What a bright spark

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 29, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

------------------------------------

What a bright spark

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to the Sparks In The Dark fireworks display in Swansea.

WHY? Sparks In The Dark is Swansea's largest fireworks display. Thousands of people turn up to enjoy the annual fireworks extravaganza at St Helen's Rugby Ground in Swansea every year. The event also includes a large circus skills workshop, where peope have the opportunity to have a go at juggling, stilt-walking and unicycling.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Historically November 5 is associated with fireworks and the famous Gunpowder Plot to blow up Parliament on that day in 1605. But this year Swansea Council is throwing tradition on the bonfire by holding its annual Sparks in the Dark fireworks display at St Helen’s Rugby and Cricket Ground on Friday November 4 instead. The decision to bring the fireworks display forward by 24 hours was made in order to avoid any conflict with the Ospreys versus Scarlets rugby match taking place at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday November 5.
ANY HISTORY? On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was caught guarding explosives placed beneath the House of Lords and arrested. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.
WHAT TO TAKE? Advanced tickets are priced at £15 for families (2 adults and up to 3 children), £4.50 standard, £3.50 concessions and £3 Passport to Leisure. Tickets purchased on the night are £20 for families (2 adults and up to 3 children), £5.50 standard, £4.50 concessions and £3.50 Passport to Leisure. Accompanied Under 3s go free. Candy floss, hotdogs, burgers as well as glow sticks and other glow in the dark toys will all be available to buy on the night.
LOOK OUT FOR? The show will see Swansea Bay light up with a spectacular fireworks display and The Wave and Swansea Sound will be on stage with live music, special guests and entertainment throughout the night. Fire jugglers and children's entertainers will also be at St Helen's to provide pre-fireworks fun on the night.
WHEN TO GO? Gates for fireworks extravaganza open on Friday November 4 at 5.30pm with entertainment starting at 6pm. The evening will finish with a spectacular fireworks display choreographed to music at 7.30pm.
TELL ME MORE: The fireworks display will be held at St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. For sat nav users the address and postcode is: 1 Bryn Road, Brynmill, Swansea, SA2 0AR. Tickets can be purchased online at www.swansea.gov.uk/fireworks or by calling Swansea Tourist Information Centre on 01792 468321. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased in person from a number of venues including Swansea Tourist Information Centre, Mumbles Tourist Information Centre, Swansea Civic Centre and any Active Swansea Leisure Centre. Tickets can also be purchased in person on the night on the gates at St Helen's Ground.

A grand place to visit

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 15, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

---------------------------------------

A grand place to visit
A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

The Grand Theatre in Swansea.

WHY?
The Grand Theatre in Swansea has a 1,000-seat auditorium and hosts a wide variety of shows and exhibitions for everyone to enjoy.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
There’s lots to look forward to at The Grand this Autumn. From October 20 to 22 the Multi award winning Sell a Door Theatre Company celebrate the centenary of author William Golding with a 2011 revival of his classic tale of morality vs. immorality, the Lord of the Flies. And on October 25 you can enjoy an evening with the UK’s most famous TV Spirit Medium Derek Acorah.
ANY HISTORY?
Since 1897, Swansea's Grand Theatre has been providing the public with a broad range of cultural, artistic and general entertainment events. The Grand Theatre was designed by the architect William Hope of Newcastle in 1897. It was built by D. Jenkins and was opened by Madam Adelina Patti - an Opera Diva of her day - under the original proprietors Morell and Mouillot.
The Swansea Corporation leased the building in May 1969 and bought it outright in 1979. The Theatre was then refurbished and updated during the period 1983 - 1987 at a cost of £6.5 million. A further £1 million was spent for the Arts Wing to open its doors for the first time in 1999.
Over the last twenty years, the fabric of "The Grand" has been improved and enhanced considerably, thanks to the support of the former Swansea Corporation, Swansea City Council and more recently the City and County of Swansea. However, none of the theatre's unique identity has suffered as a result of this improvement and today's Grand is as full of charm and atmosphere as was the case when the theatre first opened its doors all those years ago.
WHAT TO TAKE?
Morning tea and coffee, lunchtime specials and pre-show dinners are available in the theatre’s Footlights Café Bar. Located in the theatre’s delightful garden area it's the perfect setting to meet with friends for a drink or a light meal. The menu includes fresh Italian coffees, a variety of teas, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, pasties, cold drinks and fresh pastries.
Information about ticket prices can be found in the Autumn Brochure, which can be downloaded at www.swanseagrand.co.uk.
LOOK OUT FOR?
The Arts Wing is the most recent development at The Grand and adds almost 2000 square metres of extra space to the theatre. The contemporary space holds exhibitions, conferences and smaller-scale music and drama performances including lunchtime theatre on the last Saturday of each month and a regular comedy club featuring acts on the comedy circuit. On the top floor there is also the Rooftop Café, Restaurant and Bar with it's own terrace, affording unique views of Swansea.
WHEN TO GO?
The Grand is open Monday to Saturday between 9.30am to 8pm, on non performance days they close at 6pm. On Sundays the theatre is open for one hour before performances.
TELL ME MORE
The Grand is situated in the heart of Swansea’s city centre on Singleton Street. For sat nav users their postcode is SA1 3QJ. To book your tickets call the Box Office on 01792 475715.

Make a splash at LC

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 8, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

----------------------------------------

Make a splash at LC

A big day out!
RICHARD THOMAS heads to ... LC in Swansea.

