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Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop - the local newsletter that's like remembering to buy windscreen de-icer before you need it 😄

I hope the new year is treating you well so far. Things are starting to pick up again around town, with everything this week from ABBA at the Arena to a talk on the worst scoundrels in Welsh history - plus bingo raves, hedge laying (yes, really), and the chance to meet princesses at Plantasia.

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

Andrew.

P.S. This week, we passed 8,000 subscribers to the Swansea Scoop newsletter! Thank you all for reading! Know someone else who’d enjoy the Scoop? Please forward this email to them and ask them to subscribe free here 🙂

Back in the mid-2000s, one of the most famous TV adverts of the era was quietly spoofed on a residential street in the city - not as a throwaway gag, but as a full-scale production involving flying fruit, smashed windows, and a furious local residents’ association.

This week, learn about the time when Swansea got Tango’d! 🍊

🚗 97% of pothole damage claims are rejected by Swansea Council, the RAC says.

🪶 A pair of rare 130-year old painted feathers has gone on display at Swansea Museum.

🏠 Former student accommodation on St Helens Rd is to be converted into housing for the homeless.

⛴️ A consultation by Swansea Council has shown overwhelming public support for a ferry from Swansea to southwest England.

👨‍🦰 20-year-old Osian Phillips has taken over as landlord of The Beaufort Arms in Kittle.

⚽ Ex-Swansea manager and Wales football legend Terry Yorath has died aged 75.

🐴 A historic Clyne Valley bridleway will no longer be tarmacked after a U-turn by Swansea Council.

🚍 Bus fares in Wales could be capped at £2 under plans by Welsh Labour.

A former Uplands hotel has been blocked from becoming a 12-bed HMO.

🏨 Swansea Council has proposed a record £1bn budget for 2026.

💿 The BBC is looking for people from South Wales to apply for The Hit List and Race Across the World.

🥧 Popular Pie & Mash seller Pieminister has opened at Socialdice in Swansea.

🎹 A live pianist will be playing at The Welsh House at 3 PM on the remaining Sundays in January.

🍲 Oyster House Mumbles has launched its winter set menu, available Monday - Friday.

🔥 Saffron Ddraig is hosting a Lohri bonfire on January 13th.

This week on socials, we visited Cricketers’ Blend and went for a stroll on a frozen Swansea Bay beach.

Click below to watch and give us a follow! We’re now at over 22,000 followers on Instagram, over 29,000 on Facebook, and nearly 5,000 on TikTok!

📚 Book clubs in Swansea

🍷 Places in Swansea that make Dry January easy

🦢 Swansea in the 1970s

🌎 Seven wonders of the world (Swansea edition)

💸 Top 5 Antiques Roadshow Swansea Reactions

This 3-bedroom terraced house in Morriston has two bathroom, a generously-sized rear garden, and is close to Morriston Hospital and the M4. No onward chain. £160,000 via Peter Alan.

🎲 The Gamers’ Emporium has moved from Swansea High Street into much larger premises on Union Street in the city centre.

🥐 Saint Hugo Bakery is opening a new branch in Mumbles on Sunday March 1st (location TBA).

🤝 100 local Swansea businesses have joined a new initiative committing to work alongside schools to provide real-world experiences to help pupils develop skills for work and life.

🍺 The Hafod Inn is set to re-open on Saturday January 31st, under new management.

A new branch of Travis Perkins opens in Llansamlet on Monday, January 12th.

🥘 Orka on Princess Way is hiring a full time waiter and a full time host.

🐮 Swansea Community Farm is looking for a Green Sparks Officer to join its team.

📕 Swansea local Lowri Anne got in touch to tell us about the recent launch of her idea goaldate, a new goal-setting journal for pairs or groups - recently featured in Health & Wellbeing.

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

🎊 COAST Activities: This week includes a Sing and Sign session with CanDo Connect and an invite to check out Oriel Science’s free exhibitions.
3 PM | £2

🎤 MAMMA MIA!: ABBA's iconic hits set the stage in this tale of love and friendship on a Greek island paradise at Swansea Arena, as Sophie uncovers her father's identity just before a wedding.
Jan 13th - Jan 24th | £20 - £24

📽️ Motherboard - Film Screening: Director Victoria Mapplebeck's documentary captures two decades of motherhood from pregnancy scan to college, showcasing a touching, humorous, and immersive journey - at the Taliesin.
7:30 PM | £7.75 (Full price), £5.00 (Under 26's & Students)

🎨 Craftsea Pottery Painting: Unwind with pottery painting and create something cute to take home at the Albert Hall.
6 PM - 8 PM | £22

🎨 Life Drawing at Elysium: Join friendly and informal life drawing sessions every Wednesday at Elysium. Basic materials provided.
6 PM - 9 PM | £10 + Free Drink

🌱 Jack and the Beanstalk: Brave Arts Theatre Company presents a production of the Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime at the Dylan Thomas Theatre.
Jan 14th - Jan 18th | £15.50 - £16.50

