In just four weeks' time, thousands of people from all around south Wales will dress up to the nines and take to restaurants, bars and clubs across Swansea for one of the biggest events in the Swansea calendar: Beaujolais Day. The event falls on the third Thursday of November each year - which this year is November 17 - and marks the first harvest of grapes in the Beaujolais region of France.
Whilst the day goes unnoticed in large parts of Wales and the UK, it's been a huge celebration in Swansea for several years now - although there are also some events in Cardiff. Typically, restaurants and bars arrange special dinners with plentiful wine and live music and, for many, the event marks the start of the countdown to Christmas too. Read here about why Swansea loves Beaujolais Day so much.
Here's our roundup of everywhere you can go for a special Beaujolais Day or Beaujolais evening in Swansea and Cardiff this year.
Do you own or manage a business doing something special for Beaujolais Day? Get in touch if you'd like to be added to this list. Email: molly.dowrick@walesonline.co.uk
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Swansea
The Grand Hotel Swansea
Hundreds of people flock to The Grand Hotel Swansea for Beaujolais Day each year - and this year will be no exception. For Beaujolais Day 2022, the hotel is serving a French-inspired three-course meal, with a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau wine or a French Kiss cocktail, followed by live entertainment, a DJ and a disco. Lovely! Tickets to the event are £40 each. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Heaven
One of Swansea's most popular new venues on Wind Street, Heaven, opened just before Christmas last year - so the owners are excited to host the bar's first ever Beaujolais Day event. Bottomless wine, prosecco and pints will be served, alongside unlimited canapes, and live DJs will perform on both floors of the venue - with further entertainment to be announced nearer the time.
Explaining what's on offer, the description for Beaujolais Nouveau at Heaven reads: "This will be Heaven's very first Beaujolais Nouveau and we have an absolute cracker to kick off with! Bottomless wine, Prosecco and pints, unlimited canapés, live DJs on both floors, saxophonist and bongo players to perform live in the club room. Buffet in the club room prepared by the amazing team at Food By Sean. Two-hour sittings (12pm and 2.30pm, limited to 80 people per sitting)."
Check out the best pictures of Beaujolais Day 2021 in Swansea - here - and see if you can spot yourself!
Juniper Place
Pretty gin bar and restaurant, Juniper Place on York Street, Swansea city centre, is offering a three-course meal and live entertainment this Beaujolais Day for £39.95 per person.
Entertainment includes Gin & Sing (Carrie O'Grady) from 12pm to 6pm, Karl Morgan from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and The Hat & The Fiddle Band from 8.30pm to 11pm. You can read more stories about Swansea here.
Morgans Hotel
Every year, the hard-working staff at Morgans Hotel pull out all the stops for a Beaujolais Day extravaganza at their beautiful hotel between the city centre and the maritime quarter. Attendees enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing throughout the day and into the evening.
This year, Morgans is offering three sittings in its main restaurant and two in its marquee for its Beaujolais Nouveau 2022 event. In the main restaurant, the sittings are at 12pm, 2.45pm or 5.15pm and in the main marquee, the sittings are at 12.30pm and 4pm. Each sitting involves a "luxurious" three-course meal, live music and plenty of Beaujolais Nouveau wine.
Tickets are £50 per person or it's £500 for an "exclusive" table of 10. Alternatively, you can splash out on a VIP table for £1,000 to include one welcome drink per person, a three-course meal for 10 people,. two bottles of premium champagne, two buckets of 10 beers or four bottles of house wine, one bottle of Au Vodka or Gin served with mixers, 10 VIP passes allowing queue jump access between Morgans Hotel and the Marquee, and table service.
ND John Wine Merchants
Offering a calmer Beaujolais Day than the bars and restaurants of Wind Street, ND John Wine Merchants in Walter Road, Uplands, will be serving Beaujolais wine and French cheese throughout the day at its event.
Explaining what people could expect, organisers said: "Don't fancy the hustle and bustle of a busy Wind Street? Couldn't get into your favourite restaurant? No problem! Come and have a relaxing Beaujolais afternoon with us!
"We'll serve you a half bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau 2022 (a bottle between two) and a selection of French cheeses. Édith Piaf will be playing on repeat. We may even put on French accents for the day! Tables are available for 12pm to 2pm and 3pm to 5pm. Just £10 per person. What could be better than tasting the new Beaujolais Nouveau in a wine shop on Beaujolais Day? How very French!"
Old Havana
"French flair meets Latino fiesta" at Old Havana, a stunning Cuban-themed restaurant and cocktail bar on York Street in the city centre. The venue is offering a two-course meal and live entertainment for £28.95 this Beaujolais Day.
The description for the event explains: "When it comes to Beaujolais Day, Swansea does it best. Gather your friends and celebrate the most anticipated day of the year. Join us for a delicious two-course meal for £28.95 per person at 12.30pm to 2.30pm. Drinks-only bookings from 3pm onwards.
"We’ve got back to back DJs and Darren Sax for entertainment that will for sure get you up and dancing! So what are you waiting for? Reserve your table now to avoid disappointment."
