Expanding Swansea Business To Boost City Centre’s Regeneration

An expanding business will soon further boost major plans to regenerate Swansea city centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cygnus Investments, who own Fancy a Rum? on York Street, are continuing to redevelop the building with an investment of more than £1.2m. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By the time their on-going project is complete, the business will include a 100-seat restaurant on the ground floor, with the capacity of Fancy a Rum? on the first floor being increased to 330 people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales’ first ever live micro-distillery is also being introduced on site for diners and passers-by to enjoy the distilling process first-hand. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cygnus Investments is owned by four local businessmen: David Bellis, David Wakely, Clive Atkins and David Atkins. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The redevelopment project is scheduled for completion in readiness for trading from August. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Bellis and Mr Wakely also own Li’l London on The Strand, as well as another bar and restaurant soon opening next door to Li’l London, called Firefly – Martin Co. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Bellis said: “Off the back of the success of these venues, our original intention was to concentrate on expanding into other cities to further develop our unique brands, but then we became familiar with the regeneration plans in Swansea. Once we understood the scale of the regeneration and the size of the investments that would be coming to the city, along with the unparalleled drive from the council, we decided there would be no place better to invest in, and concentrate our time and efforts on, than Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have built some excellent relationships with various council departments and have experienced fantastic support from all. We have been further supported by the Welsh Government with grant funding, and without all of these factors we may well have looked to invest our funds elsewhere. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It truly is an enjoyable business and we look forward to being a part of the transformation of Swansea by way of the City Deal, the city centre regeneration plans and the Tidal Lagoon project. It’s innovative and ambitious proposals like these that encourage us to continue to reinvest in to the city.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “It’s our intention to transform Swansea city centre into a leading destination for dining, retail, leisure and recreation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The team at Cygnus Investments deserve enormous credit for everything they’re doing at their business on York Street, which is located within a stone’s throw of our St David’s development site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is yet another example of the private sector’s support for our city centre regeneration plans. In partnership as part of a ‘Team Swansea’ approach, we’re intent on delivering the kind of thriving city centre the people of Swansea deserve.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​