Piazza plans to revamp Mumbles square
A FOUR-STAR spa hotel and piazza is at the heart of a new development "vision" for Mumbles's tired-looking Oystermouth Square.
The square's owners, EP Leisure and Swansea Council, have said the new proposal would also have restaurant and wine bar outlets, along with ground-floor shops set around a piazza. The plan is for each hotel room to have a sea view.
Bryan Evans, managing director of EP Leisure, said: "The company aim is to bring forward a scheme which will do justice to the location and which will be a source of pride to all those associated with the project. The introduction of a spa hotel will not only meet contemporary expectations, it will reverse the flow of hotel closures and bring a much-needed impetus into the economic base of Mumbles."
Previous development proposals for the waterfront square, currently a car park, have failed to bear fruit in a saga lasting more than 20 years.
A separate, major hotel scheme is being considered as part of Mumbles Pier redevelopment plans.
THE plan for a four-star spa hotel and piazza at Oystermouth Square is very good news indeed.
But we hope that a planning application for the scheme will be produced quickly.
There have been far too many delays and false starts about developing Oystermouth Square. Twenty years of disputes and arguments have left this entrance to Mumbles in a sorry state.
At least Swansea Council appear to be on board from the start this time. Council leader Chris Holley says he looks forward to the time when the vision is turned into reality.
Please don’t let that time by too far off, Councillor Holley.
And in another good sign, local businesses and the community council are making all the right noises of support.
Mumbles is in desperate need of high-quality development. It has suffered a decade of decline.
Once infamous as a venue for stag and hen parties, it has lost that dubious distinction to Wind Street. But it has not found a new and classier market to replace all the stags and hens.
Mumbles should be a gem of a place, and a jewel for Swansea Bay.
Hopefully, this scheme - and developments at Mumbles Pier - will help to transform the village and bring back the tourists.
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by Tricia, Hampshire
Saturday, October 03 2009, 1:43PM
“I was born and brought up in the heart of The Mumbles, trained in the hospitality trade and now direct a number of 'destination' 4 & 5 star hotels. Ignoring those who have chosen to turn this thread into an ill mannered slanging match, many of theprevious comments are right. A spa hotel in The Mumbles will never be a financially viable business option simply because you cannot change the holiday market in the UK back to long stays. As previously mentioned, this is exactly why the Langland Bay et al closed. I agree there does need to be a regeneration plan, one which adresses the parking issue, and then concentrates on attracting the very buoyant and lucrative short break and weekend market. I have been part of creating similar turn around plans in parts of coastal Devon and the Suffolk coast. If you get the mix right it works. Parking and regeneration of dilapidated buildings is key, followed by businesses concentrating on substance over style. If you were to take the model of Southwold in Sufolk you would find great similarities in both accessability,size and having been in the same situation about 10 years ago as Mumbles is now. This is now a vibrant destination attracting every age group and demographic with excellent trade all through the year. They have concentrated on making the entire vllage/town attractive and well kept, encouraged good quality, reasonably priced restaurants and accomodation and pursued weekendand & short break customers as though they were the Holy Grail.
I love my home town and absolutely know it can be beautiful again, but t needs investment of the right kind and a project manager with vision and a deep understanding of how tourism will progress over the next 10 years.”
by Jacob, mumbles
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 12:59PM
“What a stupid idea! Why complicate what is already one of the most congested and dangerous areas of the mumbles road with further junctions and more traffic? Trying to negotiate the village is hard enough with selfish motorists abandoning cars where ever they feel like it, peoples inability to indicate at the Newton road roundabout and dangerously narrow pavement. This to me sounds like another step towards complete Mumbles grid-lock!”
by rod, swansea
Sunday, June 21 2009, 4:50PM
“In the 80's, along the Mumbles Road, there used to be some restaurants and cafes you could get a meal in. Now the street seems to be all shabby and dilapidated, what restaurants there are don't even have attractive fronts to attract customers in. Treasure is not as good as it was and Verdi is more oriented to salads and pizzas. Hopefully this piazza will change things.”
by Galavanto, Swansea
Thursday, June 18 2009, 2:01PM
“I do wish people posting comments on here would desist from making personal comments and character assassinations. It should be realised that this sort of childish sniping spoils the threads, and is totally unnecessary. Thanks!”
by Gaynor, Swansea
Thursday, June 18 2009, 1:20PM
“Valley Boy, yes you are correct Mumbles does need a reasonably priced car park. It is disappointing that car parks in Mumbles have different charges ie 20p difference between Verdis and the Apple car park.”