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Swansea (Abertawe)

Entertainment in Swansea (Abertawe)

  1. A

    Bar Creation & Club Eden

    One of the biggest gay venues in Wales, this bar and club combo stages a packed programme of club nights, drag acts, film screenings and cabaret shows.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Park Inn

    The famous Mumbles Mile - a pub crawl through the bars between Newton Rd and Bracelet Bay - is not what it once was; most of the old pubs have succumbed to pumping house music and boisterous crowds of alcopop-fuelled teens. One place worth seeking out is the Park Inn, set a block inland from the promenade and away from the crowds. It's a friendly local serving real ale, where any music you hear will be knocked out on the pub piano.

    reviewed

  3. C

    Dylan Thomas Theatre

    Home to Swansea Little Theatre, an amateur dramatic group of which DT was once a member, the company stages a wide repertoire of plays, including regular performances of your man's Under Milk Wood.

    reviewed

  4. D

    No Sign Bar

    Once frequented by Dylan Thomas (it appears as the Wine Vaults in his story The Followers), the No Sign stands out as the only vaguely traditional bar left on Wind St. On weekends there's live music downstairs in the Vault. The window seats, looking out over the acres of goose-bumped flesh on the street outside, offer a frisson of schadenfreude.

    reviewed

  5. E

    Monkey Bar

    An organic-vegetarian café-bar by day, with chunky tables, big sofas, modern art and cool tunes, this funky little venue transforms after dark into Swansea's best alternative club, with weekend DJs playing drum and bass, hip hop, dub, reggae, salsa and world music.

    reviewed

  6. F

    Uplands Tavern

    Yet another Thomas hang-out, Uplands still serves a quiet daytime pint in the Dylan Thomas snug. Come nightfall and it turns into a different beast altogether as the hub of the city's live music scene.

    reviewed

  7. G

    Wind Street

    Swansea's main boozing strip is Wind Street (pronounced to rhyme with 'blind', as in drunk), and on Friday and Saturday nights it can be a bit of a zoo. However, there are one or two bars where you can have a conversation that doesn't require shouting.

    reviewed

  8. H

    Queen's Hotel

    An old-fashioned corner pub with polished mahogany and brass bar, old tiles and a range of cask-conditioned beers on tap, including Theakston's Old Peculier.

    reviewed

  9. I

    Bryn-y-Mor

    Another friendly local that's popular with students, the Bryn-y-Mor has cheap beer, pool tables, large-screen TV, a decent jukebox and service with a smile.

    reviewed

  10. J

    Mambo

    A Latin American-themed cocktail bar, serving margaritas (made with Patron tequila) by the glass or the pitcher, amid a swirl of mosaics and Latino music.

    reviewed

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  12. K

    Taliesin Arts Centre

    Part of the University of Wales, Swansea, this vibrant arts centre features live music, theatre, dance and film.

    reviewed

  13. L

    Brangwyn Hall

    This handsome Art Deco hall, decorated with colourful painted panels by 1930s artist Frank Brangwyn, hosts choral and orchestral performances.

    reviewed

  14. M

    Escape

    This is Swansea's mainstream house club, with touring DJs pumping it up every Saturday. The venue occasionally stages live bands too.

    reviewed

  15. N

    Swansea Grand Theatre

    The city's largest theatre stages a mixed line-up of ballet, opera, musicals, theatre, pantomimes and a regular comedy club.

    reviewed

  16. O

    Monkey

    An organic, veg-friendly cafe-bar by day, with chunky tables, big sofas, modern art and cool tunes, this funky little venue transforms after dark into Swansea's best alternative club, hosting DJs, live musicians, burlesque and salsa upstairs.

    reviewed