Challenging times ahead for Swansea bars as nightlife hub evolves
BAR owners in Swansea's Wind Street are having to adapt their businesses to survive.
Naz Shasha, who runs the Ice Bar and Retro bar in the adjoining St Mary Street, has warned Swansea Council the future of his business may be in doubt if he is not given permission to carry out necessary developments.
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Wind Street
Mr Shasha has applied to the local authority for the chance to install a new covered area for people looking to smoke outside of the Retro bar and for permission for a temporary structure containing a music stage with standing beach area in front. And, according to a statement supporting the application, the level of business experienced by Retro over the past two years has continued to decline.
The document states: "Unless the applicant is allowed to pursue all avenues to secure his business and the employment his establishment provides there is a strong likelihood that the future prospects for Retro will be affected.
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"Unless Retro has a policy of adaptation to market conditions the possibility of business failure is enhanced.
"This opportunity for Retro is critical to its survival during these times of economic austerity."
News of the application comes as work is continuing to redevelop the former SoBar in Wind Street which is being refurbished by the team behind the Peppermint bar on the opposite side of the street.
The venue is owned by Enterprise Inns and will be a beach bar known as Bambu, employing around 50 staff.
Paul Cassar, former head chef at the Grape and Olive at Swansea's Meridian Tower, and his partner Emma Mason, have launched a steak house above Bar 22 in Wind Street.
Ms Mason said: "My partner had the idea a few years ago and has always wanted to run his own steak house."
Bar and restaurant owner Daniel Tercero, who is behind La Braseria, La Prensa and La Parrilla, is also preparing for the immanent opening of a gourmet burger bar on Wind Street.
Mr Tercero said: "Bars survive in quite a fluid market.
"What was seen as popular in the noughties might be seen as old hat now.
"I don't think it is anything to do with the economic downturn, I think it is just the natural cycle of the business.
"If there are more food-led places opening up in Wind Street it is almost becoming what was the initial vision for it to be an eating area."
Swansea Business Improvement District (Bid) chief executive Russell Greenslade said: "The Wind Street area plays an important part in the dynamic of the city centre due its unique offerings for all types of customer and helps join the daytime to the night time due to its wealth of offering.
"With the news that at least three new venues are due to open in this area soon clearly shows companies are keen to invest in the area due to its popularity with the public."
rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk.
Comments
by Confused11
Tuesday, July 10 2012, 1:51PM
“I completely agree with Philosoraptor. I live in Gorseinon and used to go to Wind Street nearly every weekend until the taxi charges priced themselves out of the market. When the cost hit £16-£17 (one way) for a 6 mile journey, I called time on it and now stay mostly local.
I appreciate taxi drivers need to make a living like the rest of us and that petrol and insurance costs have risen dramatically in recent times, but £30-£35 before even having a single pint of beer is crazy and something I can no longer afford sorry.”
by Confused11
Tuesday, July 10 2012, 1:48PM
“I completely agree with Philosoraptor. I live in Gorseinon and used to go to Wind Street nearly every weekend until the taxi charges priced themselves out of the market. When the cost hit £16-£17 (one way) for a 6 mile journey, I called time on it and now stay mostly local.
I appreciate taxi drivers need to make a living like the rest of us and that petrol and insurance costs have risen dramatically in recent times, but £30-£35 before even having a single pint of beer is crazy and something I can no longer afford sorry.”
by Philosoraptor
Tuesday, July 10 2012, 9:59AM
“There are a number of reasons why business is falling on Wind Street, and the design of the bars is not the main reason. Firstly people do not have the money to spend anymore so they tend to go out perhaps once a fortnight or once a month, secondly for people living as far out as the suburbs such as places like Pontardawe it will cost over £50 just for a taxi into Swansea and back.
Then there is the problem of waiting up to 10 minutes at every bar which people grew very tired of, and of course we all learned that the alcohol was cheaper in our local pubs which didn't have rubbish music blasting out at 3 million decibels.
Let's be honest here, will the work create something different? No, it will have the same rubbish dance music that is playing in every bar and so we will still have to listen to that guy Gusher signing about some woman fifteen times a night. Repetitive and boring. The alcohol will still cost an arm and a leg and you have to wait a long time for honour of being ripped off. And then we have to see the taxi firms getting rich off our back as a journey that costs less than £2 of fuel both ways is charged to the tune of about 50 litres in current prices!
That is why Wind Street night-life business is falling.”