A new, independent vintage and gift shop has opened in the heart of Swansea’s Uplands. Pinball Vintage, at 49 The Grove, is run by local businessman Chris Byatt and aims to be the go-to place for affordable vintage clothing and great gifts that would be hard to find elsewhere. Emphasis is placed on sourcing items from local makers to minimise the shop’s carbon footprint.
The shop stocks grade A, authentic vintage clothing from the 60s through to the 90s. All the clothing is individually hand-picked and ready to wear straight from the shop, with the emphasis on quality and uniqueness.
The range of gifts includes jewellery, candles, luxury cosmetics, greetings cards and chinaware. These are sourced from local suppliers from places such as Bridgend, Llandilo, Exeter and Bishopston.
Pinball Vintage offers a student discount and is also happy to source particular items for special events such as ‘80s night parties, wedding receptions or 60s film nights.
Chris, who was previously a project manager in financial software, is pleased to have made a career change.
“Lockdown made me reassess my options and I was keen for a new challenge,” he says. “I enjoy dealing directly with customers and lockdown takes that away from you. My wife Liz and I are passionate about local business and wanted to add to what’s available in the Uplands. We felt there was a need for a gift and clothing shop, and Pinball Vintage was the answer. We’ve created a boutique vibe in the shop and work to be as ecologically friendly as we can, and to champion local craftspeople. We’re very excited about this new project and hope it will add something special to the Uplands.”
