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VE Day Parties, Classic Car Show, May Day Games, Whisky Tour, Local Markets

VE Day Parties, Classic Car Show, May Day Games, Whisky Tour, Local Markets

Plus: Live Comedy, Belly Dancing, Footloose, Baby-Friendly Movie Morning,

Andrew M
May 04, 2025

Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop. The local newsletter that stocked up on sun cream and ice-cream for a sunny(!) bank holiday.

This Thursday is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, marking the official end to World War II in Europe - and Swansea Council will mark the occasion with a series of events, including a a veterans service, a beacon lighting, and parade through the city centre.

There’s also a host of family-friendly VE Day events being hosted across the city - a great excuse to get together for a party.

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

Andrew.

SUPPORT THE SCOOP 🦢

Many readers have asked me if there’s a way to support the Swansea Scoop as we continue to grow - and now you can :)

If you enjoy our emails and want to help us cover our running costs, Buy Me A Coffee lets you contribute any amount you like - either monthly or as a one-off donation. No sign-up needed.

Thank you so much for your support,

Andrew.

WEDNESDAY'S SCOOP (ICYMI) 🦢

For generations, Welsh women in traditional red and black flannel gathered tons of cockles from the mudflats of Penclawdd.

Discover how their lives and work helped them become icons of Welsh culture whom Dylan Thomas aptly described as having webbed feet.

This week, read all about it in The Cockle Women of Penclawdd.

THE DIGEST 📰

✈️ Spitfire flights are coming to Swansea Airport starting May 11th, with FlyaSpitfire offering 30-minute, 45-minute and 55-minute experiences.

🏖️ Three Cliffs Bay has been named among Europe's 50 best beaches by The World's 50 Best Beaches, a ranking compiled by 1,000 travel professionals.

💦 Blackpill Lido has re-opened for the summer season until late September, from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM daily. Deck chairs are also available to hire from £2.75 per day.

🪙 Two Swansea WWII veterans were recently invited to the Royal Mint to strike one of the first commemorative 50p coins marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

🎨 Swansea artist and lecturer Christian Ryan has created a striking stained-glass window for Cardiff's Cornerstone to honour Welsh merchant seafarers who served during World War II.

🎾 Pure Swansea Padel, owned by property group Swansea.com and former Swansea City FC footballers Leon Britton, Lee Trundle and Kurtis March, has submitted plans for two new padel courts in Swansea city centre.

⚽ Swansea City and Wales legend Joe Allen, 35, has announced his retirement from football, ending a career spanning nearly 600 club appearances and 77 international caps.

SWANSEA FOOD & DRINK 🍴

Credit: HQ Urban Kitchen

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

🍽️ Nok Nok recently opened on Newton Road in Mumbles, serving up authentic Thai food with recipes passed down from the family of owner, Nok.

🍽️ Cattle & Co launched its new rooftop American sports bar, The Saloon, on Friday, featuring golden hour drinks, live music and DJs, a new BBQ menu, and cocktails.

🍽️ Station 86 in Gowerton is celebrating its 2nd anniversary with new cakes and drinks in addition to their usual favourites.

🍽️ The Mill on Bryn-y-mor Road has launched summer slushies, where you can turn your favourite drink (including cider and WKD) into an ice-cold slush to drink in the bar or take away.

🍽️ Crumbs Kitchen in the Uplands now stocks products from the viral Famished Cookies - this week’s cabinet included Nutella & Pistachio and Kinder Bueno.

@SWANSEA.SCOOP 📱

This week, we visited the plant shop run by the friendly folk of Friends of Singleton Park Botanic Garden. There are loads of plants, shrubs, trees, and more - all reasonably priced, too!

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 now have over 10,000 followers!

Find us at @swansea.scoop

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BELLY DANCING… IN SWANSEA?

Fancy adding something completely different to your weekend? Sandra from Swansea Belly Dance got in touch to tell us about its third annual charity showcase.

The event brings together local belly dancers for an afternoon of performances at the Depot in Swansea Grand Theatre on Saturday, May 10th, from 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM.

If you've ever been curious about belly dancing but haven't taken the plunge, this is the perfect opportunity to see what it's all about.

And if you like what you see, Swansea Belly Dance classes run on Thursday evenings at Swansea Grand Theatre, with an open level class returning on May 22nd. No bare belly or previous experience necessary - just dance and have fun 🙂

Interested? Contact Sandra at [email protected] to book your tickets (£10pp), with all profits going to charity.

