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Hunt for Jack the Ripper in Swansea 🕵️‍♂️

Hunt for Jack the Ripper in Swansea 🕵️‍♂️

Plus: Live comedy, family workshops, new GF market, and more.

Andrew M
February 16, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop. The local newsletter that’s like when your favorite show gets renewed 😊

I was away for a night in London for a birthday party last weekend. As I pulled up outside the hotel, what’s the first thing I see? A delivery scooter with a screen flashing an ad for Swansea’s Au Vodka.

Seems like any attempt to escape my Swansea postcode energy lasts exactly three seconds 😄

Back home, and this week’s newsletter is packed with loads of fun stuff like Jack the Ripper, an icy sea dip, and DJing (that’s three separate events, not all together 😊).

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

Andrew.

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Wednesday’s Scoop (In Case You Missed It) 🦢

In 1954, a large crowd gathered in Swansea to catch sight of a group of intergalactic visitors. Who were they? What did they want? Was everything all as it seemed?

Read The Day A UFO Landed in Swansea here.

THE DIGEST 📰

Credit: Swansea Council

🏢The first two tenants for the new 71/72 Kingsway offices have been revealed. IWG and TUI will be taking up space at the scheme that’s now been handed over to Swansea Council.

⛪ St John's Church in Morriston is set to reopen in May/June 2025 after a five-year restoration project. The revamped space will feature a 48-cover café, a restaurant with a pizza oven, four loft-style apartments, and outdoor seating.

🎡 The Big Wheel returns to Mumbles Pier on Saturday February 22nd, along with some other (yet to be announced) surprises.

🎶 Sosa Rossi has been announced as the headliner for the closing night of this summer’s three-day Tunes on the Bay festival on Swansea Bay.

🏡 Retired professors Valerie and Chris Norris have donated their two four-bedroom houses to The Wallich homelessness charity to use as emergency overnight accommodation in Swansea.

🏠 The former Mozart's nightclub in Swansea's Uplands has received planning approval to be transformed into a 26-bedroom shared house, complete with communal spaces, a gym, and a terrace.

🚶 A new 370-metre section of the Gower coast path near Rotherslade has been completed in record time to replace a route threatened by coastal erosion.

Do you have a cleaner at home?

SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOPS

Credit: Food by Sean No. 600

Looking for some new eats this week? Here are a handful around Swansea to try out:

🍽️ Food by Sean No. 600 recently launched a new sharing Sunday Roast Stand - a dinner that arrives at your table on a tiered stand, packed with favourites including Welsh beef, roast potatoes, and gravy.

🍽️ The New Valley Bishopston has launched a Box Burger Club every Thu-Sat evening: call to order your burger and sides, then pop down to pick it up.

🍽️ Desi Swaag has launched a brand new menu, with two courses from £19.99 and three courses from £22.99.

🍽️ Bartram’s is hosting a night of food and drink accompanied by an intimate DJ set by Ed Kurno. It’s on Friday, February 28th. Limited spaces available at the time of writing.

🍽️ Woodrows Coffee is plating up a new, huge 12-layer burger which includes three burger patties, BBQ pulled pork, and sausage.

@SWANSEA.SCOOP

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TOGETHER WITH WALES AIR AMBULANCE

Want to make a difference while enjoying some sweet treats?

Wales Air Ambulance is bringing back its beloved Coffee and Cake campaign during the month of March to mark its 24th anniversary.

Starting on Saturday March 1st (St. David's Day!), you can host your own fundraising party anywhere, any way you like - whether it's a cosy home gathering, virtual meet-up, or office party.

Bake your own or buy from shops, every slice helps support their vital 24/7 emergency medical services across Wales.

Register now to get your free fundraising kit, but hurry - packs are limited.

WHAT’S ON

A spotlight on everything fun Swansea has to offer this week, coming right up. Let’s go:

Monday February 17th

🧠 Free lecture: Robert Bismuth, a Swansea University alumnus and successful tech entrepreneur and CEO, will be giving a free talk at Swansea University's Singleton Campus in the Abbey Council Chamber. He’ll share his journey from mathematics graduate to tech industry leader and discuss entrepreneurship in academia.
2 PM - 4 PM | Free (booking required)

Tuesday February 18th

🧘Free COAST Activities: There are loads of free Swansea Council-funded COAST community events happening across the city from February 18th - February 23rd, including mindfulness sessions, family yoga, craft & cinema, cricket, dance, and more.

Wednesday February 19th

🎭 Local Theatre: Swansea Little Theatre’s latest production launches this week. Carrie's War is a theatrical adaptation of Nina Bawden's classic 1973 children's novel about two young London evacuees during World War II, and it’s at the Dylan Thomas Theatre for five shows between today and Saturday.
7.30 PM (2.30 PM/7.30 PM on Saturday) | £12 - £15

🗡️ Jack the Ripper Theatre: The Ripper Files at Swansea Grand Theatre is a spine-tingling whodunnit that follows Inspector Lestrange as he recounts his investigation of the Jack the Ripper murders in Whitechapel. Is Jack still up to no good?
2 PM, 7 PM | £24.00 - £28.00

🎶 Free DJing Masterclass: DJ J-Me Griffiths is hosting a free masterclass at Hippos, teaching DJ skills, mixing, scratching, and more - including equipment overview, performance demos, and a Q&A session.
7 PM - 9 PM | Free

