Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop. The local newsletter that’s like finding something you thought was lost forever.

Did you indulge on Pancake Day on Tuesday? After St. David’s Day Welsh cakes and pancake stacks, it feels like a good workout is in order.

And wouldn’t you know it? There’s a big street dance contest in Swansea this week, judged by top UK professionals. I’d sign myself up, of course, but the closest I ever get to street dancing is awkwardly speed-walking when a car is waiting for me to cross the road 😄

There’s loads more happening this week, including Cowboys & Cocktails, a local film showcase, and a Dinomania takeover of Plantasia.

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

Andrew.

WEDNESDAY'S SCOOP (ICYMI) 🦢

This week, I shared the story of Mumbles Railway’s last journey, with memories from the people who were there to witness it.

Read The Last Journey on the Mumbles Railway

THE DIGEST 📰

🚠 Swansea Council has approved Skyline Enterprises' £35 million leisure project on Kilvey Hill that will feature a gondola lift, sky swing, zipline, and luge tracks - despite l

🚢 A new environmentally-friendly fast ferry service between Swansea and South West England is being explored, with a public consultation launched to gauge interest.

🚌 Swansea Council will offer free bus travel across the county for nine days during Easter holidays (April 12th - 27th).

🏛️ A purple plaque honouring local novelist and industrialist Amy Dillwyn has been unveiled in Amy Dillwyn Park near Swansea Arena for International Women's Day.

💰 Swansea Council has approved a 5.95% council tax increase (equivalent to a £1.46 per week increase for a Band B homes).

🏠 Plans have been submitted to demolish the historic Greyhound Inn in Gower to build nine homes, after previous approved development failed due to financial issues.

🦠 A strange spiky "sea mouse" discovered on Oxwich Beach turned out to be a rare predatory worm that eats small crabs and normally lives below the low tide line.

BOOK AHEAD: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Last time I attempted the Time Warp, it looked less like a dance and more like someone having a medical emergency. Best left to the pros, I reckon 😄

The Rocky Horror Show takes to the Swansea Building Society Arena stage from June 9th -14th, 2025, with Australian superstar Jason Donovan starring as Frank-n-Furter (Wednesday-Saturday; Adam Strong performs Monday-Tuesday).

Tickets are on sale now from just £15.

SWANSEA FOOD & DRINK

Looking for some fresh spots to eat and drink in Swansea this week? Try this lot out:

🥞 Need another pancake fix? Nomad Bar & Kitchen serves them up every Sunday morning - choose between berries & cream or bacon & maple syrup.

☕ OTB (Outside the Box) Coffee recently opened outside 179 Crossfit in Fforestfach. They serve coffee, pastries, healthy takeaway meals, and protein shakes.

🥩 Is Bartrams’ steak deal for two the best in Swansea? It says so. Serloin, triple cooked chips, grill garnish, sauce - plus two beers or glasses of wine - all £45.

🥪 No. 18 Cafe has launched a new lunch special - its “Meat”ball marinara grilled cheese sandwich, served with a side salad and house slaw.

☕ Refinery opened in Killay last week (see video below), serving up great coffee and pastries brought all the way from the renowned Rock’n’Dough artisan bakery in Narbeth.

@SWANSEA.SCOOP

The Refinery opened in Killay last week, and we went to check it out. Over 20,000 people watched our video on the Swansea Scoop Instagram. Follow us @swansea.scoop

WHAT’S ON

A spotlight on everything fun Swansea has to offer this week, coming right up.

Monday March 10th

🎬 Swansea Shorts: A selection of short films by local filmmakers at Taliesin Arts Centre, featuring documentaries, narratives, and animations celebrating Swansea Bay's creativity. 7 PM | Free

Tuesday March 11th

😂 Kick-Ass Comedy Club: A night of stand-up comedy at Socialdice featuring Matt Goss as host alongside an excellent roster of comedians.
7.30 PM - 10 PM | £2.00

🎹 Lunchtime Organ Recital: Enjoy a midday musical performance by Phillip Aspden at Brangwyn Hall.
12.45 PM | Free

Wednesday March 12th

🎭 What Ho Wodehouse: A brand new comedy at Pontardawe Arts Centre featuring Jonathan Goodwin as "Stinky" Crumpleton-Psmith in an adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's early writings.
7.30 PM | £13.20

🤠 Cowboys and Cocktails: A wild night of country fun at Dylan Thomas Centre with cocktails, food, toe-tapping music and a boot-scootin' good time.
7 PM - 11 PM | £11.55

