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Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop. The local newsletter that's like finding exact change in your pocket 😊

This week's jam-packed with everything from the Mumbles Raft Race (how many will sink this year?) to a big magic show and outdoor theatre under the stars.

There's also medieval murder mysteries to solve, Riverdance still kicking after 30 years, PAW Patrol saving the day (again), plus an eco market and tons more summer holiday fun.

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

Andrew.

This week, we shared a selection of real postcards sent by visitors to Swansea from decades past - one that’s nearly 120 years old.

Apart from the images of a Swansea they depict, the messages on the postcards give us a glimpse into the lives of the people who wrote them - their routines, relationships, and passing thoughts.

Read Postcards From Swansea

🎨 Swansea will host the prestigious British Art Show for the first time in February 2027 across five city centre venues.

🏟️ Wales' first sport technology hub has been approved for Swansea Bay Sports Park, with the £17 million building replacing the university pavilion.

🛴 E-scooter trials are being explored for Wales with Cardiff and Swansea expressing interest, but requiring Welsh Government legislation changes first.

🚡 Work has started on the Skyline Kilvey Hill leisure attraction featuring gondola lift, zipline and hilltop restaurant with £8 million council funding.

🗑️ Swansea Council is trialling internet-connected bins that alert cleansing teams when full to improve efficiency in rural areas.

🚌 First Cymru will introduce new Swansea bus services from August 31st including extending the X1 to Swansea University's Singleton Campus with double decker buses.

This week, we caught up with Linda Welch from the Gower Walking Festival to fill us in about the return of this popular fixture in the Swansea calendar:

Tell us about the Gower Walking Festival: This year features more than 35 guided walks over nine days from Saturday 6th September. The programme includes familiar favourites plus exciting new routes and themes like football and jazz, ensuring something for all interests and abilities.

How do you cater for different fitness levels? It's not just for seasoned walkers. We have challenging walks up hills, but also shorter, flatter strolls. Walks are graded from one boot (easy, flat paths) to four boots (strenuous, challenging terrain). Distances range from 2 to 9 miles.

Who are the volunteer guides? Our walk leaders are experienced walkers, very knowledgeable about the landscapes and themes - whether it's award-winning author David Brayley on the Swansea football legends walk, Rob Edwards on industrial heritage, or Clive Scott on the Southgate Circular.

Before you go… favourite pit-stop on Gower? My personal favourite is Surfside Café at Langland Bay - great menu, excellent bacon rolls, right on the beach with fabulous views when sunny, plus a cosy indoor space with log burner for winter.

The Gower Walking Festival runs from September 6th to September 14th.

We’ve been cooking something up lately: the brand new Swansea Food Guide!

It’s a handy directory of over 400+ restaurants, bars, coffee shops, cafes, and pubs all across Swansea (complete with a description, map, opening hours, link to Google reviews, and a venue’s socials) - and all searchable by name, cuisine, or location.

What you see today is an early first version, so please excuse the kinks as we work to improve the guide.

We hope it’s something you bookmark and share - check it out at www.swanseaguide.co.uk and reply to this email with any feedback - we’d love to hear if you find it useful!

This week, we shared an experience that resonated with lots of Swansea residents…

Check out the video below, and why not give Swansea Scoop a follow while you’re there? We’re now at over 15,500 followers on Instagram and over 18,000 on Facebook!

Here comes a big round-up of everything else cool happening in Swansea this week. Ready? Let’s go!

🏃‍♀️ COAST 50+ Activities: From craft sessions and board games to walking rugby, chair yoga, and climbing adventures, enjoy a packed week of free activities.
Mon 11th – Sat 16th August | Various Times/Locations | Free

💃 Riverdance 30: The New Generation: The global cultural sensation celebrates its 30th anniversary at Swansea Arena, innovative choreography, state-of-the-art lighting and projection.
Tuesday 12th - Thursday 14th August | From £39.88 + fees

🎭 Pride and Prejudice: Award-winning Illyria brings Jane Austen's classic to life at Oystermouth Castle. Can Lizzy see beyond Darcy's pride and could he overcome her prejudice?
7PM | £8.40 - £16.80

