Divas!: Whitney vs Mariah, Gaga vs Madonna - a live-vocal drag battle at the Grand, with the audience picking the winners.
7 PM | £26 - £31 (14+)

🥬 Vegan Night Market: Hot food, stalls and live music at Urban HQ.
5.30 PM - 9.30 PM | Free

🐦 Swifts in Our Recording Area: Josh Greatorex-Davies of Saving Swansea's Swifts on the city's swifts and the work to protect them, at St Paul's Parish Centre, Sketty.
7.30 PM - 9 PM | £1 on the door

😂 Friday Night Comedy: Fast-paced stand-up club night at Problematic Pub Comedy Club, hosted by Sandro Ford and Simon Emanuel.
Doors 6 PM, show 7.30 PM | £18 + 45p fee (18+)

🔪 Horror Quiz Night: Horror film quiz at Level256, Caer Street, with pizza and prizes.
7 PM | £5

☕ Charity Coffee Morning: At Goose Island, Tower Court, raising money for Breast Cancer Now and Macmillan.
10 AM - 4 PM | £3 donation

🏉 Ospreys v Dragons: United Rugby Championship derby at St Helen's Stadium.
Kick-off 7 PM, gates 5 PM | £15 - £30

😂 The End of the World According to Jonathan Pie: The satirical news reporter returns to Swansea Grand Theatre with a new show.
7.30 PM | £18 - £32.50 (14+)

💡 TEDxSwansea 26: Ripples of Change: A day of talks at the Dylan Thomas Centre on science, health, sustainability, the arts and more.
Doors 9.30 AM, 10 AM - 4.30 PM | £22.38

😂 Saturday Night Comedy: Fast-paced stand-up club night at Problematic Pub Comedy Club, hosted by Sandro Ford and Simon Emanuel.
Doors 6 PM, show 7.30 PM | £18 + 45p fee (18+)

🛹 Built From Nothing Premiere: Welsh skateboarding documentary at Exist Skatepark, with a skate session before the 7 PM screening.
5 PM | £5

🚲 SUSSED: Sustainable Travel Festival: A day of talks, activities and advice on travelling sustainably at The Environment Centre.
10 AM - 4 PM | Free

🌿 Succulent & Moss Living Wreath Workshop: Make-your-own living wreath workshop at Petallica Flower Farm.
10 AM | £60

🐈‍⬛ Dirgelwch y Gath Ddu: Children aged 3-7 help solve the Mystery of the Black Cat in a Welsh-language Halloween session at Tŷ Tawe.
11.30 AM | £5.27 - £8.43

🍷 Name That Grape: Guess the grape, country and price of mystery wines at Flynn's Delicatessen.
6 PM | £25

🍁 Autumn Splendour: Garden Walk with Teifion: A Friends of Clyne Gardens walk through the autumn colour of its trees, shrubs and fungi.
11 AM - 12.30 PM | £3

🎱 BALLZ! Bingo: Drag queens, live vocals and party games at a high-camp bingo night at Mecca Bingo.
9 PM | £22.38

🧪 Lotions & Potions: Kids' science session at Oriel Science on why some liquids are runnier than others and how sun cream works.
11 AM - 12 PM & 2 PM - 3 PM | Free

👻 The Spooky Castle: Meet Lady Alina the White Lady, Count Crumble and Mabel Moonbeam on a not-too-scary Halloween trail at Oystermouth Castle.
11 AM - 4 PM | £6 adult / £4 child / £18 family

🍸 Disney Halloween Bottomless Brunch: Villain anthems, Disney karaoke and music bingo at Level256, with two hours of bottomless drinks and pizza.
6 PM | £30

🍺 Al Murray: All You Need Is Guv: The Pub Landlord's new show, fresh off a sell-out 138-date tour, at Swansea Grand Theatre.
7.30 PM | £33 (14+)

🦸 Swansea Comic Con: Autumn: Halloween comic con at the LC with Dani Harmer (Tracy Beaker) and Ross Mullan (Game of Thrones), cosplay and retro gaming.
9 AM - 4 PM | £12 adult / £7 child

📚 Swansea City AFC A to Z Book Launch: Niall O’Brien launches his book celebrating Swansea Town and Swansea City players at The Swansea Jack.
4 PM | Free entry

🎭 Broadway Bash: Sing along to Wicked, Mamma Mia! and Phantom on the Albert Hall stage.
7 PM - 9.30 PM (13+) | From £15

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Monday, October 19th
Uplands Tavern | Open Mic Night | 9 PM
The Bunkhouse | Beattie | 7 PM | £13.95

Tuesday, October 20th
Bay View | Open Mic Night | Time not published — check venue

Wednesday, October 21st
The Observatory | Swansea Jazz Club: Judith Nijland | 8 PM
Harry's Bar, Mumbles | Open Mic Night | 8.30 PM
The Bunkhouse | Lacross Club & Dog Collar | 6 PM

Thursday, October 22nd
The Bunkhouse | Shiloh, Made Of & Parkii | 7 PM
Waterloo Stores, Mumbles | Open Mic Night | 8 PM
Bambu Beach Bar | Sin City: Bollywood Edition (DJ Dhruvil) | 10 PM - 3 AM

Friday, October 23rd
Taliesin Arts Centre | Phil Beer Trio | 7.30 PM
Pontardawe Arts Centre | Matthew Frederick | 7.30 PM | £11
The Bunkhouse | The Youth + Special Guests | 6 PM
Patti Pavilion | Bad Boy Chiller Crew | Doors 7 PM
Down By Here | Next Day Shakes + A-Topic + Sunny Inside | Time not published — check venue
Swansea Minster | Voces Tavae: From Nameless Streams to Stars (choral concert beneath Gaia, world premiere by Dr Edward Rhys Harry) | 7 PM
Hippos | Rust 002: Four Candles (Bedrock Records) | 6 PM - 2 AM | £6

Saturday, October 24th
Taliesin Arts Centre | Seven Wonders: Fleetwood Mac Tribute | 7.30 PM
The Bunkhouse | The Fiends: The Final Show (farewell gig, support from Black Havana, The False Idols & The Spring) | Doors 7 PM | Price not published — check venue
Theatre Bistro | DMF | 6 PM
Hippos | Locked In Tour: DNB Inside/Outside, headliner Alcemist | 5 PM
Hangar 18 | Virology Album Launch Party (Embodiment, Excursia & Mould) | 2 PM
Patti Pavilion | The Stickmen Project | Doors 6 PM | From £17.50
Harry's Bar, Mumbles | Live Music Night (weekly, artist not specified) | 8.30 PM
Gorseinon Events Centre | Mr Traumatik + B-line | 10 PM
Sin City | Chali 2na & A.Skillz | 7 PM
Swansea Minster | The Light: DJ Andrew Hartley & Michelle Weeks Live (Dance Under Gaia) | 7 PM - 10 PM | Price not published — check venue
St John's Church, Gowerton | Jonathan and Michael, In Concert (songs from musicals, charity concert for MND) | 7 PM

Sunday, October 25th
Down By Here | Steve Jinski | 7 PM
The Valley, Bishopston | Open Mic Night | 3 PM

Pumpkin season is back, and with Halloween less than a fortnight away, it’s time for our yearly round-up of the best places to pick your own.

There’s one change from last year’s list. Penyfodau Fawr Farm near Garden Village has grown its last crop - the pumpkin field is making way for a solar farm - although the farm shop and milk shed are carrying on as usual.

Everything here is within about 45 minutes of the city, so grab your wellies and enjoy!

Read Where to Pick Your Own Pumpkins Near Swansea 🎃

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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