 
WHY? Located on the main Oystermouth Road adjacent to the National Waterfront Museum, the LC is Swansea’s premiere leisure complex offering entertainment
and adventure for the whole family.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? The LC is the most visited paid attraction in the whole of Wales and with so many different activities to choose from it’s easy to see why. You can make waves in their fantastic family-orientated waterpark that features an exciting network of pools, rides and slides, including the much loved wave pool! Or, if you prefer to stay dry, you can put your nerve to the test on the 30 foot climbing wall, the perfect place to experience the excitement and challenges of rock climbing! There’s also a sports hall where you can play games and a state-of-the-art fitness centre, as well as a luxurious spa to relax in, and even an interactive play area for the kids.
ANY HISTORY? Opened by the Queen during her silver jubilee celebrations in 1977, the original Swansea Leisure Centre featured modern and groundbreaking facilities, such as the first wave machine to be installed in a leisure centre in Wales. It became one of Wales' top leisure facilities and a substantial tourist attraction. At its peak it attracted more than 800,000 visitors annually. The Swansea Leisure Centre was closed, however, in 2003, which resulted in the loss of a major wet weather visitor attraction and a major facility in which families and people of all ages could enjoy a range of recreational activities. Following a review of the options available to them, Swansea Council decided that the refurbishment of the Leisure Centre was the most effective option and work soon progressed in developing the site into a 21st century leisure complex. Rebranded the LC, the refurbished facility was officially reopened by the Queen in 2008.
LOOK OUT FOR? The LC’s Indoor Surf Experience, offering all the fun and excitement of catching a wave, in a safe and controlled environment, has to be highlight. As is the waterpark’s very own white knuckle roller-coaster style ride the Master Blaster!
WHAT TO TAKE? If you want to visit the waterpark tickets cost £7 per adult but children (under 3-years old) can swim for free, and if you prebook on the LC website or by telephoning (See TELL ME MORE) you can jump the queues! You’ll need to bring a towel and swimming trunks/bather with you. And children who are not confident swimmers yet should wear arm bands. But if you do forget to bring these with you, or are missing something, don’t worry because goggles, swim wear, towels, arm bands and other pool accessories can all be bought from the LC Shop based in the main reception area. Food is available to buy in the LC Coffee Shop.
WHEN TO GO? The LC is open 6.30am to 10pm Monday to Friday. The waterpark opening times are 4pm to 9pm during Term Time and 9am to 8pm on Weekends and during School and Bank Holidays.
TELL ME MORE More information about ticket prices and opening times, etc. can all be found on the LC website at www.thelcswansea.co.uk.
You can contact the LC at the following address: LC, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3ST. You can also telephone on 01792 484672 or Email at enquires@the-lc.co.uk.

Lots to amuse at pier

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 1, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

----------------------------------------------

Lots to amuse at pier

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

Mumbles Pier in Swansea.

WHY?

One of Wales’ last Victorian piers, Mumbles Pier offers visitors some of the most spectacular views of natural beauty in Wales. From the iconic walkway you can see the breathtaking scenery of Mumbles Bay, Mumbles Lighthouse and Port Talbot.

QUIRKY HISTORY?

Mumbles began its status as a popular tourist haunt when Mumbles Pier, designed by W. Sutcliffe Marsh and promoted by John Jones Jenkins of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, first opened on May 10, 1898. Stretching 225 meters out into Mumbles Bay, the Victorian built pier was once the only way to visit Swansea in style. The White Funnel paddle steamers of the Bristol-based P & A Campbell Ltd company would dock on the end of the pier unloading tourists who would then make their journey via the Swansea and Mumbles Railway: the world’s first passenger railway.

Despite its happy history, however, there is a ghost story linked to the popular Victorian attraction. The figure of a young woman wearing a long white dress and what looks like a scarf or shawl wrapped around her face has been seen walking on the pier late at night after the pier closes. This apparition allegedly disappearing before startled onlookers can ask her who she is, or, what she is doing there.

WHAT TO TAKE?

There is a small charge of 50p to enter Mumbles Pier itself. Food and drink are available in the pier’s café and pub.

LOOK OUT FOR?

Although in recent years the pier has fallen into a state of disrepair with a large section fenced off to the public, the bustling holiday magnet still has lots to offer visitors. In the amusements arcade you can try your luck at the slot machines while the children play all the latest video games. There’s also ten pen bowling and an array of prizes to be won on the cranes.

WHEN TO GO?

Mumbles Pier is open seven days a week between 9am to 8pm. On Sunday October 30 between 2pm and 6pm there will be a special Halloween party at the pier where they’ll be a disco, apple bobbing, face painting, magic show and BBQ. The highlight of the event will be a fancy dress competition with a special prize for the best dressed family. To take part in the fun only costs adults £1 and kids can join in for free. The organisers of the event have setup a Facebook page which you can find by searching for Halloween Haunted House kid`s party!!!

TELL ME MORE

Mumbles Pier is situated in Mumbles five miles from the centre of Swansea. Their address and postcode is: Amusement Equipment Co Ltd, Old Lifeboat Cottage, Mumbles Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 4EN. For more information you can call on 01792 365220 or go to www.mumbles-pier.co.uk.

Gateway close to home

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 24, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

------------------

Gateway close to home

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to … Gower.

WHY?
The Gower Peninsula is an area of immense unspoilt natural beauty unparalleled in South Wales. Home to some of world’s best coastal scenery, the Gower had the honour of being the first part of Britain to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which means you will not find high-rise hotels or neon-lit beach bars spoiling what the writer Wynford Vaughan Thomas called: “a secret that people hug to themselves.”
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
The Gower is home to some of Britain’s best beaches. These include neat Caswell, tiny Bracelet, and the stunning Three Cliffs Bay, with its odd tidal pools. But most families will often choose sturdy Langland. The picture-perfect bay with its beach huts, rock pools and cliff path walks is ideal for beach goers of all ages.
A stroll along the cliff tops almost anywhere in the peninsula will take your breath away. The most spectacular is the walk from the cliff tops of Rhossili out along the promontory known as Worm’s Head.
But Gower isn't all about the world class beaches, there are a wide range of activities to enjoy down Gower too. The Gower’s ancient churches host a series of intimate music events, which feature the Swansea Bach Choir and the Prince of Wales’s personal harpist, Claire Jones.
At Gower you can also enjoy sailing round the coast with Gower Coast Adventures, departing from either Port Eynon or Mumbles. The purpose-built jet boat can manoeuvre safely in shallow waters, so you can get close to secluded bays and local wildlife. On the voyage you can see animals ranging from gannets and shearwaters to seals and porpoises.
Afterwards you can have dinner at Welcome to Town in Llanrhidian. Master chef Ian Bennett specialises in local produce. Items on the menu include hand-dived scallops, tian of dressed crab, and lobsters and crabs fresh from Oxwich bay.
ANY HISTORY?
The Gower is also rich in myth and history. Arthur’s Stone is just a short walk away from Cefn Bryn Common. The 25-ton capstone roofs a Neolithic burial chamber, long ago emptied by relic hunters. Legend has it that the stone is a pebble that King Arthur removed from his boot on his way to his last battle at Camlann in 539 CE. From this point you have a 360-degree view of the Gower, from the salt marshes to the north to the Southern bays.
WHAT TO TAKE?
There are lots of other hotels and restaurants to choose from. On the common in Reynoldston is the King Arthur Hotel, which is everything a country pub should be. The King Arthur is renowned for traditional ales and delicious home-cooked food, suited to all tastes. On their specials board you can chose from seasonal game, Welsh black beef, locally caught fish, as well as vegetarian options. All are served in their restaurant, family room, main bar and at outdoor tables on the green. You can also sample local Welsh brew or any of their range of beers, fine wines or spirits
WHEN TO GO?
The Gower is only five miles from Swansea city centre and buses from Swansea regularly run passengers to and all over the Gower. First Cymru, the region's largest bus operating company, even run an open top bus service between Swansea city centre and Bracelet Bay.
TELL ME MORE
For more information visit www.swansea.gov.uk/aonb.