THE LOCAL SCOOP 🦢

Plants & Papers, Uplands

These local businesses help support the Swansea Scoop and might just be your best new find. Mentioning you found them through us helps keep this newsletter free 🙂

🌿 Plants & Papers: Swansea's only dedicated houseplant shop, stocking over 1,000 plants and 200+ varieties. From rare exotics to beginner-friendly plants, plus pots, plant care, and headshop accessories.

🎨 Hayley Lou Lino Prints: Beautiful handcrafted lino prints capturing Gower's coastal landscapes and natural beauty. Find her work at Bud & Bay, local markets, or join a beginner-friendly workshop to create your own unique design.

🤲 That's Better Sports Massage: Expert therapeutic massages for sports recovery, deep tissue, and pregnancy care at The N.E.A.T Clinic in Gowerton. Plus cupping, lymphatic drainage, and hot stone treatments.

Want to promote your event, business, class, or club to over 5,000 locals in the Swansea Scoop for only £10? Reply to this e-mail or DM Andrew @swansea.scoop on Instagram.

WHAT’S ON

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

Monday May 5th

🏰 May Day Games: Enjoy traditional games like tin can alley, hook-a-duck, ping-pong-dong, hula hoops at Oystermouth Castle. Try a new game - the castle's version of Pooh Sticks using balls, with prizes.
11 AM - 4 PM | Normal admission charges apply

🚗 Swansea Classic Car Show: Enjoy the annual event at Singleton Park featuring a classic car show, family fun fair, freestyle motorcross, live music, and more!
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | £5.00 - £6.00

Tuesday May 6th

🐦 Jon Gower's Birdland: A Journey Around Britain on the Wing: Join author Jon Gower at Waterstones to explore Britain's bird life in his latest title, Birdland, analyzing changes, climate impact, and conservation efforts.
6 PM | £5 - £25

Wednesday May 7th

😄 Robin Morgan at The Cross Keys: Welsh comic Robin Morgan, known for his engaging stand-up and TV comedy writing, brings his hilarious performance to Swansea.
8 PM | £10.80

✍️ Free Creative Writing Classes: The start of four workshops with Guinevere Clarke, inspiring and developing poetry and providing a space to meet local wordsmiths - at Taliesin Arts Centre's ground floor Create space.
6 PM - 8 PM | Free

Thursday May 8th

🇬🇧 The Norton VE Day 80 Celebration: Step back in time with a proper wartime street party featuring 1940s fancy dress, vintage music, food, drinks, live music and streets lined with Union Jacks at The Norton in West Cross.
1 PM | Free entry

🔥 Beacon Lighting: Witness the Castle Beacon and Lamp of Peace being lit in honour of VE Day at Oystermouth Castle. Enjoy traditional live music from the era, with a special guest lighting the beacon.
9.30 PM | Free

🎨 Gower College - DNA: A play by Dennis Kelly at Swansea Grand Arts Wing, following a group of teenagers as they deal with the consequences of a dark deed and its unexpected consequences.
2.30 PM, 7:15 PM | £12.00

📖 Live in the Parlour - Launch of Shared Origins: Join poets Mike Jenkins, David Annwn, and David Lloyd for a unique poetry book launch at Dylan Thomas Birthplace. Zoom stream also available.
6.30 PM | £10.00

Friday May 9th

🐭 Museum Little Mice: Monthly Museum group at the National Waterfront Museum for children under 5, offering Welsh-themed crafts, songs, storytelling, and fun learning activities. This month’s theme is Celebrating in the Garden.
10:15 AM - 12:00 PM | Free

🍕 MNDA Cocktail Party Fundraiser + Pizza: Join Richard Cook's fundraising event at Cinema & Co., featuring cocktails, pizza, and a screening of "Cocktail" (1988). Proceeds support MND patients.
6 PM | From £15

🍷 Penderyn Swansea Evening Whisky Tour: Take an exclusive evening tour of Penderyn distillery, indulge in two drinks of your choice, plus a cocktail at the bar.
6 PM | £25.00

