Hello, Swansea! It’s been a scorcher out there! How are you all holding up?

In this week’s Swansea Scoop:

• Rhossili Sunflowers

• Lee Trundle pub quiz

• 44 kids’ summer holiday ideas

• … and tons more!

Let’s get to it.

— James

THE DIGEST

New Copr Bay Hotel Gets the Green Light 🛌

A new 150-bed hotel is planned for Swansea's Copr Bay district, between Swansea Arena and the LC. Swansea Council has chosen a preferred developer and operator for the project, which will include a rooftop bar with views of Swansea Bay. Pending final agreements, construction will start next year.

Refurbished Playground Opens in Penclawdd 🛝

The playground opposite GG's in Penclawdd has been given a much-needed makeover. The £120,000 pirate-themed upgrade includes accessible facilities like a flush roundabout, wide slides, and basket swings. There's also junior and toddler swings, a zipwire, a 4.5m pyramid net, and a toddler fishing boat.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

New Brynmill Coffee Shop Opens 🦆

An abandoned electrical shop in Brynmill has been transformed into a stylish new coffee shop. Duck and Dough is the brainchild of Max Freitas, who already supplies delicious pastel de natas to other coffee shops in Swansea. You'll find Duck and Dough on 37 Marlborough Road - look out for the giant duck mural on the side of the building, inspired by the nearby Brynmill Park. Initially open Wednesday to Saturday from 9 AM - 2 PM during summer, before switching to Monday to Saturday from 8 AM - 4 PM.

New Cafe Opens at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery ☕

The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery has opened a new café operated by HQ Urban Kitchen. The café offers tea, coffee from Coaltown, homemade cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and seasonal snacks. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM - 4 PM.

Popular Doughnut Shop to Open in Swansea 🍩

WhoCult, the popular Welsh doughnut brand, is to open a new location in Swansea's Albert Hall food court. Known for its large, creatively flavoured doughnuts like the "Homer" and Oreo, WhoCult also offers its signature "freakshakes." The expansion follows the success of its other locations in Bridgend, Porthcawl, Barry, Newport, and Cardiff.

WHAT’S ON

Join Lee Trundle for a Film and Football Pub Quiz ⚽

Fancy pitting your skills against Swansea City legend, Lee Trundle? Not on the football pitch, but in a test of brainpower in the Flame Grilled Football & Films Quiz Night in aid of Swansea charity Faith in Families, being held at The Village Hotel on August 7th at 7.30 PM. Trunds will be there, along with free half-time burgers and a raffle featuring signed Swansea FC memorabilia. There’ll be six rounds of quizzing, with serious and casual quizzers both catered for.

Meet the Ospreys rugby team in St Helen’s 🏉

They recently chose St Helen’s to be their new home - but before they move in, the Ospreys rugby team are inviting families to come and watch them train, meet the team (and Ozzy the mascot) for autographs, and to enjoy food, drinks, and games. The fun (all free!) kicks off at 11 AM on August 9th.

Open Jam Session With Jazz Professionals 🎷

Here’s an excellent opportunity for any budding musician, whatever your skill level. The Swansea Jazz Club Trio invite you to jam along with them to any song you want to throw at them. The Trio are vastly experienced, having accompanied 100s of UK and International Jazz Artists for over 30 years. With or without sheet music, the Trio can accompany you in any key of your choosing. Simply turn up to Cu Mumbles on August 7th at 8 PM to join in.

Ystradgynlais Food Festival 🎷

Over 40 stalls will be pitched up at the Ystradgynlais Food & Drink Festival this year, including Greek, Caribbean, and Indian cuisine - plus Austringer Cider, Little Goat Brewery and more to wash it all down with. For children, there'll be an inflatable disco, bucking bronco, arts and crafts, face painting, and more. The event is free to enter and takes place in The Gorsedd Park and St Cynogs Church Hall on August 10th between 10 AM and 3 PM.