Take a tour of castle

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 17, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

--------------------------------------

Take a tour of castle

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

Oystermouth Castle in Swansea.

WHY?
The Norman stone castle overlooking the Mumbles reopened in July with a fantastic event which included falconry displays and medieval themed shows. This month the Friends of Oystermouth Castle will be holding photographic exhibitions at the castle where visitors can see photographs of the battlement over the years by local photographers.
QUIRKY HISTORY?
Oystermouth Castle was built around 1100 by William de Londres and later rebuilt in the 13th century by the infamous de Breos family, after being burnt down by the Welsh twice. Like a lot of buildings with a long and violent history there is a ghost story attached to the castle. Known as The White Lady of Oystermouth Castle, this apparition of a woman dressed all in white has been experienced many times by visitors to the battlement. The White Lady is usually seen weeping, with the back of her dress ripped away and a series of bloody welts on her back. The woman then abruptly vanishes before confused onlookers can offer her any assistance. Reports of the woman in white go back centuries, leading some paranormal investigators to believe she might have died after being tortured on the medieval whipping post which still stands in the castle’s dungeon.
WHAT TO TAKE?
There is a small charge for admission into the castle to help towards conservation work currently underway at the site. Their admission prices are:
Adult: £1
Concession: 80p
PTL: 60p
Children under five go for free. There are currently no credit/debit card facilities on the castle site, though, so don’t forget to bring cash. Also, make sure you wear suitable footwear for the uneven terrain.
LOOK OUT FOR?
In July a new 30-foot-high glass bridge opened allowing access to the part of the castle called Alina's Chapel for the first time in hundreds of years. The chapel was added to the castle in the 14th century and marks the attraction’s highest medieval point.
WHEN TO GO?
The castle will be open daily between 11am and 5pm until 30 September. Last admissions are 30 minutes before closing. Next weekend (24 and 25 September) there is a special Medieval Costume Weekend with Ostreme Theatre Players, where you'll be able to wander around the castle and catch a glimpse of 14th century characters like Lady Alina and her father William de Breos.
WHERE TO GO?
Oystermouth Castle is located in a beautiful location on the hill in Mumbles overlooking Swansea Bay. Follow the A4067 into Mumbles and then turn right up Newton Road at the mini-roundabout by the White Rose. The castle is halfway up Newton Road on the right hand side. For sat nav users the castle’s postcode is SA3 5TA.
CONTACT DETAILS?
For further information contact Oystermouth Castle Community Officer Erika Kluge on 01792 635075 or visit www.swansea.gov.uk/oystermouthcastle.

Tee off at golf course

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, August 27, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

 
 
----------------------------

Tee off at golf course
A big day out! 
RICHARD THOMAS heads to …
Ashleigh Road Pitch & Putt golf course.

WHY?
With the summer sun back why not give golf a go at Ashleigh Road golf course, Swansea's only 10 hole golf course.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Running along the promenade, and situated opposite the road it is named after, is Ashleigh Road Pitch & Putt golf course.
The course has no handicap requirements so it is ideal for beginners of all ages and those who just want to have some fun. It is also a great course for more experienced players to brush up on their pitching and putting skills.
ANY HISTORY?
The game of golf has a long history in Wales. The years 1850-1900 were a time of dramatic changes in Wales. The population virtually doubled in this period. The Industrial Revolution hit the country and the people moved from the countryside to the towns. Suddenly, Welsh men and women had more time on their hands, especially the rich, and they began looking around for something to do with their leisure time.
Tenby Golf Club is officially the oldest club in Wales, having been set up in the autumn of 1888. Many more Welsh courses came into being before the turn of the century.
Borth and Ynyslas, Ceredigion, was in use from 1885, while Baron Hill, on Anglesey, was created in either 1889 or 1890.
Most of the early courses were initially designed to have only nine holes and sometimes ten like the golf course at Ashleigh Road, half of today’s standard 18.
WHAT TO TAKE?
Equipment can be hired for a minimal fee. Just turn up, and “pay and play” a round of golf. Their prices are:
Pay and Play
Standard £4.70, Concession £3.45, PTL £2.10
Club Hire
Standard £2.25, Concession £1.90, PTL £1.00
Golf Ball Purchase
£0.50
Family Ticket
Standard £14.00, Concession £12.00
LOOK OUT FOR?
Asides from the golf course there’s lots of other family activities to check out nearby. You'll find plenty of family fun for free at Blackpill Lido. The Lido is a must when the weather is good with its superb paddling pool, children's play area, climbing rock and picnic facilities. There’s also the award winning Clyne Gardens, the Bay Rider and Swansea Bay to see.
WHEN TO GO?
Ashleigh Road Golf Course is open daily from May to August between 9.30am and 8pm. The last admission is two hours before the stated closing time. From September to April the golf course is open only on weekends.
TELL ME MORE
Heading towards Mumbles on Mumbles Road, Ashleigh Road golf hut is opposite Ashleigh Road on the left hand side, before you get to Blackpill Lido. For sat nav users their postcode is SA3 5AU. For further information and daily closing times call 01792 207544 or visit www.swanseaprom.com.

Experience an exhibit

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, August 20, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

-----------------------------------------

 

Experience an exhibit
A big day out! 
RICHARD THOMAS heads to …
Swansea Museum.

WHY?