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 St David’s Day Fun: Start the celebrations early at The Dylan Thomas Centre, which is hosting a free St. David's Day celebration with the University of Wales Trinity St David. There’ll be Welsh cake-making workshops, wine/mocktail tasting sessions, family activities, stalls, and crafts.
4.30 PM - 6.30 PM | Free

Thursday February 20th

😂 Live Comedy: Stand-up comedian Andrew Bird, who has supported Russell Howard, Troy Hawke, and Michael McIntyre, brings his new comedy show to Swansea Grand Theatre's Arts Wing, fresh from being voted 'Comic's Comic-Best Act' at the UK Comedy Awards.
7.30 PM | £15.00

🖼️ Dementia-Friendly Arts: The National Waterfront Museum is hosting a dementia-friendly session today, where participants can explore collections with a curator, create art, and enjoy refreshments in an accessible, welcoming environment.
1 PM | Free (booking required)

Friday February 21st

🛠️ Repair Cafe: Got something that needs fixing? Visit the Repair Cafe Swansea at Swansea Community Workshops (208 High Street in the city centre) where volunteer fixers offer services from bicycle maintenance to electrical repairs, computing help, and sewing - while you enjoy a cuppa and learn some new skills, too.
10 AM - 4 PM

Saturday February 22nd

Credit: Taliesin Arts Centre

👛 Uplands Market: Pop down to Gwydr Square for the monthly Uplands Market, where local traders bring you the best in local produce, food and drink, clothes, jewellery, art, and tons more.
9 AM - 1 PM

👨‍👩‍👧 World Book Day Family Workshop: Elysium Gallery is hosting a free family costume-making workshop where children and adults can create masks and costumes from recycled materials inspired by book characters, in preparation for World Book Day.
11 AM - 1 PM | Free (booking essential)

😄 Live Comedy: George Lewis, known for his viral parenting content and best-selling book about fatherhood, brings his new stand-up show to the Taliesin Arts Centre, fresh from supporting comedy stars like Romesh Ranganathan.
8 PM | £17

🏡 Free Family Workshop: Oriel Science is hosting an interactive workshop led by Swansea University's Health Data Science team. Families can design their ideal neighbourhoods while learning about the health benefits of green spaces, featuring hands-on activities and presentations. All ages.
11 AM & 1 PM | Free (Booking Required)

🚶‍♀️ Guided Walk: Head gardener Teifion Davies leads a guided walk at Clyne Gardens exploring the fascinating world of mosses and liverworts, organised by Friends of Clyne Gardens.
11 AM - 12.30 PM | £3

🎭 Lunchtime Theatre: Head to the Arts Wing at Swansea Grand Theatre to see Bag for Life - Estranged half-sisters Shelby and Jayne try to re-connect on a trip to Loch Lomond to scatter their mother`s ashes. But problems start even before the train leaves the station.
12.30 PM | £10

🎨 Adult’s Art Workshop: The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is hosting an adult workshop inspired by its ongoing 'Come As You Really Are' exhibition, where you’ll create personal micro shrine installations using keepsakes, combined with collage and craft techniques.
10 AM - 1 PM | £10

🦎 Plantasia Birthday Fun: Plantasia Tropical Zoo celebrates its 35th anniversary with a week-long party featuring birthday card crafts, a jungle trail with prizes, and free gifts for children.
Regular admission prices | £0 - £8.95

🪩 Afternoon Disco: Saturday afternoon is the new Saturday night at Cu Mumbles' Boogie Days event, featuring dancefloor favourites from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
3 PM - 8 PM. | £10

Sunday February 23rd

😋 Gluten Free Fayre: The Three Crosses Community Hall hosts a new gluten-free & vegan food fayre featuring local traders serving the coeliac community with speciality foods and handmade craft items.
11 AM

👨‍👧 Single Parent Meet-up: The Collaboration Station in Swansea's city centre hosts Single Parents Wellbeing's Welsh-themed Big Meet Up, featuring food, crafts, graffiti workshops, therapy animals, and games.
1 PM | Free (booking required)

🌊 Charity Sea Dip: The Crisis charity’s annual Icebreaker challenge returns at Caswell Bay, where you’re invited to brave the cold waters to raise funds for homelessness services. Wetsuit hire, hot drinks, and prizes (for the best fancy dress) available.
1 PM - 4 PM | £15 Registration (£150 fundraising target)

🐻 Free Family Film: The National Waterfront Museum is screening Paddington in Peru in a free drop-in showing, following Paddington and the Brown family's adventure as they visit Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears.
1.30 PM | Free

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TRY SOMETHING NEW: CLUBS AND GROUPS

⛰️ The Climbing Hangar is launching Boulder Tots, new sessions for toddlers (ages 2-4) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from March 3rd.

🏃 Grandad Needs His Medicine is launching a new running club in March, with sessions finishing at the sandwich shop for food and drinks.

🛼 Women’s Community Rollerskating South Wales hosts regular sessions at Gower College Sports Centre in Tycoch. The next is a Family Skating on Tuesday, February 18th at 7 PM.

🎾 Frenz Pickleball hosts multiple sessions a week for all ages and abilities, including in Olchfa School, the LC, and at Reynoldston Village Hall.

🎨 Art Swansea hosts its free Art Group for Adults at Dyfatty Community Centre every week from 7 PM - 9 PM. All materials provided and everyone’s welcome!

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

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Andrew