TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop. The local newsletter that’s like finally remembering where you left your sunglasses... on your head 😎

As the summer sun’s still trying its best in Swansea, there’s everything from barn dances and wine nights to disco in the daylight, and a murder mystery happening this week.

Whether you’re wrangling kids, dodging wasps, or clinging to the last of your annual leave, have a good one, and I’ll catch you on Wednesday!

Andrew.

WEDNESDAY'S SCOOP (ICYMI) 🦢

Joe’s, Verdi’s, Forte’s and Ripples are the big names in Swansea ice-cream today, but did you know that the Swansea ice-cream trade has deep roots, many of them Italian?

This week, enjoy a selection of stories and photographs at some of those early makers in Swansea - including the city’s first ice-cream man!

Read: Swansea’s Ice-Cream Families

THE DIGEST 📰

🎨 Swansea will host the prestigious British Art Show for the first time in 2027, with exhibitions across five city venues.

🚶‍♂️ Work to complete accessible improvements to the scenic Rotherslade to Limeslade coastal path will begin in Autumn.

🏗️ Work on a new five-storey office and commercial hub near the former St David’s Centre will begin in Spring 2026.

🇬🇧 Swansea marked the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with a two-minute silence and an event at the Guildhall, where veterans were honoured by city leaders.

🦎 A new monkey, chameleon, and frog have joined the Plantasia family - all helping to raise awareness of conservation through education and hands-on experiences.

SURFABILITY’S NEW VENTURE 🏄

This week, we chatted to Grace from Surfability UK in Caswell to learn all about what they do, and news of an exciting new chapter for the local Community Interest Company.

Tell us about Surfability and what makes it special?
We’re the UK’s first fully adaptive and inclusive surf school, making surfing accessible to everyone, regardless of disability, injury, illness, or experience level. Using specialist equipment, highly trained coaches, and plenty of creativity, we adapt each session to the surfer’s needs. It’s a real community - a place where surfers, volunteers, families, and supporters come together to share the ocean.

How did it all begin?
It started in 2013 when our founder, Ben Clifford, began running small adaptive surfing sessions after realising there was a huge gap in access to the sport. What began as a few volunteers and a couple of surfboards has grown into a dedicated team, a fully equipped surf school at Caswell Bay, and hundreds of surfers joining us each year from all over the world.

We hear you're opening a new shop – can you tell us more?
Yes! We’re opening a small surf shop on Newton Road in Mumbles that we hope will become a real community hub.

We’ll be stocking second-hand wetsuits to make surfing more affordable and sustainable, as well as Welada skincare, and products from local Gower producers, makers, and artists. The shop will support local businesses, help fund our adaptive surfing programmes, and hopefully feel like a natural extension of the Surfability family.

Q: Before you go… favourite thing about living in Swansea?
It’s got to be the coastline! We’ve got everything from long sandy stretches to hidden coves, all within a short drive. If I’ve got a free afternoon, you’ll usually find me walking the Gower cliffs or paddling out for “just one more wave.”

Check out Surfability UK to find out more about all the great work they do, and follow on Instagram for news on the new shop launch!

SWANSEA FOOD & DRINK 🍴

🚂 Station Express (a spin-off from the team behind Station 86) is now open in Gowerton, serving coffee, iced matcha, cakes, and more every Wednesday - Saturday.

🐟 Gower Seafood Hut has returned to its pitch on the seafront at Mumbles, following the completion of the sea wall refurb. Find them just down the steps from Southend Slip.

🍛 Maison De Masala, a new restaurant serving Indian haute cuisine and artisanal cocktails has opened in Parc Tawe Retail Park.

🌽 Sweetcorn season has arrived at Llanant Farm in Gorseinon, where you can visit on Fridays and Saturdays to pick your own - plus, runner beans, carrots, sunflowers, and more.

@SWANSEA.SCOOP 📱

This week on socials, we shared some of the amazing, hidden history still visible in Swansea city centre.

Check out the video below and give Swansea Scoop a follow while you’re there? We’re now at nearly 16,000 followers on Instagram and close to 19,000 on Facebook!