🔍 The Mirror Crack'd: Swansea Little Theatre presents Agatha Christie's murder mystery as glamorous American actress Marina Grieg moves to St Mary Mead, bringing intrigue, resentment and ultimately murder.
7.30PM | Wednesday 13th - Saturday 16th August | £12 - £15

🌿 Natural Wisdom: Over 50's Summer Sessions: Woodland retreat for easing overthinking and low mood at Penllergare Woodland Centre. Mobility friendly.
10AM - 2PM | Free (booking required)

🌿 Willow Weaving for 50+: Join the Willowcraft group for a hands-on session learning traditional basket weaving techniques using natural willow at Sketty Park Community Centre.
11AM - 2PM | Wednesday, August 13th | Ages 50+ (max 15)

💃 Over 50's Afternoon: Join the Friends of Jersey Park Pavilion for an afternoon with a Dean Martin performance, dancing and a delicious buffet at Swansea Dockers Club.
1PM - 4PM | Free (booking essential)

📚 Vanished Wales - Places Lost in Living Memory: Meet Carwyn Jones, producer of ITV Wales' popular Vanished Wales series, discussing his new book at Waterstones.
6PM | | £3-£20

🎭 The Wind in the Willows: Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame's classic tale as Mole, Rat, Badger and the obsessive Toad's adventures unfold against the backdrop of Oystermouth Castle.
2PM | | £8.40 - £16.80

🎩 Phenomenal: Magic and illusion show at Patti Pavilion featuring Taylor Morgan, Rebecca Foyle, and danger artist Aaron Crow from America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent: The Champions.
5.45PM (Thu-Sat) & 1.15PM (Sun) | £20-£30

🐕 The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time: When Christopher investigates a dog's murder in his neighbourhood, his search for answers becomes a journey of discovery about his own life and family - at The Swansea Grand Theatre Arts Wing.
2.30PM & 7.30PM | Friday 15th & Saturday 16th August | £15

🚣 Mumbles Raft Race: The annual favourite returns as homemade rafts attempt to race from Mumbles shoreline to Knab Rock. Watch the spectacle as some make it and some don't!
Saturday, August 16th | Free to watch

🎵 Amplitude: Two days of free live music at Swansea's Amphitheatre featuring local talent across indie-rock, jazz, pop and folk. Saturday headlined by Who's Molly? and Sunday by Disco Panther.
1PM - 8PM | Free

🔍 Friar Maurice Investigates - The Hanged Man: Join Lighthouse Theatre and Father Maurice on a performed walk through medieval Swansea in 1307 to help him to solve a murder…
11AM - 12.30PM | £10

🌿 Petallica Eco Market: Enjoy sustainable shopping at Petallica Flower Farm featuring local artisans and makers.
10 AM - 2 PM | Free entry

🛍️ Penllergaer Pop Up Market: Visit Neuadd Llewelyn Hall for the first market of the year featuring a varied lineup of local businesses with food, drink, crafts and more.
11 AM - 3 PM

🎨 Killay and Dunvant Makers Market: The first makers market featuring talented local artisans from the Killay and Dunvant area, at Siloam Baptist Church.
11AM - 3PM | Free entry

🏠 The Rising Damp and Other Tails: An immersive performance retelling The Little Mermaid as an exploitative love story between a merman and an estate agent during a housing crisis, at Volcano Theatre.
5PM & 7.30PM | Saturday, August 16th | Pay what you choose

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Monday August 11th
The Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Noah’s Yard | Jazz Club | 8.30 PM

Tuesday August 12th
The Bayview | Open Mic | 8 PM

Wednesday August 13th
Cu Mumbles | | 8 PM

Thursday August 14th
Gin & Juice | Live Lounge Thursdays | 7.30 PM
Elysium | Kraaklustig + Ruen | 7 PM

Friday August 15th
The Albert Hall | Live Music Friday | 7 PM
Elysium | Spwci | 7 PM
The Bunkhouse | The Catacombs | 6 PM

Saturday August 16th
Swansea Building Society Arena | The Music of Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight | 7.30 PM

Sunday August 17th
Waterloo Stores | Live Music Sundays | 8 PM
The Swigg | Sunday Sessions | 5 PM
The Bunkhouse | Zana Billionara | 6 PM

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

Catch you on Wednesday!

Andrew.

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👉 Sometimes things change, so please check the details for events and activities directly with the organiser to avoid disappointment.