Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop. The local newsletter that bought more Easter eggs on clearance (no regrets).

Swansea hosts Tunes of the Bay this week, a brand new three-day festival on the city’s seafront beach - let’s just hope they’ve read the tide times, or McFly could end up getting very soggy 😄

Plus, there’s everything from opera and nature walks to Greg Davies stand-up and an evening with Lee Trundle.

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

Andrew.

WEDNESDAY'S SCOOP (ICYMI) 🦢

As anyone who has completed the lung-busting climb to the top of Constitution Hill will exclaim, there must be an easier way to scale one of the steepest residential streets in the UK. And over 100 years ago, there was - for a few years, at least.

This week, read all about it in Swansea’s Biggest Transport Failure.

THE DIGEST 📰

♻️ Swansea Council is trialling a new kerbside recycling scheme where soft plastic items such as crisp packets, plastic food wrapping, and carrier bags will be collected from homes.

Havoc featuring Tom Hardy (several scenes for which were filmed in Swansea) was released on Netflix this week.

🏡 Hopes for a new farmstead-style community in Gower have been dashed after Swansea Council rejected plans by Gwyr Community Land Trust to create 14 low-carbon affordable homes in a field off South Close, Bishopston.

🧹 Swansea Council has created a new 'Long Roads Cleansing Team' to tackle roadside litter along main roads without pavements.

🏫 Just two children failed to get their first choice primary school in Swansea for September 2025, with only Llangyfelach Primary having to turn away first choice applicants.

🏘️ Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary Jayne Bryant has toured Swansea's latest council housing development in Manselton, where 13 new energy-efficient homes featuring solar panels, battery storage, and ground source heating are being built.

SWANSEA FOOD & DRINK 🍴

🍽️ HQ Urban Kitchen in the city centre has launched its new summer menu, with new dishes and returning favourites.

🍽️ ND John Wine Merchants is launching Wine Wednesdays from April 30th, featuring extended hours with pizzas, cheeseboards, and charcuterie available for dine-in or takeaway.

🍽️ El Pescador has launched a new set menu and a la Carte menu featuring bold Spanish flavors and fresh seafood including gambas al ajillo, crispy calamari, and shareable tapas.

🍽️ Mumbles Pier’s pizza is back for 2025 - freshly cooked from the Beach Hut Parlour - and perfect for an evening beach date.

🍽️ Salt Mango Tree, a new restaurant serving authentic south Indian food, has announced its grand opening on Sunday May 4th on Woodfield Street in Morriston.

@SWANSEA.SCOOP 📱

We posted a Then and Now reel this week and asked, “Do you prefer then or now?” Some commenters had quite strong opinions!

Check out our video on Instagram and give Swansea Scoop a follow while you’re there for lots of content that we can’t squeeze into the newsletter. We’re approaching 10,000 followers!

Find us at @swansea.scoop

FREE FILM SCREENING + Q&A 🎥

Taliesin Community got in touch this week to let us know about a special free screening of Wonderland, a documentary that tells the incredible story of five footballers who all grew up on the same street in Cwmbwrla.

The film follows the lives of Jackie Roberts, Ernie Jones, the Charles brothers (John and Mel), and Mel Nurse - all of whom emerged from Alice Street to represent Wales on the world stage.

The screening will be followed by Q&A session with the people behind the film - Amina Abu-Shahba (Taliesin Films), Max Webborn and Welsh football historian David Brayley.

Watch Wonderland at Volcano Theatre on Thursday, May 1st at 6.30 PM. Book your free tickets here.

THE LOCAL SCOOP 🦢

Introducing our weekly roundup of local businesses that support the Swansea Scoop and might just be your best new find. Mentioning you found them through us helps keep this newsletter free 🙂

👶 Janma: Luxury maternity care with holistic doula support grounded in Ayurvedic principles. Get personalised care from pregnancy through to postpartum, including massage therapies and breastfeeding support.

🥕 FarmCo Market: Shop organic, locally-sourced Welsh produce and artisan baked goods at our Market Hall in Kingsbridge, near Gorseinon. Open Wed–Sat.

🌹 Swansea Flowers: Luxury fresh and forever flower bouquets for local delivery and collection - plus Bobo balloons and gifts for any special occasion.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

👕 Garmzshack: Stockists of a hand-picked selection of pre-loved designer clothing. Visit our new pop-up shop on Nelson Street in the city centre.

🪑 Chunk Monkey: Affordable handmade rustic and reclaimed furniture built to last - blending industrial style with sustainability. Visit us at our Western Street showroom.

🧳 Red Dragon Destinations: Independent travel agent offering personalised holiday planning for destinations worldwide, from summer getaways to cruises and Disney trips.

WHAT’S ON

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

Monday April 28th

🌊 Walk to the Worm: Join a guided walk from the National Trust Shop to the far end of Worms Head at Rhossili, exploring the rich history and wildlife of this spectacular area.
10.30 AM | Free, booking required

🦋 Nature Trail Walk: Join Swansea University's Biodiversity Officer for a lunchtime walk around campus to discover spring wildlife, with opportunities to identify and record findings using the iNaturalist app.
12 PM - 2 PM | Free

Tuesday April 29th

🏔️ Mountains on Stage Summer Edition 2025: A selection of the best mountain sports films will be shared on the big screen at Vue Cinema, bringing the beauty of the mountains to the city.
7 PM - 10.30 PM (doors open at 6.30 PM) | £17.50

Wednesday April 30th

🎭 Steel Magnolias: Comedy-drama about a group of Southern women in Louisiana who are "as delicate as magnolias but as tough as steel" at Dylan Thomas Theatre, running from April 30 to May 3.
7.30 PM | £15.00 / £12.00 concessions / £10.00 members