🌳 Conservation Task Day: Help protect Bishop's Wood Local Nature Reserve by tackling habitat management and removing invasive species, meeting outside Bishop's Wood Countryside Centre.
10 AM - 2 PM | Free

🎨 Art in the Afternoon: Free art drop-in sessions for over 50's at HQ Urban Kitchen, with introductions to techniques across different creative activities and personalised support.
1 PM - 3 PM | Free

Thursday March 13th

📚 Scenes from a Tragedy Book Launch: Join Waterstones in welcoming back Carole Hailey, interviewed by Julie Owen Moylan, to launch her new dark, compelling thriller.
7 PM | £5.00, £3.00

👻 Swansea In Gloom Walking Tours: Join a storyteller on a walking tour through the old town, uncovering Swansea's darkest secrets of murder, superstitions, debauchery and ghosts at HQ Urban Kitchen.
7.30 - 9.30 PM | £11.55

😂 Angela Barnes - Angst: A brand-new stand-up show at Taliesin Arts Centre from Angela Barnes, star of Mock The Week and Live at The Apollo.
8 PM | £18

Friday March 14th

🧒 Museum Little Mice: Join the National Waterfront Museum for their monthly group for children under 5 featuring Welsh themed crafts, songs and story time.
10.15 AM - 12.00 PM | Free

💃 Karen Hauer & Gorka Marquez: Speakeasy: Experience dance floor flavors with Strictly professionals at Brangwyn Hall, from New York Speakeasy to Havana dance floors. 7.30 PM | £40.00 - £57.00

🏉 An Evening with James Haskell: Join the ex-England rugby player and #1 podcaster for his side-splittingly funny and ruthlessly honest show at The Village Hotel.
6 PM | From £44.00

🧛‍♀️ Buffy Revamped: Experience all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 70 minutes through the eyes of Spike at Swansea Grand Theatre's Main Auditorium.
7 PM | £28.00

🎭 Titus Andronicus: Experience Shakespeare's first great tragedy at Swansea Grand Theatre's Arts Wing, a terrifying journey into terror.
Thursday 13 & Friday 14 March 2025, 1:30 PM & 7:15 PM | £16.00

Saturday March 15th

🦖 Dinomania and the Giants of the Past: As seen on Britain's Got Talent, join Plantasia Tropical Zoo as it transports back to the prehistoric age with gigantic dinosaurs, baby dinosaurs, and Ranger Chris.
10 AM - 5 PM | Adults £12.95, Children (2-15) £12.95, Family £39.50, Under 2s Free

🛍️ 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

🎵 Flowers and Friendship Bracelets: The Ultimate Pop Concert at Swansea Grand Theatre featuring hits from Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter.
2 PM & 6 PM | £23.50

Sunday March 16th

💃 Iconic Street Dance: Watch exciting solos, duos, teams, and megacrews battles judged by top UK professionals at Swansea Leisure Centre LC2.
9 AM | £18.50

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

Monday March 10th
The Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
The Welfare | Spiers and Boden 7.30 PM

Tuesday March 11th
The Bayview | Open Mic | 8 PM
Swansea Grand Theatre | Salt House | 7.30 PM

Wednesday March 12th
Cu Mumbles | Adrian Cox Trio | 8 PM

Thursday March 13th
Hippos | Open Mic | 4 PM
Waterloo Stores | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Gin & Juice | Live Lounge Thursdays | 7.30 PM
Elysium | Aidan Thorne and Jason Ball | 7 PM

Friday March 14th
The Albert Hall | Live Music Friday | 7 PM
The Oyster House | Friday Night Live | 8 PM
Gower Inn | Live Music Night | 7 PM
Swansea Arena | Coffeeshop Sessions | 12 PM - 2 PM
The Bunkhouse | House of All | 7 PM
Swansea Arena | Alison Moyet | 6.30 PM
Sin City | Tool Shed - A Tribute to Tool | 7.30 PM

Saturday March 15th
HQ Urban Kitchen | Saturday Sessions | 1 PM
Cu Mumbles | Boogie Shack | 7 PM
Taliesin Arts Centre | Christian Garrick & the Budapest Café Orchestra | 7.30 PM
Sin City | Buried Seven Ft Under | 7 PM
The Bunkhouse | Block 33 | 7 PM
Elysium | Pale Bastard + Raygun Roulette + Cruel Prank | 7 PM

Sunday March 16th
Waterloo Stores | Live Music Sundays | 8 PM
Swansea Arena | David Gray | 6.30 PM
Pontardawe Arts Centre | The Inner Voices | 7.30 PM

Got a gig coming up that you want me to include? Reply to this email to let me know!

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Andrew

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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