Rhosilli Sunflowers in Full Bloom 🌻

The recent spate of hot weather has done wonders for the fields of sunflowers on display at Rhosilli - and now is the best time to go and see them before they lose their luster in the next few weeks. The site includes three fields full of sunflowers, an animal trail for younger visitors, sunflower arches for photos, pick-your-own flowers, and plenty more.

Monthly Mumbles and Marina Markets 🥕

Head down to The Dairy Car Park in Mumbles on August 10th and Dylan Thomas Square on August 11th for the monthly Mumbles and Marina Markets, where local traders bring you the best in local produce, food and drink, clothes, jewellery, art, and tons more. Both markets start at 10 AM.

Prison Drama Stage Play With Kev Johns 🎭

"Conviction," an award-winning stage play by Mark Cainen and featuring Swansea legend Kev Johns, will be performed at The Grand Theatre's Arts Wing on August 8th and 9th. Directed by Vern Griffiths, the drama delves into the lives of inmates and staff in a Category B prison. The narrative explores themes of hope, despair, and survival, portraying prison life and questioning the justice system.

Celebrate World Elephant Day With A Seafront Charity Walk 🐘

Join 2Wish for their 2nd annual World Elephant Day Walk on Saturday August 10th, along the Swansea Bay seafront - the charity supports parents, siblings, and other family members affected by the sudden death of a child or young adult. The walk starts and finishes at The Secret and you can cover any distance up to 5k in support of the charity. Wear your best elephant-themed outfits for the challenge - and everyone will receive a medal and goody bag back at the start for their efforts!

SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN 🌞

Grownups, I want to help you with at least one idea every day to keep the children busy throughout the summer holiday - either free, cheap, or a bit more of a treat. Like this list? Please forward it to a friend who desperately needs it!

Monday August 5th 🛹

• Head to Townhill Phoenix Centre from 10 AM - 1 PM for free skate, scooter, DJing, spray painting, and breakdancing with Exist Skatepark and Taliesin. Free | No booking required.

• To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the RSPCA, Llis Nini has launched a free heritage trail, featuring puzzles to solve and the chance to win tickets to its Halloween Pumpkin festival.

Tuesday August 6th 🪩

• Set the kids loose on a giant circle of trampolines with Just Jump Rebounding and Pilates at Parklands Church, Sketty on Tuesday at 10 AM and Waunarlwydd Community Centre on Wednesday a 10.15 AM. Free | Booking required.

• Drop in to Blaenymaes Community Centre from 11 AM - 2 PM for free skate, scooter, DJing, spray painting, and breakdancing with Exist Skatepark and Taliesin. Free | No booking required.

• Become a crime scene investigator, meet Billy Blue and marvel at a Tesla police car at a police-themed Children’s Activity Day at the Swansea Grand Theatre from 11 AM - 2 PM. Free | Just turn up!

• Mumbles Community Council is hosting a Family Fun Day (with sausage and chips lunch included!) at Oystermouth Castle field from 12.30 PM - 2.30 PM. Free | Just turn up.

• Head to Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre for a free bouncy castle play session from 10.30 AM - 2 PM, for children aged 2 - 12 years. Free | Booking required.

• It's Tots Disco at Mumbles Pier every Tuesday throughout the summer holidays, with new special visitors every week. This week, Bing will be dropping by for two sessions - at 10.30 AM and 11.30 AM. £5 per child | Booking required.

• Join the National Trust for a Summer of Play event at Rhosilli, every Tuesday to Thursday from July 20th to August 29th from 9 AM - 12 PM - including football, volleyball, hula hooping, and welly-wanging! Free. Car parking charges apply.

• The Glyn Vivian Art Gallery’s Family Film Club runs from 10.30 AM - 1 PM every Tuesday in the summer holidays - totally free, but donations welcome.

• Lush on Oxford Street in Swansea has a bath bomb-making workshop instore from midday to 3 PM. Booking required | £5.

• Join The Shared Plate at the Summit Good Farm in Dunvant for lots of free fun including cooking, seed planting, outdoor building and arts and crafts. Free (donations welcome) | Ages 9-14.

• Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until the end of August from 2 PM - 4 PM, MAD on High Street in the city centre is offering taster workshops and activities for children and young people, including programming, computer games, robotics and virtual reality games. Free | Booking required.

Wednesday August 7th 🎪

• Meet at Mumbles Skate Park from 10 AM - 1 PM for free skate, scooter, DJing, spray painting, and breakdancing with Exist Skatepark and Taliesin. Free | No booking required.

• There’s National Play Day celebrations from 11 AM - 2PM at the National Waterfront Museum, including Circus Eruption, arts and crafts, den building, walkabout characters, live music, and a confetti finale!

• Head down to Founders & Co. on Wind Street for free arts & crafts sessions every Monday and Wednesday until August 28th, between midday and 3 PM. Each week features a different theme. Free. No booking required.

• Try your hand at graffiti crafts at West Cross Youth Club’s Free Summer Fun at the Linden Church from 12.30 PM - 3.30 PM. Free | Ages 10-14 | No booking required.

• All ages are welcome at the Glynn Vivian for its free I Can Paint - Macro-Cosmic Galaxies activity, from 10.30 AM - 1.30 PM. Free | Booking required.

• SOFIT will hosting a free kids fitness class in Brynmill Park at 9.30 AM - 11 AM. Ages 5-11.

Thursday August 8th 🦗

• It’s the Townhill Hub Summer Fun Day, with Circus Eruption, face painting, arts and crafts, drumming sessions, and more - from 11 AM - 3 PM. Free | Just turn up!

• Head to The Welfare in Ystradgynlais for the Great Insect Games, a fun-packed family stage show at 11 AM. £7 - £9 or pay what you can.

• The Gower Heritage Centre hosts its Little Red Hen Goes to Fairyland event - hear the story in its children’s theatre, visit fairyland, make fairytale crafts, and take part in a duck race! Ages 3-8 | Booking required.

• Swansea Museum is hosting its summer holiday workshop, with the chance to reimagine and recreate Swansea Bay from Mumbles to the Museum in a 3D model using a mixture of themes and materials. This week's session is Shoreline: beaches, sea creatures, sandcastles, surfers - from 10 AM - 1 PM. Free. No booking required.

• Join in at St Mary's Church in central Swansea for its Kids Holiday Funday from 10.30 AM - 2 PM. There'll be crafts, games, and a free colouring book for every child that attends. Plus, a free lunch is provided.

• Swansea Community Workshops on High Street is hosting a Kids Matisse Paper Cut Collage activity from 10 AM - 12 PM. Free.

• Head to LUSH on Oxford Street at 12 PM for the LUSH X TMNT Pizza Party, celebrating reusable and plastic-free fun. Dive into an exciting session of bubble bar and pizza-making, games, and other turtley awesome activities. All ages | £15.00 | Booking required.

• Every Thursday in August, Founders & Co. will have a table dedicated to LEGO, where kids can freely explore and build their own creations between 12 PM and 3 PM.

Friday August 9th 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

• At the Dylan Thomas Centre, a workshop from 10 AM - 12 PM for families who need a quieter experience that is designed to be autism and neurodivergent friendly. Chart your holiday adventures – real and imagined – on your own hand-made story map. Free | Booking required.

• There will be free fun days at Hafod Park (10 AM - 12 PM) and Montana Park (1.30 PM - 3.30 PM), with Crazy Characters and entertainment from Rolypoly Entertainment.

• Join the National Waterfront Museum for its free monthly Museum group for children under 5 from 10.15 AM - 12.15 PM. Stay and play with Welsh-themed crafts, and enjoy Welsh songs and story time - this month's theme is Celebrating Summer.

• Drop into Volcano Theatre’s High Street Hangout for free artist-led workshops every Friday until August 30th, from 10 AM - 2 PM - including graffiti, creature collage, and paint a mini space canvas. Free. Booking required.

Saturday August 10th 🐕

• Contenders, ready! It’s Gladiator Day at Llys Nini Animal Centre in Penllergaer, complete with an inflatable assault course and duel. Two sessions from 10.30 AM - 12.30 PM and 1 PM - 3 PM.  £10 per child | Booking required.