Swansea Museum was originally setup by the Royal Institution of South Wales, a local group who wanted to investigate all aspects of history, the arts and science at the beginning of the 19th century. Described by the Swansea poet Dylan Thomas as “a museum that belongs in a museum”, the impressive stone building was completed in 1841 in the grand neo-classical style, and is the oldest museum in Wales.
Today visitors are able to see Swansea Museum at four locations: the main museum on Oystermouth Road, The Tramshed on Dylan Thomas Square in Swansea Marina, the museum’s Collections Centre in Landore and the floating exhibits in the dock by The Tramshed.
The main building’s six galleries contain all kinds of unusual objects from Swansea’s past as well as the wider world. One highlight is The Amazing Cabinet of Curiosities gallery dedicated to everything Victorian, an era that was obsessed with the bizarre and strange. It is the museums Egyptology exhibits including an Ancient Egyptian mummy that really puts Swansea Museum on the map, though.
The mummy, named Tem Hor after the god Horus, was a clothier priest and scribe of the god Atum. He lived on the banks of the River Nile in Upper Egypt between 250-200 BCE. The remains and beautifully restored coffin attract mummy worshipers from across South Wales.
Also, if you visit before September 30 you can see the Swansea City Football Club Exhibition. A football focused exhibition commemorating the highs and lows of Swansea City AFC.
In addition to this treasure trove of local and ancient history the museum also has three floating exhibits in its collections which are kept at the Marina: the lightship Helwick; a tug boat called Canning; and the Olga, a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter built in 1909. Other popular items kept at the museum’s Collections Centre in Landore include old vehicles like a travellers’ van, lorries, a fire engine and two lifeboats, the Naomi Beatty and the William Gammon.
QUIRKY HISTORY?
Swansea Museum is allegedly one of the most haunted locations in Wales. Staff and visitors alike have experienced spooky activity in the main building. According to one member of staff a mysterious “hooded figure” has been seen on several occasions on the stairs and strange “tapping”, “cold spots” and even “whistling” have also been reported.
WHAT TO TAKE?
Admission is free at the museum but you’re not allowed to photograph some of the exhibits. A wide variety of keepsakes including handmade Welsh pottery and glassware, Egyptian memorabilia and Victorian jewellery are all for sale in the Museum Shop.
WHEN TO GO?
Swansea Museum is open from 10am to 5pm every Tuesday to Sunday. Last admissions are at 4pm. The museum is closed Mondays and bank holidays.
WHERE IS IT?
The main building is next door to the LC2. For sat nav users their address and postcode is: Victoria Road, Swansea, SA1 1SN.
CONTACT DETAILS

For more information about exhibitions and events at Swansea Museum you can visit their website at www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseamuseum. You can also phone on 01792 653763.

Tour this sweet treat

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, August 13, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

--------------------------------

Tour this sweet treat
A big day out! 
RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...
 The Chocolate Factory in Swansea.

WHY?
The Chocolate Factory is unique in Swansea: a real, working chocolate factory offering informative tours for individuals and groups of all ages. With the popularity of the Charlie And The Chocolate Factory film starring Johnny Depp, and the original novel by Roald Dahl, The Chocolate Factory is a fun place to take the kids during their summer break from school. And tour guide, Gareth John, almost like a real-life Willy Wonka, makes sure everyone on the tour gets a chance to see the different factory equipment and taste all the chocolate.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
After getting kitted up in the factory’s fashionable hairnets and aprons, the tour begins with a detailed talk about the history of chocolate, from its popularity among the ancient Olmecs and Aztecs of Central America to its discovery by Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Conquistador who conquered Mexico, Hernando Cortes.
This is followed by a walk on the factory floor where you are shown the factory machinery and given a demonstration by Gareth John of how they melt, temper and re-mould chocolate into football shaped lollies, chocolate hearts and other bespoke items.
ANY HISTORY?
The Chocolate Factory was founded by Tony and Michelle Wadley. The brother and sister team moved to the UK from South Africa in 1992, bringing with them their secret recipe for delicious sugar lollipops which they were able to sell to the major high street retailer, Harrods. Building on this success, the two moved to their current premises in 1999 and The Chocolate Factory began doing school tours.
LOOK OUT FOR?
Tour guide Gareth Johns begins the tour by saying, “We’re going to eat a lot of chocolate today!” and this is no exaggeration. As well as the factory’s white, dark and milk chocolate varieties, you also get to taste the new strawberry chocolate being tested by the factory. Gareth also hands out marshmallow lollies, freshly dipped in melted chocolate from one of the factory’s chocolate kettles.
WHAT TO TAKE?
Tours cost £8 for adults and £6 for children aged between three and 16, but group discounts are available for groups of 25 people or more. Cameras are allowed and visitors are encouraged to take photographs throughout the tour. There is also a gift shop where you can buy all the products made in the factory.
WHEN TO GO?
The Chocolate Factory is open for group tours Monday to Friday. They run between four and five tours a day between 9am and 4pm. The summer is The Chocolate Factory’s busiest period of the year, with staff regularly welcoming around 200 costumers a day, so booking in advance is essential. To book phone Gareth John on 01792 561617 or email tours@michton.com.
TELL ME MORE
For sat nav users their address and postcode is: The Chocolate Factory, Swansea West Industrial Park, Fforestfach, Swansea, SA5 4DL. Visit their website at www.thechocfactory.com.

Take crafty look at history

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, July 30, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

----------------------------------------
 

Take crafty look at history

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...

the Gower Heritage Centre.

WHY?
Set in the heart of the Gower Peninsula the Gower Heritage Centre is a fun way to spend your day, whether you’re a group or school and would like to take a coach tour to the Gower and explore what they have on offer, or if you're just passing by and are popping in for a bite to eat at their Tea Rooms.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
The Gower Heritage Centre is a visitor attraction and rural life museum based around a working 12th century water-mill. Located only a 15-minuet walk from the breath taking Three Cliffs Bay, the Centre offers fun activities for all the family, including craft shops and craft activities.
ANY HISTORY?
A water powered corn and saw mill was established on the site sometime during the 12th century, with the first written references to the water-mill appearing in government records from about 1300 onwards. In 1990 the Gower Heritage Centre was opened, the 12th century mill was renovated, and experienced craftspeople took up residence on site. Today the Centre welcomes visitors from all around the world.
LOOK OUT FOR?
You can watch the craftspeople resident at the Centre at work and visit their stores as you go round. Some of the gifts available to buy at the Centre include various items in different turned woods made by woodturner John De Filippo, puppets and puppet making kits at Poppet Puppets, as well as paintings and artwork by Cheryl Firths.
Other special items available to buy at the Centre include some amazing driftwood gifts and hand made candles, as well as a range of garden furniture made at the Mill.
There’s also an old fashioned games arcade, as well as a sandpit area, adventure playground, soft play area, and tractor play area. There’s even an animal farm with ducks, baby rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, horses and other animals.
And, if all that wasn’t enough to see, the Centre is also home to the smallest cinema in Wales, the La Charrette.
WHAT TO TAKE?
There is a small entry fee of £5.50 for adults and £4.50 for children. Seniors and disabled visitors only pay £4.50 and you can opt to buy a family ticket (2 adults and up to 4 children) for just £18.00. More information about entry prices can be found on the Gower Heritage Centre website at: http://www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk/ Also, don’t forget to bring a camera with you to take some snaps of your trip.
WHEN TO GO?
The Gower Heritage Centre is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Sunday.
TELL ME MORE
You can contact the Gower Heritage Centre at the following address:
Gower Heritage Centre,
Parkmill,
Gower,
Swansea,
SA3 2EH
You can also telephone on:
1792 371206
And fax on:
1792 371471
or Email at: reception@gowerheritagecentre.co.uk

A game for all ages

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, July 23, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

 

---------------------------------------------

A game for all ages
  A big day out!
RICHARD THOMAS heads to …
Tenpin Bowling in Swansea.

