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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Molly Dowrick

Work begins turning old Idols nightclub on Swansea's Wind Street into 'party pub' Proud Mary

Construction work transforming an empty former nightclub unit on Swansea's Wind Street into a 'party pub' has begun. Danish nightlife operator REKOM, which owns Swansea's Fiction nightclub and Wingers sports bar, told WalesOnline last autumn that it planned on opening its second Proud Mary venue in Swansea following the successful launch of the UK's first Proud Mary venue in Cardiff last October, and the company has finally now shared details of the new venture.

Proud Mary Swansea will have a capacity of 600 people and will host live music performances and pub quizzes every week, and will also be somewhere people can go to watch sport over a few drinks, catch up with friends or simply dance the night away.

In a statement on June 6, a spokesperson for the company confirmed the team at Proud Mary are on-site and aiming to open the new pub-venue, which will create up to 60 jobs, "this autumn."

Read more: Swansea's gin bar Gin Ne Sais Quoi has a new home after moving from SA1

"The £1.5m investment by Danish late night operator, REKOM, will see the careful restoration of the Grade-II listed old Post Office building to its former glory featuring an uplifted façade, ornate ceilings and cornices, as well as a large outside area," a spokesperson explained. "Following the huge success of Proud Mary Cardiff, the 600-capacity bar promises to offer a blended relaxed atmosphere with the fun and festivities of a German bier hall."

Explaining what people can expect the new venue to look like, the spokesperson added that the front of the bar will feature "cosy furniture and booth seating" with a small stage for early-week events including live music. There will also be a tiled bar here serving a full range of drinks.

Inside Proud Mary Cardiff, giving us an insight into how Proud Mary Swansea could look (REKOM/Limegreen Communications)
The bar will stock a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (REKOM/Limegreen Communications)

Behind this, in the "main room," there will be multiple screens showing sports games and a "mezzanine area" with low benches, beer shelves and pretty pergolas framed with foliage and lights.

"At the heart of Proud Mary is community and 'she' always seeks to incorporate local sights, icons and architecture, so guests can expect some Swansea-inspired artwork while they dance the night away to classic party tunes from every decade!" the spokesperson added.

The exterior of Idols on Wind Street - which will soon be transformed into Proud Mary Swansea (WalesOnline/Gayle Marsh)
From the archives: students party on a Welsh Varsity night at the old Idols nightclub (Scott Evans/ Idols)
Signage for Proud Mary in Cardiff - we can expect similar signage at the Swansea venue (REKOM/Limegreen Communications)

There are currently six Proud Mary pubs in Denmark, Finland and Norway, and Cardiff became the first city in the UK to open one last October. REKOM also owns Heidi's Bier Bar in Cardiff and Birmingham.

Summarising what people can expect from the new venue, REKOM’s country director, Russell Quelch, added: "We are delighted to be bringing our second Proud Mary to Swansea and we are confident it will prove to be a similar hit to Cardiff. It's such a great concept that people of ages enjoy - whether you want to meet friends for a beer, listen to live music, watch sport, take part in a pub quiz, or enjoy a late night party, Proud Mary delivers! We will be working round-the-clock to open as soon as we can this autumn.

"Proud Mary and Heidi's have exceeded our expectations and we can't wait to open more in the coming months and years. Part of their success is down to the unpretentious fun they bring – we know times are tough, but you can't fail to have a good time once you cross the threshold of either a Proud Mary or Heidi's!"

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