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Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop, the local newsletter that's like a sunny bank holiday weekend! We’ll be hotter than Barcelona tomorrow… 🌞

This week, Alfie Boe takes to the stage, football legends go head-to-head in a charity match, and the Swansea Craft Brew Festival takes over the Patti Pavilion.

All that, plus pizza sandwiches, Swansea & Gower Cycling Festival, a UV paint party on Wind Street, and 50+ more things to do across the week.

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

Andrew.

P.S. Over 10,500 Swansea locals read the Scoop! Know someone who’d enjoy it? Forward this email to them and ask them to subscribe for free.

On a cold Christmas Day in the 1920s, Richard Cottle rowed across the water to Mumbles lighthouse carrying a plate of dinner for his father. He’d stopped for a drink or two on the way, which may explain what happened next. He slipped on the rocks, dropped the plate, scraped the sand off the food as best he could… and watched his father eat every mouthful in silence - grit and all.

Richard’s father, Charlie Cottle, had been keeper of the Mumbles lighthouse for over a decade by then, and he would keep it for another decade after. When he finally left in 1934, the national daily The Sketch devoted nearly two pages to the story.

This week, we tell you why.

Read Mumbles’ Last Lighthouse Keeper.

🚢 The world's last seagoing paddle steamer is sailing from Swansea to Ilfracombe and Lundy Island next month.

🛹 Swansea's skaters are holding a 24-hour sponsored skate to raise £10,000 for Exist Skatepark.

🌿 A Chelsea Flower Show award-winning garden, The Bat Conervation Trust’s Nocturnal Garden, is coming to Swansea permanently.

🍷 A Swansea wine tasting guest has confessed to stealing novelty guitar-shaped spoons after one too many glasses - and posted a handwritten apology.

✈️ The Red Arrows won’t be at the Wales Airshow this year - they’ll be in the USA.

🏉 The Ospreys have unveiled their plans to transform St Helen’s - and work starts next week.

⚽ Young people from Swansea have represented Wales on the world stage at the Street Child World Cup in Mexico City.

🍴 GNHM Pop-Up: Head to Full of Graze for a one-night-only pop-up event by chef Chris Hardie featuring a five-course menu based on Grandad Needs His Medicine's sandwiches.
5.30 PM or 8 PM | £50

🎵 R'n'B Brunch: DJs Blackmagic & Wicked serve up 90s to 00s R&B vibes at The Swigg, with happy hour from 5-7 PM.
Friday, May 29th | 5 PM - 11 PM

🍰 Afternoon Tea: Join Chai Deli for a delightful afternoon tea at Mumbles Yacht Club - open to all members and non-members.
Saturday, May 30th | 3 PM - 5 PM

🍕 Koub x Flame & Bake Event: Enjoy innovative pizza sandwiches and coffee at Koub Coffee in Morriston.
Friday, May 29th | 11 AM - 3 PM

If you were on holiday in Swansea in the 1960s and 70s, you might have picked up one of Colourmaster’s tourist information booklets for ideas of what to see and do. We came across one in a charity shop, with some lovely old images of the city:

📱 Join over 75,000 people and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

This 5-bedroom detached house in Three Crosses features a kitchen/breakfast room with bi-fold doors, multiple spacious reception rooms, and countryside views over Gower. Offers in the region of £1.1m via Dawsons.

We’ve teamed up with the Problematic Comedy Club on The Strand to give away two pairs of tickets to its show on Saturday, May 30th!

There are two tickets up for grabs on both our Instagram and Facebook profiles:

🎤 Enter here on Instagram

🎤 Enter here on Facebook

👴 Ageing Well Activities for 50+: Enjoy activities across Swansea, including movie and soup specials, coffee mornings, bowling and social walks.
Various times | Free

🎶 Dan Byrne Acoustic Set: Enjoy a live acoustic performance by Dan Byrne at Derricks Music, bringing a soulful music to an intimate setting.
7 PM | £13.99

🎭 Friar Maurice Investigates - The Hanged Man: Step into 1307 Swansea as Friar Maurice solves a puzzling ‘murder, mystery, or miracle’ in a historical walking tour by Lighthouse Theatre.
10.30 AM | £10

📸 Wildlife Photography Exhibition: Last chance to discover the beauty of the natural world captured by South Wales-based photographers at Taliesin Arts Centre.
Ends May 29th, 2026 | Free