WHY?
Tenpin Swansea, formerly Megabowl, is the only ten pin bowling alley in Swansea, located in the Parc Tawe shopping and leisure complex near the city centre.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Tenpin Swansea offers a host of family friendly activities for people of all ages and abilities, from first time players right up to veteran bowlers. The alley boasts 26 bowling lanes, three American pool tables, an amusements arcade and cosmic bowling nights. Tenpin Swansea also offers a range of kids birthday party packages.
Held every Saturday and Sunday morning, Tenpin’s Birthday Bash events are occasions to remember. For £12.00 per person you get two games of cosmic bowling, your choice from a selection off the Beach Road Cafe Bar menu, unlimited squash, as well as goody bags for all the kids. There is a minimum of six people for Tenpin parties, but they offer fun and excited for all children aged 12 years old and under.
ANY HISTORY?
Bowling is one of the oldest sports still played in modern times. The earliest forms of bowling can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. In 1930 when the famous Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie excavated the grave of an Egyptian boy dating to 3200 BC, the explorer discovered artefacts resembling the pins used in tenpin bowling today. The first standardised rules for the pastime were established in New York City, on September 9, 1895. Today bowling is played around the world in over 90 countries.
WHAT TO TAKE?
One game costs £6.49 for adults and £5.00 for juniors. Two games cost £11.49 (adults) and £9.00 (juniors), and three games costs £12.49 (adults) and £10.00 (juniors). There’s also special family deals available. Four people can play a game for £20.00 or two games for £35.00. Bowling shoes are provided.
Food and drink are available. Their Beach Road Cafe Bar was inspired by the sun bleached, chilled-out beach vibe of Bondi, and is where you can relax with a burger and fries before or after you bowl.
LOOK OUT FOR?
As well as normal ten pin bowling on some nights you can play cosmic bowling, a hybrid of glow-in-the-dark ten pin bowling with dance club music and lights. Up to date information about cosmic bowling times can be found on the Tenpin website listed below.
At Tenpin Swansea there’s also an amusements arcade where you can try to win a prise on the claw machines, or, if you like, you can just chill out watching Sky Sports in the fully licensed bar or playing pool on the three American pool tables.
WHEN TO GO?
The bowling alley is open 11.00am to 12.00am on weekdays and 10.00am to 12.00am on weekends. During the school holidays they are open 10.00am to 12.00am seven days a week. The bar closes at 11.30pm.
TELL ME MORE
For sat nav users their address and postcode is Parc Tawe, The Strand, Swansea, SA1 2AX. You can phone on 0871 873 3150 or book online at www.tenpin.co.uk/swansea.


Grab your bargains

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, July 16, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

-----------------------------------

Grab your bargains
  A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

the Singleton Park Car Boot Sale in Swansea.

WHY?
What with the economic downturn car boot sales are a good way to save money and even make some extra cash and one of Wales’ five biggest is held every Saturday opposite Singleton Hospital in the car park of the Wales National Pool in Swansea.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
The Singleton Park Car Boot Sale is a well run car boot sale in the heart of Swansea which helps to raise funds for Singleton Hospital. Attendance barring bad weather is usually very good and there are lots of good deals to be grabbed.
ANY HISTORY?
Father Harry Clarke, a Catholic priest from Stockport first introduced the car boot sale to the UK after seeing a similar event being held in Canada while on holiday there in the early 1970s. Car boot sales now happen regularly across the UK every weekend of the year.
WHAT TO TAKE?
A carrier bag for your purchases would be useful. Food and hot drinks are available. You can choose between burgers and hotdogs or a healthy option. There’s also an ice cream van and a bouncy castle to keep the kids busy.
If you want to have a go at selling your unwanted clutter, cars cost £10.00, and vans and cars with trailers cost £15.00. Aim to get there before 6.00am if you want a good pitch to sell from as the car park fills up very quickly.
LOOK OUT FOR?
Goods available to buy typically include clothes, ornaments, pictures, books, toys and games, CDs, Blu-rays, DVDs, VHS tapes and even electrical goods like digital cameras and game consoles. Videos only cost 50p each and sometimes as little as 10p.
There’s plenty for collectors. When I visited I saw on display classic Playstation, Super Nintindo and Gameboy games and consoles. There were also a lot of old figurines from classic kids TV shows and films like Star Wars and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Some of which are worth a lot more money on websites like eBay for collectors. You might even find some new furniture.
WHEN TO GO?
The car boot sale is open every Saturday all year round from 7.00am to 1.00pm. But begins to close around 12.00pm, so get there early. After 12.00pm prices start coming down if you want to look for some last minuet bargains. I bought a DVD of James Toback’s 2008 film Tyson for just £1.00, original price £5.00!
TELL ME MORE
You can find the Singleton Park Car Boot Sale across the road from Singleton Hospital Car Park. Go to Oystermouth Road, Sketty Lane, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8QA. Details for this car boot sale and others can be found at www.carbootsaledirectory.co.uk.

Discover wartime past

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, July 9, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

----------------------------------------------

Discover wartime past
  A big day out!

   RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...

 the 1940s Museum. 

WHY?

Ever wanted to travel back in time? If so, then why not enjoy an educational day out at the 1940s Swansea Bay Museum. With the winter months here, it’s fun for all the family whatever the weather.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

The 1940s Swansea Bay Museum is based in Crymlyn Burrows off the Fabian Way in Swansea. The Museum contains exhibits showing what life was like in the Swansea Bay area during and in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The Museum offers visitors a unique chance to discover for themselves what life was like for civilians on the “Home Front” during the war and experience the sights and sounds of an air raid first hand. You even get to find out what you could eat with a week’s rations and dress up in 1940s clothes and uniforms!