WHAT’S ON

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

Monday August 18th

Tuesday August 19th

Wednesday August 20th

🍷 Spanish Wine Night: Enjoy an evening of Spanish wines, tapas, and charcuterie with good company at Flynn’s Delicatessen.
6.30 PM – 8.30 PM | £27.80 | Booking required

Thursday August 21st

🍻 Swansea Bay Beer & Cider Festival 2025: Sample over 100 Welsh and international brews at the Brangwyn Hall, with live music, classic bar games, and more.
Thu 21st – Sat 23rd August | Brangwyn Hall | £7–£8

🧠 Dementia-Friendly Activity: Summer-time Food and Harvest: A gentle, welcoming session at the National Waterfront Museum with food-themed crafts, conversation, and refreshments for those living with dementia.
1 PM–3.30 PM | Free, booking essential

Friday August 22nd

🎬 An Evening of Big Movie Themes: Enjoy iconic film scores performed by Iridium Collective and guest vocalists Edward Jones & Lauren Mia at the Pontardawe Arts Centre.
7.30 PM | £12.50 advance / £15 on the day

🎥 Chariot Screening & Q&A: A special screening of the indie Welsh film Chariot - all set in Swansea - at Mumbles Ostreme Centre, followed by a Q&A with its cast and crew.

🎭 Queertawe Cabaret: A surreal, sparkly night of drag, burlesque, clowns, and queer performance art by local creatives and guest acts at Elysium Bar.
Doors 6.30PM, Show 7.30PM | £5–£15

🛶 60+ Canoe: A fun, self-led canoeing session for over 60s at Coed Gwilym Park, supported by Swansea Canal Society volunteers. All equipment provided.
11 AM – 12 PM | Free | Booking essential

Saturday August 23rd

🎶 LODGESTOCK: A two-day mini festival at The Lodge in Gorseinon featuring live music from The Underdogs, The Stray Pursuit, and more, with food and family fun.

💿 Mumbles Record CD Fair: A free record fair at Victoria Hall, Mumbles, with thousands of vinyl and CDs across all genres.

🪩 Disco in the Daylight: Daytime dance party at Pontarddulais Rugby Club with 80s, 90s, 00s & Clubland hits. Cocktails, retro vibes.
£8–£12 | 2 PM - 10 PM

Sunday August 24th

🕵️ Murder Mystery Night: Work in teams to crack the case during an interactive evening of clues, red herrings and hidden motives at the Albert Hall.
7 PM – 10 PM | £45 (includes buffet) | Booking required

🤠 Barn Dance No.4: YEEHAWW: Founders and Co hosts a boot-stompin’ bank holiday hoedown with live country music, line dancing, cocktails, and street food ‘til late.
8 PM | From £7

📸 Swansea Photo Walk: Join Photo Club Swansea for a relaxed group walk from Castle Gardens to the Marina and promenade, with a coffee stop and plenty of photo ops. All welcome!
11 AM | Meet at Castle Gardens | Free

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

Monday August 18th
The Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Noah’s Yard | Jazz Club | 8.30 PM

Tuesday August 19th
The Bayview | Open Mic | 8 PM
The Bunkhouse | High Fade | 6 PM

Wednesday August 20th
Cu Mumbles | Cottle Brothers | 8 PM
The Bunkhouse | Ugly Dave Presents | 7 PM

Thursday August 21st
Gin & Juice | Live Lounge Thursdays | 7.30 PM
The Bunkhouse | Zac the Locust, Handle This, Har! A Shark! | 6 PM

Friday August 22nd
The Albert Hall | Live Music Friday | 7 PM
Patti Pavilion | Indiepalooza | 7 PM
The Bunkhouse | Redd Kross |

Saturday August 23rd
Hangar 18 | Bras N’ Roses | 7 PM
Elysium | PVRIAH + others | 7 PM

Sunday August 24th
Waterloo Stores | Live Music Sundays | 8 PM
The Swigg | Sunday Sessions | 5 PM
The Bunkhouse | Zana Billionara | 6 PM
The Bunkhouse | One Love III: In Aid of the Mitchell Powell Foundation | 1 PM

THANKS 😊

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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