Super September and October for Swansea city centre

Statistics for both months show city centre sales were up on the same months last year, also beating the national averages.

October's figures show sales were up 3.7% on the same month in 2014, smashing the national average where sales were 0.6% down. September's figures also show sales were up 7% on the same month last year, beating the national average by 4.3%.

Footfall in September was also up 3.9% on the same month in 2014.

Swansea events in September and October included the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k, Spooks in the City and matches at the Liberty Stadium including the visits of Everton, Spurs and Arsenal. Many rugby fans from countries including Canada, Ireland and New Zealand were also staying in the city because of Rugby World Cup games just along the M4 in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Tiger and Five Guys are among the new businesses to have opened in Swansea city centre in recent months.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “These are yet more encouraging signs for Swansea city centre that build on a successful summer where sales and footfall also beat the national figures, so the challenge now is to keep on attracting more and more visitors into the city centre through a combination of top quality events and more investment.

“That's why it's great that residents and visitors to Swansea city centre have a lot more to look forward to. Not only will new businesses like Kaspas desserts soon be opening, but there are lots of Christmas events that have now started as well, including Waterfront Winterland at Museum Park and the Christmas Market on Oxford Street. “We'll also soon be announcing one or more developments partners to lead the regeneration of the Civic Centre and St David's sites. In tandem with our plans for other parts of the city centre, these developments will help deliver the kind of high-quality, mixed-use and thriving city centre that the people of Swansea deserve.”

The Christmas Market, featuring about 40 stalls, is now open every day until Tuesday December 22. Waterfront Winterland at Museum Park, featuring fun including the Admiral ice rink and the big wheel, is also now on-going until Sunday January 3.