10 Reasons We Can’t Wait to Return to Swansea City Centre

Apr 6, 2021

We know shoppers and visitors are very keen to get back to Swansea city centre – and Swansea BID area businesses are looking forward to welcoming them back, too. The news that restrictions are lifting for non-essential retailers on April 12, and for our outdoor hospitality and attractions from April 26 as long as infections rates remain stable, is music to our ears.

Here are 10 reasons we can’t wait to return to Swansea city centre when the city re-opens:

Refurbishments of Swansea’s bars, restaurants and shops

A host of eye-catching business refurbishments has been going ahead in Swansea’s bars, restaurants,  shops, clubs and venues that you know and love. Bambu, The Perch, The Greek Acropolis, Gamers’ Emporium, Hangar 18, Social Bean and many more have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds to roll out the red carpet for returning visitors. Let’s show them some love by dropping by when the guidelines allow.

Exclusive Swansea parking offers

There are some great Swansea parking initiatives in place, with parking in all Swansea Council-run car parks costing just £1 for one hour and £2 all day from 9:30 am – and free on Sundays. Swansea BID has also negotiated some great parking offers for the businesses to make life easier for city centre staff, so firms can run smoothly.

Exciting new restaurants and shops in Swansea

If you haven’t visited the city centre for a while, you are in for a treat. New businesses have been opening throughout Swansea city centre, keen to be part of the next chapter in Swansea’s story. Be sure to visit Taco Bell, Mazza Treatz, Lotus Nails, TS Nails, Glamdesire Spa, Tangled Parrot, Positano Express and others when you pay your next visit. Look out for the new tapas and ball pit centre on High Street, too, which will be ready to welcome you soon.

See the new-look city centre emerging first-hand in Swansea

Swansea is going through a £1bn renaissance at the moment with the Copr Bay Development taking shape swiftly. You will have read all about the new arena and the golden bridge spanning Oystermouth Road. There is also work going on apace on The Kingsway, in St David’s Square, Swansea Market and throughout Swansea city centre. Once you see it with your own eyes, it is clear that Swansea city centre has a bright future ahead, with genuine investment being made to create a smart balance of retail, residential hospitality and more that will help secure a bright future for the city centre.

A more family-friendly Wind Street is reopening

Plans to make Wind Street more family-friendly are a step closer, with this popular spot due to get a transformation, so more businesses are able to trade outdoors, creating a family-friendly safe quarter. Revolution is already making plans to create a cafe, bakery and exhibition space under its roof.

Giving our favourite Swansea businesses a big thank you cwtch

Countless Swansea city centre business have been working around the clock to keep us all supplied with food, entertainment, treats and welcome deliveries to get us through the lockdown. Billy Upton, Valley Mill, BooBo Tea, The Foodie Room, Gower Butcher and all of our supermarkets have pulled out the stops. What would we have done without them? Let’s remember to say thanks when we drop by in person.

Eating out at Swansea restaurants and cafés

Swansea restaurants and cafés have kept us well-fed during lockdown with takeaways and collection, but there’s nothing like dressing up (remember that?) and heading out to eat with friends or a loved one. We don’t know about you but we have started hallucinating about Belle Vue Bistro’s pizzas, a steak in La Braseria or at Steak on The Kings, a Five Guys burger and shake, a curry at Panshee, lunch in Swansea Market and tapas at Zinco Lounge. Remember – the lifting of the hospitality restrictions on April 26 is for outdoor only, so check ahead to see what individual cafes and restaurants are planning.

Making plans in Swansea city centre

One of the things that people have found hard about the pandemic is not being able to make plans – for a holiday, a weekend away, a night out – even weddings have been put on the back-burner. Once businesses open up again we can start to plot future events back into our calendar. Check in with Hangar 18, The Bunkhouse, No Sign and other venues for their planned gigs and events. Drop by at Chic & Elegant, Allison Jayne or Wed2B if you have a big day to arrange. Even if we can’t start filling our diaries properly until 2022, just having something to look forward to helps, doesn’t it?

Getting dressed up and shopping in Swansea

Most of us have adopted lounge-wear, or daytime PJs while working from home – and the children are growing out of their shoes, aren’t they? It will be great to get back to Swansea city centre to refresh our look a little thanks to Slater Menswear, Primark, Marks and Spencer and more.

Swansea city centre is safe

All of the city centre businesses are taking a responsible and safety-first approach to the ongoing Covid issue. They have had safety remeasures in place and embedded in their operations for some time and they continue to work hard to make sure visitors feel safe and reassured. Let’s get back and enjoy our city centre with confidence.