🎵 Glantawe Theatre Company: Footloose: Glantawe Theatre Company Youth presents "Footloose Youth Edition" at The Welfare - a musical tale about a town where dancing is banned, featuring hits like 'Footloose' and 'Let's Hear It for the Boy.' Also Saturday.
7 PM | Adults £12, Concessions £10

🎷 Friday Night Saxophone at Bar Saint James: Enjoy an 80s/90s saxophone performance by Lucas at Bar Saint James in Swansea.
7.30 PM | Free

😀 Problematic Pub Comedy Night: Experience top-tier stand-up comedy at the Problematic Pub Comedy Club at Bar 98 in Pontardawe, featuring headline act, Glen Wool.
7:30 PM | £15.00

Saturday May 10th

🛹 Sunny Saturdays at Mumbles Skatepark: Free beginner skateboarding coaching sessions at Mumbles Skatepark throughout summer with Exist Skatepark. All equipment and safety gear provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
10 AM - 1 PM | Free, weather dependent

👶 Baby-Friendly Screening at Cinema & Co.: Enjoy Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in a baby-friendly atmosphere with Rubba-Bubba at Cinema & Co.
2 PM | £10.00

🛍️ Worth the Weight Vintage Fair: Shop sustainably at Brangwyn Hall, browsing classic clothing items from 60 rails including denim, sports, ladies and men's fashion, and accessories - for £20 per kilo or less.
11 AM | £2

🚶 Hafod Copperworks Guided Walk: Find out about Swansea’s once thriving copper industry with a free guided walk hosted by The Friends of Hafod Morfa Copperworks.
11 AM | Free

🇬🇧 Family Fun Day VE Day: Celebrate VE Day with a Family Fun Day at the Kings Head Inn in Llangennith, including a bouncy castle, Nerf wars, live music, and a cake sale.
All Day | Free admission

🪩 Retro School Disco: Join Boogie Nights at Cu Mumbles for music from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s to transport you back to your youth.
3 PM - 8 PM | £10

👚 Marina Market: Head down to Dylan Thomas Square where local traders bring you the best local produce, food and drink, clothes, jewellery, art, and more.
10 AM - 3 PM

👛 Funky Craft Fayre: Shop for handmade gifts from local artists, makers and designers at the Ostreme Centre in Mumbles.
10 AM - 4 PM

🇬🇧 VE Day Concert in the Park: Head to Parc y Werin to enjoy refreshments and music from Gorseinon & District Brass Band.
2 PM - 4 PM | Free

🎉 Loughor RFC 80th Anniversary VE Day Celebration: Family-friendly celebration featuring food, drinks, live music from Halogen Productions, Llwchwr Town Brass Band, Part 2, and Chapter Five, plus fancy dress competition, funfair rides, inflatables and more. 2PM | £1 entry

🎭 Studio Streetwise: South Wales' premier Street Dance School debuts at Swansea Grand Theatre with a family-friendly, talent-packed show featuring dancers of all ages and championship-winning performances.
11 AM, 4 PM | £17.00

🎨 Colour Creations: Unleash your creativity with magic colour mixing and chromatography butterfly crafting every weekend in May at Oriel Science, for all ages.
10 AM - 4 PM | Free

🐶 Oriel Saturday Sessions: Colour: Discover how animals perceive colour through hands-on activities at Oriel Science, exploring vision differences and infrared cameras.
11 AM & 2 PM | £0 - £12

🛍️ Vintage & Handmade Market: Cow & Ghost Vintage/Homeware is hosting a two-day market (Saturday and Sunday) at the National Waterfront Museum, featuring 48 independent traders offering French brocante, quirky vintage, and unique handmade items.
10 AM - 4 PM | Free

✍️ Welsh Folk Tales of Coast & Sea: Join professional storyteller Peter Stevenson on at Cover to Cover Bookshop for a storytelling session featuring Welsh folk tales of mermaids, pirates, giant creatures, and mystical beings along the Welsh Coast Path.
2 PM | Free

Sunday May 11th

👗 Calico Dress Cymru: Design and embroider your own motif on the Calico Dress Cymru dress in guided session by Textiles Artist Menna Buss, exploring Welsh themes. Age 16+.
10.30 AM & 2 PM | Free

🎵 Phoenix Fun Day 2025: The Phoenix Centre in Townhill hosts its annual community celebration, featuring family activities, Townhill's Got Talent, and a day filled with fun surprises.
11 AM - 4 PM