The Overdraft
Gorgeous independent cocktail bar The Overdraft on the High Street in Clydach is hosting a special event this year for Beaujolais Day.
During the daytime, guests can choose between two hours of bottomless Beaujolais wine and a grazing platter (£20 per person) or two hours of bottomless cocktails (from a Beaujolais Day menu) and a grazing platter (£30 per person), with two sittings available: 1pm to 3pm or 4pm to 6pm.
In the evening, the doors will open at 6pm for a special performance by talented local singer Nathan Jones at 7pm.
Patti Pavilion
There's a huge Bingo Lingo 'Beaujolais Day Special' event at the Patti Pavilion on Mumbles Road for Beaujolais Day this year. If you're not familiar with Bingo Lingo, it's a wild bingo night in a nightclub-style setting with music playing, games, prizes and lots of cocktails!
The event will run from 6pm (last entry 7.30pm) to 11pm and tickets cost £14 plus £1.40 fee.
Peppermint
You can celebrate Beaujolais Day in style at Peppermint on Wind Street with bottomless brunch, prosecco and tapas throughout the day and well into the night.
Peppermint is offering multiple sittings for its Beaujolais Day event, starting at 12pm on November 17, and will be open until 3am. Bottomless brunch can be pre-booked online and starts at just £29.95 per person. Table packages and premium areas are also available to pre-book.
Swigg Swansea
Swigg Swansea bar at the National Waterfront Museum will be serving canapes and bottomless prosecco this Beaujolais Day. It's £29.95 for a ticket and there will be live music performed throughout the day and the bar will remain open until late. The bar will also be open all day for walk-ins.
Venue No. 1
Venue No. 1, a striking new theatre and arts hub in Carmarthen Road, Fforestfach, is hosting a "Boujee Beaujolais" event this year. Guests can enjoy a three-course meal along with French-inspired cocktails and Beaujolais wine, whilst listening to a live sax performances. Tickets are £35 each and after the event, transport will be available to take you to town, should you want to continue the party.
Cardiff
The Botanist
The Botanist in Cardiff city centre is offering a three-course meal and a glass of Beaujolais to every guest at its annual Beaujolais Day event. There will be three sittings: 12pm, 3pm and 6pm. Tickets to the 12pm sitting, organised by ClubBrunch, have already sold out, but there are tickets still available for the 3pm and 6pm sittings. You can read more stories about Cardiff here.
Tickets include your meal, wine and performances by DJs playing until the early hours and are priced at £39 per person. Bar tables will also be available from 11am. Booking in advance is recommended.
Cafe du Chat Noir
French bistro Cafe du Chat Noir in Wellfield Road, Roath, is hosting entertainment by talented singer Nico Fitz alongside a three-course meal and plenty of wine this Beaujolais Day. Doors will open at 7pm on Beaujolais Day with canapes and the entertainment set to begin at 7.30pm. Later, dinner will be served with further entertainment.
The price for the evening is £29.50 for a three-course meal, or £39.50 to include half a bottle of Beaujolais wine.
The Coal Exchange Hotel
The gorgeous Coal Exchange Hotel in Cardiff Bay is hosting a Beaujolais Day event in its Culley's Kitchen & Bar from 12.30pm to 6pm on November 17. Ticketholders will be treated to a three-course meal, arrival glass of Beaujolais wine, half a bottle of wine each and live entertainment throughout the day, for £60 per person.
St Peters Hall
St Peters Hall in Roath is hosting a glamorous "professional networking" Beaujolais Day event in its Great Hall. The dress code is "dress to impress" and guests will be treated to a three-course fine-dining menu, a glass of Beaujolais, a premium bottled beer or glass of prosecco on arrival and entertainment throughout the day.
The venue will open for arrival drinks at 12pm and there will be an opportunity for "socialising and networking opportunities" until 1pm, when guests will be asked to take their seats ahead of pre-meal entertainment and their dinner. After their meal, there will be further entertainment at 4pm before the event finishes at 6pm.
Full tables can be booked as tables of eight (£440), with smaller bookings put together to make up tables of eight (£55 per individual ticket).
Vale Sports Arena
The Vale Sports Arena in Penarth Road is hosting a huge Beaujolais Day party this year. Sponsored by Au Vodka, the fantastic bash will offer free-flowing prosecco for the first hour, canapes on arrival, a buffet and further canapes and "seven hours of entertainment and music".
The event will also play host to fire performers, a saxophonist, caricaturists, magicians, stilt-walkers and angle-grinders (the performers that use angle grinder tools to cause sparks to fly).
The event will run from 2pm to 9pm (last entry 2.30pm) on Beaujolais Day and it's £60 plus a £10 fee for a table of two or £140 plus a £10 fee for a table of four (first release tickets). A table of six (standard ticket) is £240 plus a £10 fee and a VIP table of two - to include a VIP area, private area, premium products and own bar alongside the standard offerings of prosecco, canapes, buffet and entertainment, is £120 plus a £10 fee. Further ticket options are available.
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