It's a classic Swansea debate: Wind Street versus The Kingsway. While nowadays the majority of Swansea's bars and clubs, and especially those aimed at students and young people, are lined up along Wind Street in the 80s, 90s, and Noughties people were much more likely to head to The Kingsway for a night out as it was full to the brim with a wide range of venues that Wind Street could only dream of.
Pubs, bars, and clubs along The Kingsway all played different music and hosted different kinds of events so there really was something for everyone. We recently shared a reader's popular opinion on our Facebook page. "Nice try Wind Street, but Kingsway in the 80s, 90s and 00s...stuff of legend mate," they said. In response more than 150 Swansea locals got in touch to agree with them and share their own memories.
We've sifted through the comments and in this article we're sharing some of our readers' most impressive and amusing memories from nights on The Kingsway people will never forget – or perhaps they won't ever fully remember! To get the latest Swansea news stories to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
The Kingsway was the best place for a pub crawl every weekend
One of the best things about a night on the tiles in Swansea was that all the best bars and clubs were dotted along The Kingsway making it easy to go to several places on a night for a pub crawl, as Swansea resident Siân Owens remembers. "Kingsway was the best!! An amazing pub crawl every weekend followed by a lengthy taxi queue opposite Ritzy's!" she said. Summing up what The Kingsway was like in its heyday, Andy Patterson added simply: "The place to be."
"It was an amazing time, everyone enjoyed, no crap, good laughs and a few beers," agreed Paul Morgan. "Wind Street was always just warm-up for Yates – which in turn was warm-up for Kingsway when you hit likes of Quids Inn, Whispers, Flares, Time etc." added Ed Turner. "Before heading home half-obliterated, pointing out to taxi-driver 'I may be p*ssed but I am fully aware I just gave you a 20 to cover that eight-quid taxi ride, not a tenner! Made no sense looking back but was a good laugh!"
It was also the place for 'romance'
Over the years many couples met for the first time, went on first dates, or got together at the bars on The Kingsway – and it's fair to say there's been a fair few more casual encounters over the years there too. Recounting what he remembers from the heydays of The Kingsway, Swansea local Randle McMurphy joked: "Many illegitimate children were created [on The Kingsway], standard Swansea!" Nevertheless certainly many marriages came out of encounters on The Kingsway too. "It's The Kingsway's fault I got married and three kids," laughed Clare Alexandra Hulse.
There were so many places to choose from
Listing his favourite places, Mark Evans said: "The Queens, Harpers, Ritzys, The Valbone, Rumours, The VIP Club, Central Park, Shades, Mythars, Vineyard, The New Swan/Fagans, Hanbury and of course BARONS" Dylan Williams added: "Quids Inn, Escape, Rasputins, Cafe Mambo and Flares were all excellent. Special shout out to the world's busiest McDonald’s that was next to Pizza Hut!"
Adele Coghlan said: "Best nightclub in the 90s has to be Martha's Nighclub," while Ashley Davies said: "[My favourites were] Time + Envy, Escape, Rasputins, Quid's Inn, Cafe Mambo, Zanzi ba and Crowbar – nothing like today, absolutely terrible night in Swansea now."
"I was studying in Swansea from 2000 to 2004, still remember Orange House, Time and Jumpin' Jaks in Kingsway, Revolution, Walkabout and Barons. Still missing Swansea's night life!" added Ionnis Mitsou.
"Ritzy's rocked," added Simon Hawkes. "What about Harpers?" asked Craig Lewis. "Wednesday night there was great!"
'A night out in Swansea isn't the same anymore'
"The 90s were the best," said Gareth Williams-Davies, who misses how the city centre used to be. "It was all taken away to become nothing, the demise of the city centre, day time with packed shops, night time with packed out restaurants and clubs, now there's nothing to make you want to go there! It's sad."
Ashley Jones agreed: "They made a massive, massive mistake killing the nightlife on the Kingsway. Swansea's not the same anymore for a good night out. Wind Street is just a poor place for partying, it has very little selection of clubs down there. There's just no excitement in the city anymore. Shame really."
"[The eighties, nineties and noughties] were the good old days," added Laura Lowe. "Nothing like it was." "Wind Street is awful compared to what the Kingsway was," added Lee Oats.
"Sometimes I walk along the Kingsway and I can't believe it's all gone," added Neil Davies. "I'll be 38 this year and I can't believe it's been 20 years since I first went out on the Kingsway!"
Do you have good memories of The Kingsway? Share them in the comments below this article or on Facebook here.
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