• There'll be Crazy Characters, Will's Petting Farm, games, snacks and ice-cream at a free fun day in Parc Llewelyn from 12 PM - 3 PM.

• Pennard Party in the Park includes live music all day, carnival rides, food vendors, and multiple bars. It runs from 12 PM - 11 PM. Free entry before 5 PM, £7 on the gate after. Kids free.

• Head to the Gower Heritage Centre for pirate fun around the mill, from 1 PM - 2.30 PM including pirate stories, a scavenger hunt, pirate crafts, and a pirate duck race. Booking required | Ages 3-10.

• Loughor Inshore Lifeboat is hosting its Family Fun Day, where you can meet the crew and take part in a host of fun activities including tug of war, coconut shy, and fancy dress from 1 PM til late.

• Head to the Swansea Bus Museum every Saturday in August from 11 AM - 3 PM for slot car racing, a free bus ride, model railway, and more!

• SOFIT will hosting a free family fitness class on Swansea Beach at 10 AM - 10.45 AM. Meet them at the recreation ground car park near Singleton Park. Ages 5+.

• The Chinese in Wales Association is hosting a fun interactive story-telling and craft workshop in the IT Hub (first floor) at Swansea Grand Theatre from 10.30 AM - 11.30 AM. Free. Booking required.

Sunday August 11th 🦜

• Mumbles Pier’s summer of fun continues with Kids Club and Games, with free entertainment from Purple Penguin from 12 PM - 3 PM, followed by live music from 5 PM - 8 PM.

• Meet Captain Barnacles and his puppet friends in a family-friendly one-man pantomime featuring treasure hunting, wild creatures, and underpants! Two shows at 12.30 PM and 2.30 PM at the National Waterfront | Tickets £3.00.

COUNCIL NEWS

New Operator Agreed for Swansea Airport 🛩️

Swansea Airport is set to have a new operator following negotiations led by Swansea Council - the site’s landowner. The current leaseholder has agreed to step down, allowing the Swansea Airport Stakeholders' Alliance to take temporary control. This move ensures the airport remains operational while the council searches for a long-term tenant through a competitive tender process.

WEATHER

Monday
20🌡️ 14 | 🌦️ | 50% | 💨 N 15 mph

Tuesday
19 🌡️ 12 | 🌧️ | 20% | 💨 E 10 mph

Wednesday
18 🌡️ 14 | 🌧️ | 40% | 💨 NE 5 mph

Thursday
19 🌡️ 14 | 🌦️ | 50% | 💨 NE 10 mph

Friday
19 🌡️ 11 | 🌧️ | 65% | 💨 E 13 mph

Saturday
18 🌡️ 14 | 🌦️ | 35% | 💨E 14 mph

Sunday
19 🌡️ 12 | ⛅ | 25% | 💨 E 15 mph

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

August 6th

Waterloo Stores | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Gin and Juice | Live Lounge Thursdays 7.30 PM
Hangar 18 | MAN | 7.30 PM

August 7th

The Black Boy | Open Mic | 9 PM

August 8th

Waterloo Stores | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Gin & Juice | Live Lounge Thursdays | 7.30 PM

August 9th

Proud Mary | After Work Perks | 5 PM
CU Mumbles | The Royal Scam | 7 PM
The Oyster House | Friday Night Live | 7 PM
Sin City | Swanhill | 7 PM
Elysium | No Thee No Ess | 7 PM

August 10th

Proud Mary | Saturdays Live Music | 6 PM
Railway Inn | Jerry Williams Band | 4 PM
Sin City | Guns 2 Roses | 7 PM

August 11th

Mumbles Pier | Fabba Mania | 5 PM

SPORTS NEWS ⚽

Swansea City has signed 22-year-old Slovenia striker Zan Vipotnik on a four-year contract after his mutual contract termination with Bordeaux. Vipotnik, who scored 10 goals in 37 Ligue 2 appearances for Bordeaux, left the French club due to its relegation to the third tier and financial difficulties

THANKS

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