😂 Jack Campbell: English Comedian Of The Year 2014 brings his Fringe Preview Show to The Cross Keys on April 30, having performed across the UK, Germany, Australia and more.
8 PM | £7.56

😂 Greg Davies: Full Fat Legend: Star of Taskmaster, The Inbetweeners, and The Cleaner returns with his biggest live tour yet after 7 years away from stand-up, running at Swansea Arena from April 30th to May 3rd.
Various times | From £50.96 (only VIP seating left from £90)

Thursday May 1st

🎵 Seven Drunken Nights: Direct from the West End, this celebration of The Dubliners brings authentic Irish music and stories to Swansea Grand Theatre, spanning half a century of Ireland's favourite musical sons.
7 PM | £23 - £29.50

🎭 From Stage to Screen: Class Act Theatre School presents a showcase where the magic of Stage and Screen collide, featuring talented young performers bringing beloved musical classics and modern hits to life - at Taliesin Arts Centre.
7 PM | £18.00

😂 Rogues' Gallery Comedy Club: May's instalment of professional comedy headlined by the internationally award-winning Stuart Goldsmith, known for Live At The Apollo and Conan, with resident MC Chris Barnes.
7 PM (doors close at 7.20 PM) | £8

Friday May 2nd

🎵 Tunes on the Bay: Three-day music festival on Swansea Bay beach featuring headliners McFly (Friday), Supergrass (Saturday) and Sossa Rossi (Sunday), plus performances by Feeder, Jake Bugg, Scouting for Girls, and more.
12 PM - 11 PM daily | Adult day tickets from £45, weekend tickets £100

🎭 Puccini La Bohème: Ellen Kent's award-winning production featuring the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, with international soloists including Korean soprano Elena Dee, telling the tragic tale of the consumptive Mimi and her love for a penniless writer. 7.30 PM | £23.00 - £42.00 (Save 20% when booked with Madama Butterfly)

⚽ An Evening with Lee Trundle and Jefferson Montero: Join two Swansea City legends at the Arts Wing as they share stories, anecdotes and insights from their careers, from Trundle's iconic goals to Montero's dazzling wing play in this Heroes and Legends presentation.
7.45 PM | £30.00

🎵 BBC NOW - Expressions of Folk: BBC National Orchestra of Wales performs works by Holst, Stravinsky, and Vaughan Williams, plus the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan's new euphonium concerto featuring soloist David Childs.
7.30 PM | £10 - £20

Saturday May 3rd

🎭 Puccini Madama Butterfly: Award-winning opera returns in a spectacular new production with exquisite sets including a Japanese garden and antique wedding kimonos, telling the heart-breaking story of a young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant.
7.30 PM | £23.00 - £42.00 (Save 20% when booked with La Bohème)

🛍️ PopUp Y Bont: A pop-up market for local food and crafts at The Circle, Tesco car park in Pontarddulais, featuring brilliant local small businesses.
10 AM - 2 PM 

🐦 Karen Owen - Project Puffin: Join author Karen Owen at Cover to Cover Bookshop to celebrate her latest MAJOR and MYNAH adventure, learn about puffins and other eco facts, and design your own posters.
2 PM | Ages 5+

🎵 Mumbles Record & CD Fair: Thousands of brand new and used vinyl records and CDs from various genres including rock, reggae, jazz, folk, metal, pop and more, at Victoria Hall in Mumbles.
10 AM - 3 PM

🎭 Theatre In Focus - Brian Friel: Peter Richards talks about the life and works of playwright Brian Friel, illustrated with excerpts from his plays, at Swansea Grand Theatre's Arts Wing Rooftop Bar.
12.30 PM | £7.00

🥗 Vegan Mini Market: Brontosaurus Vegan Lifestyle Store and other traders offer vegan products at the centre of Swansea Market. 10.00 AM - 3.00 PM | Free entry

Sunday May 4th

👚 Swansea Bay Market: The popular monthly market in Victoria Park returns, with tons of stalls selling local food, drink, and more.
10 AM - 2 PM

🎭 Poetica Nova Touring Theater: Improvisational Experimental Chamber Orchestra combining music, word, and art performance at Waterstones, featuring clarinet, violin, viola, French horn, installation art, and poetry.
3 PM | Free

🎵 G4 - Phantoms of the Popera: The X Factor stars showcase their unique trademark sound on the greatest showstoppers from musical theatre, featuring classics from Les Mis, Phantom, The Greatest Showman, and many more.
7.30 PM | £15.00 - £27.50

🐦 Clyne in Bloom 2025: Bird Watching: Join Russell Evans from the RSPB for bird watching in Clyne Gardens
10 AM - 12 PM | Free, booking essential

LIVE MUSIC 🎸

Monday April 28th
The Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM

Tuesday April 29th
The Bayview | Open Mic | 8 PM

Wednesday April 30th
Cu Mumbles | Cameron Saint Trio | 8 PM
The Bunkhouse | The Dollyrots + Don't Panic | 6 PM

Thursday May 1st
Hippos | Open Mic | 4 PM
The Bunkhouse | GANS | 7 PM

Friday May 2nd
The Albert Hall | Live Music Friday | 7 PM
The Oyster House | Friday Night Live | 8 PM
Elysium | Two Til Twelve + Yr Anghysur + Silica + Contra | 7 PM
Hippos | Disco Panter | 7.30 PM

Saturday May 3rd
HQ Urban Kitchen | Saturday Sessions | 1 PM

Sunday May 4th
Waterloo Stores | Live Music Sundays | 8 PM
Patti Pavillion | Luke Combs UK | 6 PM

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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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