The catering and hospitality sector in Swansea
The second-largest city in Wales, Swansea (known as Abertawe in Welsh) is something of a hidden gem. From the waterfront of Swansea to the Mumbles and all the way to the Gower Peninsula (the first place in Britain to be named an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), this area of South Wales is famed for its natural beauty. And as the home of Dylan Thomas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, it’s home to its fair share of cultural marvels, too.
Swansea Market, the largest indoor market in Wales, sits in the heart of the city centre. With over 100 traders selling an array of fresh local produce and knick-knacks, visitors will find just about everything they need — from high-end jewellery to tasty street food. Despite being bomb-damaged during the Blitz, it was rebuilt and has stood as a proud focal point for city traders and shopper ever since. It even had its very own four-part BBC documentary in 2013.
For most people, however, Swansea is perhaps most famous for its free-flowing football side, Swansea City FC, which graced the Premier League between 2011 and 2018. Currently playing in the second tier of the football pyramid, the Swans are hoping to bounce back to the big time with a little help from passionate supporters in their state-of-the-art base, Liberty Stadium.
In the past, this coastal city was a key centre of the copper-smelting industry, earning itself the nickname Copperopolis. Now, the biggest sectors in Swansea are public administration, education and health distribution, and hotels and restaurants — the last of which accounts for nearly a quarter of local jobs, which is great news for catering and hospitality professionals seeking a truly Welsh experience.
The rise of restaurants in Swansea is largely thanks to the area’s culinary tradition. Swansea is home to Welsh staples such as fresh cockles, laverbread and salt marsh lamb — all of which can be sourced from the estuary village of Penclawdd. Meanwhile, the city has long been a driving force of the British real ale renaissance, with a growing number of new microbreweries serving up tasty local craft beers (a particular favourite is Mumbles Brewery’s stout made with oysters).
According to the latest Blue Arrow data, a head chef can earn up to £25,000 annually, while a part-time chef de partie can expect to earn around £12.33 per hour. For chefs looking to expand their culinary repertoire in and around Swansea, opportunities such as the Professional Cookery Diploma at Gower College Swansea can help you upskill.