🧸 Teddy Bear Picnic at Oystermouth Castle: Join the castle bears for a fun picnic with games, a bear hunt, singing - and help name the seasonal bears.
11 AM - 3 PM | Free for children under 5, £4 - £18

🏴‍☠️ Half Term Family Fun: Pirate-themed activities including storytime, crafts, treasure hunts, meeting Captain Red Rock, and a fun pirate duck race for kids during half-term. Also Tues and Wed.
1 PM | £8 - £12

🏓 Ping Pong & Pint: Join Urban HQ every Wednesday for friendly table tennis, music, and a complimentary drink. All abilities welcome for a relaxed midweek social.
5:.30 PM - 7 PM | Free

🎤 The Singing Jukebox: Singalong event where you choose the songs and Bobby Cole plays them live on the piano, at Founders & Co.
7 PM | £7

🍺 Pints with Eddie - The Man Behind the Original Cyril: Join Eddie Donne and OG Cyril the Swan for post-football pints at The Swansea Jack, with Player of the Match presentations, darts, pool, and family activities.
3 PM

🎨 Dress-Up Life Drawing: Enjoy a unique life drawing session where models portray characters from the gallery's collection. All abilities welcome, materials provided.
12.30 PM | £7.50

🌿 Family Nature Prints: Get creative with ink and nature at National Waterfront Museum during half term, crafting your unique artwork to take home. Also Wed and Thurs.
12.30 PM - 3.30 PM | Free

🎺 Jazz in the Observatory: Cardiff vocalist Sarah Meek and Bristol saxophonist Dan Newberry, accompanied by the Dave Cottle Trio, bring Summer Swing Jazz & Bossa Nova to Swansea Observatory.
8 PM | £15

🎨 Lives in Motion, Joseph Herman Workshop: Create 3D scenes inspired by artist Joseph Herman through mark-making and cardboard construction. Suitable for ages 5+
10.30 AM & 1.30 PM | Free - £3

🏺 Egypt Centre Explorers - The Tomb Opens: Kids aged 6-12 can experience the House of Death, mummification chamber, and unseen artefacts, games, and memento-making at The Egypt Centre. Also Thurs and Fri.
10 AM - 3 PM | £20 per child

🚴 Swansea & Gower Cycling Festival: Experience a cycling extravaganza in Swansea and Gower, with 15 rides graded for various abilities.
May 27th - May 31st

🎭 Indefinite Articles: Claytime: Award-winning interactive theatre experience for 3 to 6-year-olds, featuring Claytime, a play with clay where young participants' imaginations run wild creating unique characters and stories.
11 AM & 2 PM | Pay what you can from £8.50

*Sponsored listing

🏖️ Beach Yoga: Join Claire Nicholls-de Freitas from Ty Casa Yoga for a weekly community beach yoga session at Swansea Marina Beach.
Thursdays, 7 PM - 8 PM | Donation only

🩰 60+ Dance Sessions: Join Laura for upbeat solo dance sessions at the National Waterfront Museum, featuring themed music like Abba and Grease.
2 PM | Free

🎨 Portrait Making: Let your creativity flow at Swansea Museum! Join the workshop artist to craft a portrait - of yourself, a friend, or a fantastical figure.
10 AM - 1 PM | Free, Drop In, All Ages

🎭 What's Wrong With Derek?: Fast-paced comedy sketch show featuring Eleri, Kath, and Simone attempting to unravel the mystery of Derek's existence with hilarious unconnected sketches. Also Saturday.
8 PM | £15.72

🎤 The Sensational 60s Experience: Relive the best of the '60s with original artists performing hit songs from the era, including Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich, at Swansea Grand Theatre.
7 PM | £34

🌼 Quiet Family Workshop - Wildflower Paper Poetry: A relaxed, autism-friendly workshop at Dylan Thomas Centre, creating wildflower paper with seeds.
10 AM | Free

🎵 CUE w. Tommy Phillips: Late-night party at Bambu featuring Tommy Phillips for a night of house and minimal music.
9 PM | £15 - £20

*Sponsored listing

🩰 Dawns Tawe: Experience a weekend of free live dance performances and workshops at the National Waterfront Museum by local, national, and international dance artists.
11 AM - 4 PM Saturday & Sunday

