SWANSEA’S iconic Palace Theatre is set to reopen on Thursday, 7th November, following a major restoration project. The 136-year-old building, which has been a landmark in the city for generations, has undergone an extensive refurbishment, supported by Swansea Council and a £4.9 million grant from the Welsh Government.
The revitalisation of the Palace Theatre is part of the council’s £1 billion city regeneration plan, aimed at transforming the High Street area and creating a hub for local businesses. The restoration has been led by Swansea Council in collaboration with R&M Williams and GWP Architecture.
Tramshed Tech Expands to Swansea
Tramshed Tech, Wales’ leading coworking network and innovation hub, will operate the restored building. This marks their expansion into Swansea, adding to their existing sites in Cardiff, Newport, and Barry. Tramshed Tech will provide flexible office space, coworking areas, meeting rooms, event spaces, and podcast studios at the new site.
As part of the Palace Theatre development, Tramshed Tech will also launch their coffee shop brand, ‘Da’, offering locally sourced food and freshly brewed Coaltown coffee. The coffee shop will be open to the public, providing a welcoming space to meet and collaborate.
Louise Harris, CEO of Tramshed Tech, said, “As a proud Welsh company, we are honoured to be part of the Palace Theatre’s next chapter. This historic landmark is treasured by the local community, and we’ve worked closely with partners to preserve its legacy while adapting it for the future. Our vision is to create a space where Swansea’s rich heritage meets its bright future.”
Preserving History While Embracing Innovation
The Palace Theatre’s iconic architectural features, including its open iron balcony, original red Ebbw Vale brick, and refurbished floor tiles, have been carefully restored. The theatre’s historic stage will be preserved as a unique event space and coworking area, blending the building’s rich history with a modern entrepreneurial spirit.
The newly restored building will house six floors of versatile workspace, designed to foster collaboration and innovation among local businesses. It will also host a series of business growth programmes tailored to support tech, digital, and creative enterprises throughout Wales.
Welsh Government Support
Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, praised the project, saying, “It’s wonderful to see our Transforming Towns programme helping to bring this listed building back into active use. The redevelopment of the Palace Theatre will serve as a crucial catalyst for regenerating Swansea’s High Street, benefiting both businesses and the local community.”
Council-Led Regeneration
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart expressed his enthusiasm for the reopening, stating, “We’re delighted that Tramshed Tech is on board to run this beautiful building, which we’re saving for future generations. The Palace Theatre will be a catalyst for regenerating the city centre and its High Street area, which has seen significant investment in recent years.”
Stewart added, “This is one of many exciting city centre developments, including work on Castle Square Gardens and the Y Storfa public services hub. The restoration of the Palace Theatre will bring new opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.”
Grand Opening Events and Special Offers
To celebrate the reopening, Tramshed Tech has planned a series of events, starting with exclusive behind-the-scenes tours throughout September and October. The official grand opening will take place on 7th November, with doors opening at 8:00 AM and guided tours from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Special offers include 50% off coworking spaces for the day using the code ‘SWANSEA50’. Other events throughout November include a talk by Matt Warren, CEO of Veeqo, and a networking event with Swansea University ahead of Global Entrepreneurship Week.
For more information on events and offers, visit the Tramshed Tech website.
The restoration of Swansea’s Palace Theatre is a significant milestone in the city’s regeneration and a testament to the council’s vision for a thriving, modern city centre that embraces its heritage.