ANY HISTORY?

Lots, it’s a museum after all. Most people have heard of the London “Blitz”, but the ports and industrial towns of South Wales were also targets for the German Luftwaffe, a three-night bombing campaign on Swansea in February, 1941, left most of the city destroyed. The 1940s Swansea Bay Museum was setup six years ago to tell the story of the impact of the bombing raids on the area, and how local people managed to cope with the devastation of total war. The Museum is preparing to mark the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Swansea, in February next year.

LOOK OUT FOR?

There are many highlights. The Museum have just recently opened a new exhibit, an authentic wartime grocer's shop, where visitors can see what products available then are still on store shelves today. “Items like Spam, tinned beans and Weetabix are all here on display - although the Weetabix used to come in a tin rather than a box”, according to Museum director John Thomas. In addition short films and displays of actual material from the period help bring to life a time over 65 years ago when every Briton had to carry a gas mask and identity card with them. But the best part of the exhibition has to be the RAF plotting room, where you follow the course of the German bombers before taking cover in the air raid shelter! If you survive the German bombs, when the all clear sounds, you can stroll down the reconstructed 1940s street, past houses, shops and into the corner pub.

WHAT TO TAKE?

Don’t forget to bring a camera with you.

WHEN TO GO?

The Museum is open daily 10am-4pm (last admission 1 hour before closing).

TELL ME MORE

Visit: www.1940sswanseabay.co.uk

Tel: 01792 458864

Email: mail@1940sSwanseaBay.co.uk

Fun for all the family

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, July 2, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

----------------------------------------

Fun for all the family
A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...

Folly Farm near Tenby in Pembrokeshire.

WHY?

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo is the top paid-for visitor attraction in Wales and winner of the Best Family Day Out in Pembrokeshire.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

Located near the tourist town of Tenby in the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside, Folly Farm offers affordable fun days out for the whole family. With six fun-filled amusement and activity zones, some of which are undercover, there is something to enjoy for all ages, whatever the weather.

ANY HISTORY?

Folly Farm opened in 1988 following the decision by the owners, the Williams and Ebsworth families, to diversify from dairy farming into the leisure industry. In 1997 Pets Corner opened and in 2002 the first zoo animals arrived.

More recently, in 2009, Folly Farm welcomed Wales' only giraffe to their zoo, a move that coincided with Folly Farm winning Premier Family Day Out at the Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards that year.

Today Folly Farm attracts 400,000 visitors each year, making it Wales' top paid-for tourist attraction.

WHAT TO TAKE?

Don’t forget to bring a camera with you. Tickets cost £9.00 for adults and £8.00 for children (3-15 year olds) on days when the park is open 10.00am to 5.30pm. On days when Folly Farm closes at 5.00pm tickets only cost £8.50 and £7.50. Toddlers two years old and under visit Folly Farm for free! Food and drink are available at Folly Farm’s Ploughman's Restaurant.

LOOK OUT FOR?

Folly Farm's Jolly Barn is home to a huge variety of farmyard animals, including sheep, pigs, donkeys, horses, chickens and other farm animals. There's also loads of opportunities for children to get hands-on during the Pet Handling sessions in the nearby Pets' Centre which is home to rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoises, parrots and lots more.

But with over 50 different species and more than 250 animals, Folly Farm’s zoo is the big highlight.

As well as giraffe Folly Zoo has zebra, Bactrian camels, pythons and other animals to see. And with zoo keeper talks, the chance to watch the animals during feeding times, and a whole host of fascinating facts on Folly Zoo’s animal enclosure signs, you’ll go home knowing a lot more about the different species.

But Folly Farm is much more than just a zoo. The 200 acre park is also home to Europe's largest undercover vintage funfair with a huge collection of working rides and stalls lovingly restored to their 20th century glory. A vintage big wheel and giant helter skelter ride sit just outside the funfair completing the old time funfair experience.

And if all that isn’t enough there’s even a go-kart racetrack!

WHEN TO GO?

Folly Farm will be open 10.00am to 5.30pm daily throughout most of April. You can check their opening times for a specific date on the official Folly Farm website at: www.folly-farm.co.uk.

TELL ME MORE

Their address is: Folly Farm, Begelly, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, SA68 0XA. For more information you can email info@folly-farm.co.uk or call on 01834 812731.

Farm targets visitors

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, June 25, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

  
-----------------------------------

Farm targets visitors
  A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

Perriswood down the Gower.

WHY?
Located on the A4118 in the heart of the Gower overlooking the stunning Oxwich Bay, Perriswood Archery and Falconry Centre is only a 20 minuet drive from Swansea. The centre provides a range of activities that can be enjoyed by individuals and groups of all ages. Whether you are looking to try something new; relax and take in the surrounding scenery; have fun with the family; or celebrate a special occasion ... Perriswood is a good place to visit.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Archery lessons are available all day everyday on the centre’s outside range, or inside if the weather is not good. The lessons are suitable for the whole family from 6 years old up and for all abilities. At the end of an hour lesson you get the chance to win a solid gold, Celtic design ring! All you have to do is shoot an arrow into the centre of a ring on your target.
There are also 38 different birds of prey to see at Perriswood, including owls, hawks, and falcons. And visitors get to hold the birds for themselves. You even get the chance to see one fly to your own gloved hand!
Very few falconry centres let members of the public so close to their birds, setting Perriswood apart from other centres.
For a more relaxing option you can enjoy a herbal tea or freshly ground coffee with a cake in the Perriswood coffee shop. You can also take a look around the rest of the centre’s animal attractions, including monkeys, micro pigs, honey bees, and others.
ANY HISTORY?
Brian Williams and his family have lived at Perriswood Farm for over 200 years. In 2004 Brian decided to diversify into teaching archery. The centre originally started off with seven bows and two targets in one of the fields. Over the last seven years the centre has developed and today Perriswood can have up to 80 people shooting at one time!
By spring 2007 it was decided that changing the way that archery is taught wasn’t enough and Brian struck out to bring birds of prey to the masses.
WHAT TO TAKE?
The centre offers visitors three different length lessons. A 15 minute archery lesson costs £6.00, and 30 minuets costs £8.00. An hour lesson costs £14.00. Whereas “Arrows, Talons & Tea” costs only £12.00 per person.
LOOK OUT FOR?
If you would like to try archery and falconry then “Arrows, Talons and Tea” is the best package. An introduction to archery is followed by a hot drink and cake before you take part in a bird display.
WHEN TO GO?
Perriswood is open seven days a week. Their opening hours are 10.00am to 7.00pm.
TELL ME MORE
You can contact Perriswood and find out more via their website at www.perriswood.com or phone on 01792 371661. Their address is: Perriswood Farm, Penmaen, Gower, Swansea, SA3 2HN.