🍻 Swansea Craft Brew Festival: Enjoy bottomless drinks from top indie breweries, live music, quizzes, and street food at The Patti Pavilion.
From 1 PM | From £40

🎤 Alfie Boe Live: British tenor Alfie Boe performs his iconic hits and new material at Swansea Building Society Arena.
7 PM | From £43.77

🍲 Uplands Market: Monthly market featuring fresh food and handcrafted goods at Gwydr Square, Uplands.
9 AM - 1 PM

🎭 National Theatre Live - The Playboy of the Western World: A gripping classic play where a young man walks into a pub claiming he's killed his father, becoming a local hero until a twist unfolds - at Taliesin Arts Centre.
7 PM | £5 - £14

🎸 The Mersey Beatles: Experience the world's favourite Liverpool-born tribute band celebrating the music of The Beatles, at Swansea Grand Theatre.
7 PM | £29

🎟️ Wales vs Europe Charity Football Match: Football legends Chris Coleman and Michu lead star-studded teams in a charity match supporting childhood cancer charities.
2 PM | From £8

UV Paint Party: An electrifying night at Jack Murphys Wind Street featuring paint cannons, face painting, and robot dancers.
9 PM | Free before 10 PM, £4 general entry

🏭 Guided Tour of the Old Hafod Morfa Copperworks: Explore Swansea's copper industry history with a free 2-hour guided walk at the Copperworks site - meet opposite the Landore Park & Ride building
11 AM | Free

🎪 Young Traders Market South Wales Regional Final: Talented young traders from South Wales compete at Swansea Market for a spot in the national Young Traders Market Grand Final.
10 AM - 4 PM

🎨 Bonnie Grace: Family Session Paper Jugs: Join Bonnie at Mission Gallery for a family-friendly workshop exploring ceramics through paper, creating expressive paper jugs using continuous line techniques.
11 AM & 2 PM | £6.13

🦋 May Science Corner at Oriel Science: Learn about insects and flowers interaction. Make a butterfly, deconstruct a flower, and support insect life. Free entry, weekends in May plus half-term dates.
10 AM - 4 PM | Free

🎨 Summer Crafts at Ravenhill Park: Hands-on crafting for children 5-11 at Ravenhill Park's Swansea Cafe.
11 AM - 12:45 PM | £1.79

🎾 Cwmdonkin Park Open Day 2026: Free Tennis Open Day in Cwmdonkin Park, where anyone can try tennis with no equipment needed, and meet the coaching team. 2 PM - 5 PM | Free

🐱 The Cat in the Hat: Fancy a short drive? Join the mischievous Cat in the Hat for a lively stage adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic tale at Ffwrnes Llanelli.
2 PM | £15.50 - £58

🌳 Clyne in Bloom: Enjoy a fun-filled day with mountain boarding, birdwatching with RSPB, and live music by Plastic Sam's Stargazer. Booking required.
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM & 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Free

🦋 The Wonderful Wildlife of Coal Spoil: Join Liam Olds for a guided walk at Parc Melin Mynach, Gorseinon, to discover unique wildlife in coal spoil habitats.
10 AM | £2 donation

🎉 Eid Fun Day: Family fun at The Vetch Park with food stalls, henna art, face painting, and activities to celebrate Eid.
11 AM - 4 PM

🌸 Need flowers for a special occasion? Just Jenny's in Morriston is a proper local florist with fresh seasonal blooms and a personal touch. Perfect for gifts, events, or treating yourself. New customers get 10% off when they mention Swansea Scoop.

🧹 Carpets looking tired? Swansea Bay Carpet Cleaning tackles everything from everyday wear to deep-set stains - homes and businesses across Swansea welcome. Great deals on multiple rooms throughout May. DM on Instagram to book.

Are you a local small business looking for customers? A classified ad in Swansea Scoop puts you in front of 10,000+ Swansea locals for just £50. Pick your date, write your ad, pay online, and you’re done.

*The above is sponsored content

Monday May 25th
Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Derricks | Dan Byrne | 7 PM

Tuesday May 26th

Wednesday May 27th
WordsOfAffirmation | 6 PM

Thursday May 28th

Friday May 29th
The Bunkhouse | Spwci | 6 PM

Saturday May 30th
The Bunkhouse | Albion | 6 PM

Sunday May 31st
The Oyster House | The Gowertones | 8.30 PM

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

Catch you on Wednesday!

Andrew.

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