More businesses are showing their support for a campaign aimed at raising awareness of everything there is to see and do in Swansea city centre.
Led by Swansea Council, the Enjoy Your City Centre campaign started in September and will run until the spring of 2024.
Videos forming part of the campaign on the council’s Facebook and Instagram pages have already been watched close to 50,000 times.
Some of the businesses to have recently featured in the campaign include Founders and Co on Wind Street, Basekamp on Kings Lane, The Entertainer in the Quadrant Shopping Centre, and The Gamers’ Emporium on High Street.
Others include Jack Murphy’s on Wind Street, Frozziyo on College Street, and the Copr Bar on Castle Street.
Jezz Gardner co-owns the Basekamp coffee shop with his partner, Becca Thomas.
He said: “We’re backing the Enjoy Your City Centre campaign because there are so many fantastic businesses in Swansea city centre which need as much support and awareness as possible.
“Swansea city centre is definitely heading in the right direction, and we notice a big difference in footfall at our business when there’s a large gig on at Swansea Arena or Singleton Park or when other major events happen in the city like the triathlon and ironman.”
Simon Kendrick is director of The Gamers’ Emporium – a board, card, miniature and role-playing game shop which also offers space to play and a library of games for groups of friends to use in-store.
He said: “Anything that can be done to raise the profile of city centre businesses is to be encouraged, so I welcome the Enjoy Your City Centre campaign. The variety of shops, activity providers, restaurants and cafes in Swansea city centre makes for a vibrant mix.
“This last year has been our most successful as a business as more and more people crave social experiences and social interaction after the pandemic. I’d encourage even more people to take a closer look at all the businesses in the city centre because there really is a lot to see and do.”
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “Swansea city centre is important – not just because of the thousands of local people employed there but also because of its fantastic businesses and the city centre’s key role as a driver of our economy. This is why we’re calling on people to back our Enjoy Your City Centre campaign.
“A £1bn regeneration programme is ongoing to transform the city centre into the one of the UK’s best destinations to work, live, study and enjoy. Swansea Arena has now been open for a year, major improvements to the look and feel of both The Kingsway and Wind Street have been finished, and projects including the revamp of Castle Square Gardens are soon on the way.
“These schemes are needed to create a more vibrant city centre that will encourage more businesses to invest there.”
Other forthcoming schemes include the Y Storfa public services hub at the former BHS building on Oxford Street.
Sites like the Civic Centre and former St David’s Shopping Centre area will also be redeveloped by award-winning regeneration specialists Urban Splash.