🛹 Men Over 30 Coached Skateboarding Session: Monthly session at Exist Skatepark for men over 30. Includes coaching, skateboards, safety gear. Ideal for beginners and skill improvement.
6 PM - 8 PM | £22.38

🎨 Reduction Linocut Workshop: Dive into the world of linocut printmaking at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. This one-day introductory class covers tools, design transfer, paper preparation, and multi-layered printing.
10 AM - 3 PM | £25 - £28

🎨 Swansea Fringe 2025 Exhibition Event: Re-live the Swansea Fringe Festival through sketches and photography at Elysium Gallery & Bar. Artist talks and performances by Mojo JNR and Captain Cat and the Sailors.
7 PM - 10.30 PM | £6.13

🎭 Rough Diamonds: Swansea University's Creative Writing MA students present a night of performance works - laughs, drama, and political insight - at Taliesin Arts Centre.
7 PM | £5

🌳 Two-Day Hedgelaying Workshop: Learn the art of hedgelaying at Melyn Mynach Park, preserving landscapes and wildlife-rich habitats.
10 AM - 3.30 PM | Free

🎭 Our Town: Experience Thornton Wilder's Our Town, reimagined through a Welsh lens, starring Michael Sheen at Swansea Grand Theatre.
2.30 PM, 7.30 PM - Until January 31st | £20 - £31

🎤 Who were the worst bad buys in Welsh history?: Historian Graham Loveluck-Edwards presents a lively talk on Welsh history's scoundrels at the Vivian Hall in Sketty.
7 PM | £12

🎉 Bingo Lingo: Swansea's wildest bingo rave returns to the Patti Pavilion, promising fast-paced club night bingo, unique prizes, and absurd rounds.
6.30 PM | £12 - £16.75

🖼️ Friends of the Glynn Vivian Talk with Lucia Jones: Lucia Jones, Welsh painter and recipient of the Wakelin Award 2025, delves into her exhibition's themes of memory and self-perception. Limited spaces, booking required.
2 PM - 3 PM | Free

🎭 Hen Galan: Celebrate the Welsh Old New Year with singing, dancing, and entertainment at Pontardawe Arts Centre.
7.30 pm | £5

🌿 Crafting the Year Ahead: Join this Wild Plant Paper workshop at Volcano Theatre to create a personalised mini-book with handmade plant-based papers and set positive intentions for the new year.
1 PM | Free

🎻 BBC NOW - Clash of the Titans: Experience Brahms' lyrical Violin Concerto and Mahler's nature-inspired Symphony No. 1 at Brangwyn Hall with conductor Ryan Bancroft and violinist Johan Dalene.
3 PM | £10 - £20

👑 January Princess Adventures: Meet the Tower Princess and the Adventure Princess at Plantasia Tropical Zoo for sing-alongs, photos, and magical family fun every half-hour, with activities, face painting, and a chance to win prizes.
10 AM - 5 PM | Adults £9.95, Child £9.95, Concession £7.95

🎨 Stunning 'Stained Glass Inspired' Artwork with Lisa: Create your own stained glass art at Swansea Community Workshops. All materials provided, no experience necessary. Suitable for children, young people, families.
1.30 PM | £4.50

📘 Gwilym Games: The Battle of Gower and The Great Welsh Revolt of 1136: Dive into Welsh history with this free talk exploring historical battles at Y Storfa.
2 PM | Free

🕺 Line Dance Workshop and Social with LS Dance and C&M: Join LS Dance for an all-level line dance workshop and request-filled social event hosted by C&M, featuring workshop, social dancing, and DJ Luke Shrimpton.
1 PM - 11:30 PM | Free

🔬 Science Corner: Hands on Sight & Sound: Explore fun activities from making a coffee cup guitar to conducting experiments with vision at Oriel Science. No booking needed. Saturdays in January | 10 AM - 4 PM | Free

🔬 Saturday Sessions: Sight & Sound: Explore sight and sound in the animal world with interactive workshops at Oriel Science, including eye and ear structures, animal vision experiments, and noise-making activities. Saturdays in January at 11 AM & 2 PM | Free

🥦 Swansea Winter Vegan Fair: Head to The Patti Pavilion for the third annual Swansea Winter Vegan Fair, featuring a variety of vegan delights from food to lifestyle products.
10 AM - 3 PM | Free entry

🏮 Willow Lantern Workshop: Free workshop hosted by Kilvey Woodland Volunteers at Crymlyn Bog Visitor Centre. Make willow lanterns with Jules using homegrown willow - all welcome.
11 AM | Free, booking essential - text 07988 721613

Monday January 12th
The Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Noah’s Yard | Jazz Club | 8.30 PM

Tuesday January 13th
The Bayview | Open Mic | 8 PM

Wednesday January 14th
The Swigg | Swansea Jazz Club | Jazz Jam Session with Dave Cottle Trio

Thursday January 15th

Friday January 16th

Saturday January 17th
Pontardawe Arts Centre | Paul Jones & Dave Kelly | 7.30 PM
Elysium Gallery & Bar | Mirada + Gutterchunk | 7 PM
The Bunkhouse | The Shunkos | 6 PM

Sunday January 18th

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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