A highly-regarded independent restaurant in Uplands in Swansea has shut permanently, management have confirmed. The Optimist in Uplands Crescent was forced to close during the pandemic due to lockdown regulations - and hasn't opened its doors since.
Current owner, Ryan Hole, director of The Secret Hospitality Group, has now confirmed that the venue has closed for good. He and his team had decided to take their business in a "different direction," he said, and focus on their other three venues: The Secret Bar and Kitchen on Swansea Beach, The Green Room Bar and Kitchen next to Swansea Arena, and Castellamare Italian restaurant overlooking Bracelet Bay, Mumbles.
As for The Optimist unit, it's not all bad news as it's in the process of being taken on by another local, independent business, Ryan confirmed. The site is set to become a new restaurant later this summer and further details will be shared closer to the time.
Read more: Jimmy Carr to bring controversial 'Terribly Funny' show to Swansea Arena
The Optimist Bar and Kitchen was The Secret Hospitality Group's first business in the city and was particularly popular among students and local residents for its breakfast and brunch dishes. Those options are now being served at The Green Room Bar and Kitchen. You can read more stories about Swansea here.
"The Optimist has closed down. It hasn't opened since lockdown. We decided to take the business in a different direction, we want unique venues in spectacular locations and we're focusing on The Secret, The Green Room and Castellamare," director of The Secret Hospitality Group, Ryan Hole, told Wales Online. "But the people who worked there have been rehoused [given jobs] in our other venues."
"There's a really exciting, local, independent business taking it [the unit currently housing The Optimist] on," he added. "It will be a restaurant, hoping to open later this month. Also later this month, The Green Room Bar and Kitchen will launch its dinner menu - making the most of its pizza oven."
News of The Optimist's closure comes at the same time as another eatery in the city says it has pushed back its opening for at least another year. Last March, Greggs bakery promised to open Wales' first drive-thru Greggs bakery in Swansea in July, 2021 - but the company still hasn't finished building it and has now delayed its launch for another 12 months. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Back in February, Greggs confirmed that work on the drive-thru had had to be temporarily postponed. "We still plan to open the Swansea drive-thru location but had to postpone it for the time being. We will be sure to share any information in due course," a spokesperson said at the time. Greggs has now confirmed its drive-thru in Swansea has been postponed until 2023.
A new statement issued on July 5, 2022, said: "Unfortunately, the Greggs drive-thru in Swansea has been postponed until next year. We’ll share any further information around the opening in due course." You can read our full report on this here.
READ NEXT:
- The Indian restaurant on a country road that's just been named the best in Wales
- BrewDog preparing to open biggest ever bar with podcast studio and bowling alley
- Beer fans inspired by limited edition summer ale from Black Sheep Brewery
- Mark Drakeford has a 'chalet' in Pembrokeshire (but it's not a second home)
- The most popular baby names of 2022 so far and the names no parent chose for their child