Nile on your doorstep

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, June 18, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

---------------------------------------------------------

Nile on your doorstep
  A big day out!

  RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...

the Egypt Centre in Swansea.

WHY?
With the popularity of films like “The Mummy” and its sequels, why not take the family to the Egypt Centre at Swansea University and discover for yourself the facts behind the fiction. Find out about the real Imhotep, high priest of the sun god Ra and architect of Ancient Egypt’s first pyramid. You can also see for yourself a real life Egyptian coffin, as well as other ancient exhibits from the land of the Nile!
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Located within the Taliesin building at Swansea University, the Egypt Centre is the only museum of Egyptian antiquities in Wales.
The Centre is open to the public and also welcomes school parties and groups from early years, primary and secondary to graduate and post-graduate and special needs students. To book you can Email Wendy Goodridge at w.r.goodridge@swansea.ac.uk.
ANY HISTORY?
The Egypt Centre opened in 1998, but its roots are much older. Most of the objects in the Centre were part of the collection of the 19th and early 20th century pharmacist and archaeologist Sir Henry Wellcome, who collected them from excavations.
LOOK OUT FOR?
There are over 4500 items in the collection. Egypt Centre staff have published over 100 online pages concerning individual items, which you can find on the Egypt Centre website at: www.swan.ac.uk/egypt The funerary items on display in the “House of Death” are one highlight. These include amulets, shrouds, statues, coffins and fragments of coffins, and even canopic jars, which were used by the Ancient Egyptians to store and preserve the internal organs of the deceased for their journey through the afterlife.
WHAT TO TAKE?
Bring a camera with you. Admission is free but you might want to visit the Egypt Centre Shop located in the foyer of the museum, where you can buy some keepsakes. Some of the more unusual gifts available include books of Egyptian spells and curses, as well as a wide range of statues, recycled glass, papyrus from Egypt, and exclusive hand-made jewellery. More conventional items like pens, pencils and key-rings are also available to buy.
WHEN TO GO?
The Egypt Centre is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.
Please note that the Centre is not open Sundays, Mondays or bank holidays, and will be closed for the Christmas holidays from 24 December to 4 January.
TELL ME MORE
You can contact the Egypt Centre at Swansea University at the following address:
Egypt Centre,
Swansea University,
Singleton Park,
Swansea,
SA2 8PP.
You can also telephone on: 01792 295960 or Email the curator, Carolyn Graves-Brown at: c.a.graves-brown@swansea.ac.uk.

Roll up for big thrills

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, June 11, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

----------------------------------------------

Roll up for big thrills

A big day out!

  RICHARD THOMAS heads to ....

Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire.

WHY?

With over 30 rides and attractions including three roller coasters and four water rides, Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire attracts 400,000 visitors each year, making it one of the UK's top ten theme parks. So with Oakwood re-open for the new season in early April, why not check it out?

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

Located off the A40 motorway at Canaston Bridge, 8 miles east of the town of Haverfordwest, Oakwood park provides fun for all the family, from white knuckle rides to dazzling firework displays and other special events Oakwood has it all. Also other family attractions including Fully Farm and Scolton Museum can be found near Oakwood Theme Park, just six miles away.

ANY HISTORY?

Oakwood Theme Park first opened in 1987 as “Oakwood Leisure Park”, a very small family park with BMXs, a wooden fort, a 3D-style cinema experience show, go-karts and a water chute ride.

In 1996 Oakwood’s status as a small-scale regional attraction was completely transformed when the park opened “Megafobia” to the public. At that time Europe's largest wooden roller coaster ride. Since then the park has acquired a worldwide reputation for innovation and has since incorporated four more large thrill rides: “Vertigo”, “Bounce”, “Hydro” and the park’s newest roller coaster “Speed” opened in 2006.

WHAT TO TAKE?

Standard tickets for visitors over 13 years old cost £19.95, while junior tickets for children 3-12 years old cost £14.25 each. Children two years old and younger visit the park for free and by booking online you can save £2.00 per person!

Food and drink are available in the park’s restaurants, the Southern-fried chicken at Dixie's Chicken Diner is good. There are also gift shops with t-shirts, mugs and other Oakwood Theme Park merchandise available to buy. You can also purchase photos of yourself on Megafobia and the other rides, but don’t forget to bring a camera with you to take your own snaps.

LOOK OUT FOR?

Oakwood has a good variety of rides to suit all people and ages. Megafobia and Speed are the park's two most exciting roller coasters. In the Detailed Wood Roller Coaster Poll 2010 the 85-foot-tall Megafobia ranked number 30 in the world. Speed is an exhilarating ride, twisting and turning at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. Bounce is a vertical ride, shooting you up into the air at more than 40mph. Together with the Hydro water ride, these four attractions form Oakwood’s “Big Four”, the ultimate adrenaline rush for thrill seekers!

For the more wary and younger children there are also more family orientated rides, including The Pirate Ship and Snake River Falls.

WHEN TO GO?

Oakwood is generally open 10.00am to 5.00pm daily. For more information about opening times you can visit the official Oakwood Theme Park website at www.oakwoodthemepark.co.uk.

Jam-packed museum

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, June 4, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

------------------------------------------------

Jam-packed museum
  A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...

