Hidden above the old BHS store in Princess Way, Swansea city centre, there lies an incredible slice of nightlife history, decayed but also remarkably frozen-in time.
It's an old bar which has not seen any patrons since the 1980s. Inside, dusty drinks bottles, an old £1.50 bar meals menu and horse fixtures from over thirty years ago still sit in what was once the Cavalier bar.
Swansea Council will begin construction work on the huge former BHS building in the next few weeks, transforming the site into a community hub with a new library. But for now, a forgotten old bar which gives an insight into Swansea's retro nightlife remains much as it was, located above the building's former Miss Selfridge store. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Entry to the bar used to be found up a stairwell behind a large wooden door facing onto Princess Way. Once upon a time anyone entering would likely have been greeted by the sound of chatter and clinking glasses - possibly talk about the odds for the 2.30pm at Worcester.
Now, in the gloomy space, a Corona glass lemonade bottle still stands on the bar, alongside a bottle of sweet vermouth Martini Rosso and a scrawled menu advertising bar meals of lasagne, cottage pie and faggots and peas, costing just £1.50 each - that wouldn't even buy you a drink in most bars these days. There's also an elaborate, hand-painted entrance sign, a mosaic wall and a poster from 1988 which announces the horseracing fixtures at Bangor, Hereford, Ludlow and Worcester. You can read more stories about Swansea here.
Council cabinet member Elliott King said: “We have a great future planned for this large building right at the heart of the city centre. It’s also interesting that our work there has revealed some unexpected social history from the building’s past - the old Cavalier - in a small part of the structure.
“Cabinet colleagues have some recollections of who owned and managed the bar – but I’d be really interested for the people of Swansea to let us have their memories using #SwanseaCavalier on social media.”
The former Cavalier bar and the rest of building have been secured for safety reasons and the hub is due to open in 2024 once it has undergone construction.
Read next:
Dates of every bank holiday already agreed for 2022 and 2023
Primary school evacuated after fire breaks out
The two specific Covid symptoms that suggest you likely have the virus, says professor
Liz Truss is not planning to make cannabis a Class A drug, says spokesperson
Places to eat near where you live:
