Good morning, Swansea! This is the Swansea Scoop – the local newsletter that’s like finding the perfect conker 😊

This week has everything from an evening with Joe Calzaghe, to a Bollywood Dance-a-long, and the Swansea Arts Weekend featuring over 50 free events including an evening with Michael Sheen, and a breathtaking sculpture that invites you to stare at the sun close up without burning your retinas.

There’s even Oktoberfest bingo at the Patti Pavilion - though with my luck, the only thing I’ll win is a limp bratwurst and a hangover 😄

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

Andrew

P.S. Know someone else who’d enjoy the Scoop? Please forward this email to them and ask them to subscribe here 🙂

From smugglers' hideouts to past-life memories, Gower has always attracted treasure hunters with tales that sound too strange to be true. But sometimes the most unlikely stories have the most interesting details.

This week, enjoy three treasure tales that have become part of Swansea folklore - read Gower’s Strangest Treasure Hunts

📚 A new CGI fly-through reveals how Swansea's Y Storfa community hub will look when it opens later this year, transforming the former BHS store into a modern library and services centre.

🏢 Site investigation works have begun on Swansea's former St David's Shopping Centre ahead of a new office development set to bring hundreds of workers into the city centre.

🌳 Welsh Government has refused plans to build 56 affordable homes on Clyne Common at West Cross, ruling that the community-valued land should remain protected.

🎭 Swansea's Richard Mylan has won Best Director at The Stage Debut Awards 2025 for his acclaimed production of Mumfighter at Swansea Grand Theatre.

☕ Revised plans have been resubmitted to transform Morriston's historic Bethania Chapel into high-quality flats, a craft market hall, and a café.

🏗️ Demolition has begun on Swansea’s long-closed Cwmfelin Social Club, blamed for severe flooding in Cwmbwrla recently, due to a collapsed culvert on its land.

🦞 The Rock and Scallop will become a new vendor at the Albert Hall from November 1st, bringing its award-winning local seafood boils and platters.

🌱 Ground Plant Based Coffee recently launched a Vegan Roast Dinner for Sundays, with the choice of a Seitan Steak and a Nut and Mushroom Roast.

🍕 Pizza Boyz and MAG have collaborated to create a pizza/burger combo at Founders & Co. - brisket and chuck patties sandwiched between two Neapolitan pizzas.

🍞 Little Valley Bakery has announced that it is opening a new shop at Castleton Arcade in Mumbles, due to open in late October.

This week, we visited one of Swansea’s top-rated Asian restaurants on Dillwyn Street in the city centre. Can you guess where?

Check out the reel below and give us a follow! We’re over 16,800 followers on Instagram and over 20,000 followers on Facebook!

This 3-bedroom semi-detached home in Sketty features an open-plan kitchen/dining room, and off-road parking, and a south-facing reader garden. £449,000 via Simpsons Estate Agents.

Property group Swansea.com has submitted plans to build the UK's largest padel complex with 15 courts (nine indoor, six outdoor) in Swansea city centre.

🚧 The Grand Hotel on High Street is expanding with 55 luxury rooms, a rooftop bar, dining areas, gym, and more.

🥪 Grandad Needs His Medicine will be closing its original Oxford Street sandwich shop to focus on growing its newest venue in Sketty.

🧬 A £20m specialist laboratory where patients’ tissue and cell samples are tested for disease is to be created in Swansea or Llanelli.

👟 Skechers has added an “Opening Soon” banner in the Quadrant Shopping Centre, in the old Culture unit, opposite Schuh.

🎪 Swansea Council is developing a 10-year Events Strategy to transform the city and county into a premier destination for even more vibrant events and festivals - and they want your input to shape how it looks by filling in the survey here. Entries close October 17th.

⚽ The Swansea Jack is hiring for multiple roles as it gears up to open as the official Swansea FC sports bar later this year.

💼 Swansea Women's Aid is recruiting two Community VAWDASV Specialists – one 21-hour role working with adults and one 28-hour maternity cover position.

💡 Swansea MAD is looking for volunteers to join its team on High Street in the city centre.

Got Something to share? Tell Swansea all about it and get it delivered to 7,000+ local inboxes.

🎤 Sing-Along Screenings: Join in the sing-along fun at Swansea Albert Hall with weekly concerts on the big screen.
6 PM – 9 PM

👴 Ageing Well Activities: Stay active and socialise with various free weekly events for adults aged 50+, including movie and soup specials, social walks, and more.
Various days/times | Free

🎵 Lunchtime Organ Recital: Enjoy a free recital at the Brangwyn Hall with Dr Anthony Gritten.
12.45 PM | Free

🛍️ Student Night 2025: Enjoy discounts, makeovers, freebies, live music, and exclusive deals from high-street shops, market stalls, restaurants, and bars in Swansea city centre.
6 PM - 9 PM

🐺 Flossy and Boo: Blaidd: Join the adventure of Blaidd, a bilingual multi-sensory theatre experience for children under 5 and families, as a wolf travels through mythical lands, at The Welfare, Ystradgynlais.
1.30 PM | £5 -£15 (pay what you can)

🎤 Elis & John - That Feels Significant: Live!: Join Elis James, John Robins, and Dave Masterman for a night of games, stories, and humor at Swansea Arena.
7.30 PM | £34.10

🎭 The Jollof House Party Opera: A 20-minute live pop-up show at Volcano Theatre blending hip-hop and opera, starring Welsh-Nigerian artist Tumi Williams.
4.30 PM & 7 PM | Donation/Pay what you can

🎨 NPT Black History Wales 365: Windrush Cymru @75 documentary screening and performance by Welsh singer Kizzy Crawford at Pontardawe Arts Centre. Includes Caribbean food!
3 PM - 7 PM | Free

📚 Tiffany Murray in conversation with Elaine Canning: Join Tiffany Murray at Waterstones as she discusses her memoir "My Family and Other Rock Stars" with Elaine Canning, featuring a music quiz.
6 PM | £3 - £15

🍽️ Taste of Swansea Market: Chef Jonathan Woolway presents a culinary showcase at The Market Garden, creating dishes inspired by Swansea Market's produce.
11 AM - 12.30 PM

🥊 An Evening with Joe Calzaghe: Swansea City Football Club hosts legendary undefeated British boxer, Joe Calzaghe, for an evening of stories, photos, autographs, Q&A session, and more.
6 PM | From £35

🎤 Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle: Comedian Suzi Ruffell presents "The Juggle" at Taliesin Arts Centre, exploring the challenges of balancing life's expectations with humor and relatability.
7.30 PM | £16 - £18

🌍 Zulu Tradition: Embrace Zulu culture with traditional song and dance from South Africa, including a family workshop, at The Welfare, Ystradgynlais.
Workshop: 5:30 PM, Performance: 7 PM | £12 - £24 (pay what you can)

🧠 World Mental Health Day: Swansea Bay University Health Board marks the day with activities, feedback sessions, choir performance, and raffle draw at the National Waterfront Museum.
10 AM - 2 PM | Free Entry

🎭 Swansea Arts Weekend: A vibrant two-day celebration in the heart of Swansea, featuring live music, visual arts, performances, workshops, street entertainment, and industry talks for all ages. Also Sunday.
10 AM - 11 PM | Free

🤣 Ignacio Lopez: Festive Comedy Fiesta: Join Spain's hilarious Ignacio Lopez and friends for a Christmas-themed stand-up comedy show in Pontardawe, filled with sarcasm, songs, and laughter, recorded for TV.
Sat 7.30 PM, Sun 6 PM | £22

🕺 The Elvis Years: Experience the ultimate celebration of The King with Mario Kombou and a band, featuring 12 costume changes and over 50 classic hits.
7 PM | £26 - £31

🎤 An Evening With Lee Trundle, Leon Britton, and Andy Robinson: Join the Swansea FC legends at The Village Hotel, hosted by Kev Johns with comedy by Lenny Dee.
7 PM | Free

🛍️ Mumbles Market: Browse the monthly market at The Dairy Carpark in Mumbles for loads of food and more from talented local traders.
9 AM - 1 PM | £0 - £13

🌿 Nature – The Great Inventor: Discover how plants and animals' adaptations inspire human inventions at a hands-on family session at Oriel Science. Plus, try your hand at making a kingfisher bullet train, a whale windmill and more.
October 11th & 18th | 11 AM & 2 PM | Free

🍺 Bingo Lingo - Oktoberfest Special: Enjoy a festive evening of bingo with an Oktoberfest twist at the Patti Pavilion, with games, sing-alongs, and prizes.
6.30 PM - 11 PM | £17.85

🍄 Fungi Festival 2025: Explore the world of fungi at Clyne Gardens with guided walks, educational talks, and live samples.
10 AM - 4 PM | Free

🚌 Autumn 2025 Running Day: Join Swansea Bus Museum & Transport Heritage Centre for a day of heritage bus rides, stalls, and family fun.
10 AM - 2.30 PM | Adults: £8, Children: Free

🦢 Winter Bird Migration Walk: Join Nature on Your Doorstep for a peaceful Winter Bird Migration Walk along Loughor Estuary. Limited tickets available.
10 AM | Free

🎉 Diwali Bollywood Dance Along: Celebrate Diwali at National Waterfront Museum with Bollywood dance workshops for all ages.
2 PM & 3.30 PM | Free

🃏 Pokemon Swap Shop!: Waterstones Swansea hosts its first Pokemon Card Swap. Entry includes a booster pack.
2 PM | £5

🎶 Charity Concert in Aid of Maggie's Cancer Care and Pantry Foodbank Pontardawe: Enjoy an evening of song by Côr Con Brio Mixed Choir and Côr Dathlu Cwmtawe Male Choir at Capel Y Nant, Clydach.
7 PM | £7

🍴 Marina Market: Monthly market at Dylan Thomas Square featuring fresh food and handcrafted goods from local traders.
10 AM - 3 PM

🍁 Autumn Wreath Workshop: Embrace the season at Peppermint as you design your own autumn wreath using seasonal flowers and foliage.
12 PM | £55

Monday October 6th
The Uplands Tavern | Open Mic | 7.30 PM
Noah’s Yard | Jazz Club | 8.30 PM

Tuesday October 7th
The Bayview | Open Mic | 8 PM

Wednesday October 8th
The Swigg | Swansea Jazz Club - Nigel Price Organ Trio | 8 PM
Swansea Arena | Mal Pope | 7.30 PM
Sin City | Skating Polly | 7 PM
The Bunkhouse | Brook Fox | 6 PM

Thursday October 9th
Elysium | DnA + Bethan Nia - 7 PM
The Welfare | Buddy Holly & The Cricketers | 8 PM

Friday October 10th
The Albert Hall | Live Music Friday | 7 PM
Elysium | The Beatpack | 7 PM
Pontardawe Arts Centre | A Country Night in Nashville | 7.30 PM
The Bunkhouse | The Wytches | 7 PM
Bar Saint James | Oli Sanchez | 7.30 PM

Saturday October 11th
Swansea Grand Theatre | M.G Boulter | 7.30 PM
Elysium | Queertawe Cabaret | 7 PM
Sin City | Earthtone9 | 7 PM
The Bunkhouse | Red Hot Tribute Peppers | 7 PM

Sunday October 12th

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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