Oyster House, Swansea

Overview

City Pubs latest opening is a quirky new-build in a cracking location on Mumbles seafront with extensive views across Swansea Bay.

The Oyster House shares the prime promenade position with a handful of 'chain' restaurants, with vibrant Oyster Wharf fast becoming the dining hub on the smart Mumbles side of the Bay, drawing the Swansea in-crowd and Gower visitors for the lively atmosphere, simple bistro-style food, and the mesmerising sea view.

The only pub in the hub opened its doors in June 2022 and the young smiley team hit the ground running, thanks to the immediate popularity of the 16 contemporary-smart rooms (the best rooms for miles - 8 sea facing), the fab roof-top terrace (open until 10pm), replete with glass walls and a cool bar covered in Mediterranean-style tiles, and the laid-back urban/city vibe in the colourful bar and dining rooms. Think, bright banquettes, modern lighting, chilled music, heated front dining pods with retractable roofs and watery views, and a mix of classic and modern pub dishes on seasonal menus.

Rooms from:

16 doubles/twin: £129-£299

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted

Disabled Access (lift to rooms)

Alfresco dining & roof-top terrace

No parking; pay car park 150yds

Dogs stay: £10 (2 rooms)

Gower peninsula

Just over the hill from Mumbles, the rocky fist of the Gower peninsula is a secluded world of its own - a land of limestone cliffs, remote bays, and mile upon mile of golden sands, all best explored on foot.

Oystermouth Castle

Ruined castle built in 1218 with walls of pale grey, local limestone, a gatehouse, chapel and great hall and fine views across Swansea Bay - just a short walk from the Oyster House.

Rooms

Eight of the 16 smart new rooms make the most of the fabulous sea views - three have private decked terraces and the four top floor rooms have sliding doors and Juliet-style balconies.

All are very comfortable and tastefully kitted out in contemporary style and will all the home-from-home comforts to ensure a relaxing stay. Soothing seaside hues (blues and yellows) contrast with colourful patterned headboards, bright red lampshades, the odd jazzy striped chair and rich fabrics.

Money has been lavished on the best beds (expect a great night's slumber) topped with quality linen, down and woollen throws, and you can expect a Smart TV, coffee machines, Birchall teas, a mini-fridge with fresh milk and bottled filtered water, a Roberts radio, and cracking views across the bay from the front rooms.

Modern bathrooms come with walk-in rain shower or shower over bath, underfloor heating, and a generous supply of Bramley organic toiletries. There are two dog-friendly rooms (with terraces); two interconnecting family rooms; a room well equipped for the less abled (access via the lift); and the roof-top terrace and bar closes at 10pm.

Restaurant & bar

Brunch, lunch and dinner menus evolve seasonally and deliver modern British pub food, combining pub classics with more inventive dishes.

Using local farm-reared meats from Gower Butchers in Swansea, fresh fish and mussels from Coakley Fishmongers, and ice cream from Joe's Parlour, both located in Mumbles, the crowd-pleasing menu may offer scallops, crispy bacon and pea puree, a bowl of moules mariniere with crusty bread, or a deli-board to share for starters. Main courses range from dressed crab and pan-fried cod with kale, sauteed baby potatoes and chorizo jam, to lamb cutlets with Jersey royals and mint salsa verde, and good vegan or vegetarian choices - summer garden gnocchi, sun-dried tomatoes, goat's cheese curd and pea shoots.

Lunchtime sandwiches (try the fish finger option), desserts like chocolate and salted caramel tart, and a good brunch menu - Greek yoghurt, granola and berries; avocado, cherry tomato and dukkah on toast.

Alongside craft beers and cider, handpumps dispense ales from Mumbles Brewery - Mumbles Mile & Gold - and there's a decent cocktail list, a raft of boutique spirits, and an eclectic wine list (20 by the glass).

Things to do

Oxwich is a charming little village of thatched and whitewashed stone cottages located at the western end of the sweeping sands of Oxwich Bay. Lovely 12th-century church of St Illtyd stands deep in woodland on a rocky ledge above the sea, and Oxwich Castle is a ruined manor house built by the Norman de la mare family in 1541. Look out for rare birds and plants at Oxwich Burrows, an important National Nature Reserve.

At Three Cliffs Bay, impressive cliffs and fortresses, eroded by time, overlook a fabulous sandy beach cut by the Pennard Pill stream. There are remains of a castle mound on the western side of the valley, and the 13th-century Pennard Castle ruins (great views of beach) to the east.