The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

WHY?
Jam-packed with the latest interactive technology married with traditional displays, the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea offers visitors a unique and fully involved learning experience for the 21st century. So with the Welsh weather why not enjoy finding out about Swansea’s vast industrial and maritime heritage at Wales’ newest national museum?
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
The National Waterfront Museum at Swansea tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales, now and over the last 300 years. The museum uses a collage of real life artefacts, archive footage and photographs, 2-D graphic panels, video diaries and various and often ingenious interactive computer displays, to bring Wales’ industrial and social history vividly to life for visitors. "We wanted to look at the impact industrialisation had on the people of Wales. We are trying to break the mould and tell stories right up to the present day … It's not having gadgets for gadgets' sake - the technology allows us to get the real stories", Dr Richard Bevins, Keeper of Geology at the National Museum Wales, said in 2005.
ANY HISTORY?
Lots, the museum has more than 100 historical artefacts from Wales’ industrial past. Formerly the site of the Swansea Industrial & Maritime Museum the new National Waterfront Museum was opened in October 2005. The museum building itself is a synthesis of contemporary architecture and Welsh history. The building eloquently combining a Grade II listed former dockside warehouse built in 1902 with a 21st century glass and slate structure, designed exactly a century later by Stirling Prize-winning architects Wilkinson Eyre.
WHAT TO TAKE?
You can bring a camera with you. Although, visitors wishing to take photographs will be required to complete a Declaration Form available from the Information Desk. Admission is free but you might want to purchase some keepsakes in the museum’s gift shop, where the money you spend is gifted back to the museum.
LOOK OUT FOR?
With 36 interactive displays there’s too much to list. One of the most memorable exhibits is a detailed scale model of the 1865 steam ship Zeta, after which Swansea-born Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones was named. There’s also a replica of the world's first steam locomotive, built by British inventor Richard Trevithick, which made its first journey along the tramway of the Penydarren Ironworks, near Merthyr Tydfil in 1804.
WHEN TO GO?
The museum is open from 10.00am to 5.00pm daily.
TELL ME MORE
The National Waterfront Museum at Swansea is located in Swansea's Maritime Quarter, and less than half a mile from the city centre. There address is: National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road, Maritime Quarter, Swansea, SA1 3RD. To find out more about exhibits etc. you can visit the National Waterfront Museum website at www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/swansea or call on 01792 638950.

Movie magic lives!

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, May 28, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
--------------------------------------------------

Movie magic lives!

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...

the Vue Cinema in Swansea.

WHY?

With the summer blockbusters just around the corner there are lots of films coming out soon at the Vue.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

The Vue is a new state-of-the-art cinema located on York Street, in the centre of Swansea. With 12 screens the cinema can seat up to 1,762 people and is equipped with all the latest facilities you would expect of a modern cinema. These include wall-to-wall screens and digital projectors, enabling filmgoers to experience all the latest ground breaking 3D animation!

The Vue also benefits from a speed bar where you can kick back with a beer before your film starts. There’s even a Ben and Jerry's ice cream counter for the kids!

ANY HISTORY?

The Vue only opened in 2006 but there is a long history of film going in Swansea. In 1914 Wales' first purpose built cinema, the Carlton Cinema de Luxe, opened in the city.

Situated on Swansea’s Oxford Street, the Carlton was closed by the Rank Organisation in 1977, and is now home to a Waterstones bookshop.

WHAT TO TAKE?

During the weekend tickets cost £7.15 for adults (19 and over) and £5.30 for children (2-12) and £5.65 for teenagers (13-18). Tickets for students with a valid photo ID only cost £6.05.

There are lots of discounts available. If you’re a family of four with two children you can even opt to buy a family ticket where everyone pays child prices! More information about ticket prices and family discounts can all be found on the Vue Cinema Swansea website at http://new.myvue.com/home/cinema/swansea.

Completing your cinema experience a wide variety of snacks including popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, sweets and soft drinks are all available at the cinema’s snacks counter. Combos are available to save a little money.

LOOK OUT FOR?

Two films out now suitable for all the family are Rio from the makers of Ice Age about a pet macaw who decides to fly the coop and head to Rio de Janeiro and Mars Needs Moms about a stroppy son whose mum is abducted by aliens and taken to the planet Mars. Both these films are available in stunning 3D!

Scream 4 is out for older audiences. The first film in the popular horror franchise in over ten years! Woodsboro’s infamous masked killer is back. And he's got some making up to do!

WHEN TO GO?

The Vue is open Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. On Sundays the cinema is open from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

TELL ME MORE

Their address is: Vue Cinema Swansea, York Street, Swansea, SA1 3LZ. For film start times and to book tickets you can phone on 08712 240 240 or visit the official Vue Cinema website at www.myvue.com.

Futuristic laser warfare

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, May 21, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

-------------------------------------------------------

Futuristic laser warfare 
A big day out!
RICHARD THOMAS heads to ...
Laserzone in Swansea. 

WHY?
Fans of James Cameron’s 1991 science fiction film Terminator 2: Judgment Day will recall the high-tech laser battle fought between the human resistance and the Terminator machines at the beginning of that dystopian blockbuster. At the Laserzone in Swansea you won’t bump into Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you can experience all the excitement of such sci-fi warfare without the obvious risks.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Located opposite Castle Square next to Swansea Castle, Laserzone is a high-tech, live action laser game played in a multi-level themed arena with special effects, fog, laser beams, pulse pumping music and other players/targets combining to create the ultimate laser adventure!
ANY HISTORY?
Not really. But some might think it ironic that the Laserzone is situated next door to the ruins of Swansea Castle, a place where real life battles once took place back in history.
LOOK OUT FOR?
There are some arcade games to keep you occupied while you wait for your turn to play, but the highlight is definitely the Laserzone game itself. Each player is given a laser pack consisting of a laser weapon and body armour. The gun and body armour both have hit sensors built into them, all of which have different score ratings. Your end score depends on your hit to shots fired ratio and how many times you’ve been hit by other players. Up to 30 players can play at once and you can choose to either play as part of a team or go it alone as an individual.
WHAT TO TAKE?
Wear casual clothes, dark colours would be best. Anyone aged eight years old and over can play. Prices are £4.00 for one game and £7.50 for two games for non-members. If you enjoy your Laserzone experience you might considering becoming a member. Membership only costs £10.00 for one year, and after you become a member you get money off each time you return to play. Also every Wednesday between 2.00pm and 4.00pm and again between 8.00pm and 10.00pm students with a valid NUS card get to play for £5.00. And on Sundays between 10.30am and 12.00pm under 16’s get to play a minimum of 3 games and a free squash drink for £7.50. If you feel hungry after playing there are some snack machines to use and a pizza restaurant, Pizza Express, is just next door.
WHEN TO GO?
The Laserzone is open seven days a week. It is open Monday to Friday from 12.00pm to 10.00pm and on weekends from 10.00am to 9.00pm. During the school holidays they are open 11.00am to 10.00pm.
TELL ME MORE
Their address is: Laserzone, Castle Buildings, Worcester Place, Swansea, SA1 1JQ. You can find up to date information about game prices etc. on the Laserzone website at www.laserzone.org or call on 01792 653433.