News

Louise Howells, Tim Priestland and Cath Garcia

It was a pleasure to see so many enjoying afternoon tea on Monday, 11th April 2011 when The Dragon Memories Exhibition was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Swansea, Councillor Richard Lewis.  With a trip down memory lane conducted by historian Professor Peter Stead, memories were flowing as swiftly as the tea and coffee!

With a delightful mixture of those who used to work at the hotel, those who celebrated their weddings here and those who simply came to enjoy the afternoon teas of a Saturday, there were plenty of tales captured live on air as Shanny broadcasted live for The Wave.

Ex Dragon staff take a trip down memory lane

The exhibition runs throughout the public areas of the hotel until May 12th 2011 and all are welcome to visit at their leisure to view the memorabilia on display.

We are happy to announce that an exhibition to celebrate 50 years of  The Dragon Hotel is set to launch at 2pm on Monday, 11th April 2011.

Utilising the public areas of the hotel the exhibition will include photos, press cuttings, menus and memories of life over the years at The Dragon Hotel.  With thanks to the community for sending in their own memorabilia to augment the hotel’s items and the archives of the South Wales Evening Post, it is promising to be a great trip down memory lane.

The exhibition will be open for all to see from Monday, 11th April until Friday, 13th May 2011 – why not call by when you’ve some time to spare?

For many people reaching retirement age is a much-anticipated landmark, viewed with excitement and plans of putting your feet up.

But for one Swansea lady that’s been far from the case.

Now 82, Brenda Porter is still working as a waitress at the city’s landmark Dragon Hotel in a career that spans 50 years since the Hotel’s grand opening in 1961. Now as the Hotel celebrates its 50th birthday year Brenda has received a celebratory treat of her own.

After reading about Brenda’s exceptional service at the Hotel in the Evening Post, Lord Mayor of the City and County of Swansea, Councillor Richard Lewis invited Brenda along to a coffee morning to chat through her memories of the Hotel and Swansea over the last 50 years.

During her hour with the Lord Mayor, Brenda reminisced about the highlights of working at The Dragon Hotel, which have included working at the grand launch night in 1961, and serving the great and good of Swansea at the many charity and society events held at the Hotel.

Speaking of her invitation to meet with the Lord Mayor, Brenda said: “I had a truly wonderful time and was delighted to have had the honour to meet with the Lord Mayor and take tea in his office.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my 50 years working at the Dragon Hotel, and it was lovely to chat about the memories that we both share and the events that we have both played a part in at the Hotel. It was lovely to sit and talk with someone who has such a great knowledge of Swansea and its people.”

Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Richard Lewis, said: “Brenda is clearly a remarkable woman. To have quite literally been serving the people of Swansea as well as many thousands of visitors to our great city for 50 years is a wonderful achievement that should be celebrated.

“It’s amazing that Brenda was there on the opening night of the hotel back in 1961 and is still there today doing a fantastic job. She is a tremendous ambassador for Swansea.”

Join us during our golden year as we celebrate The Dragon Hotel’s 50^th Birthday!  With many events arranged throughout the year there’s something for everyone as we reach the half century mark. 

Help us revisit the past as we ask for any photos, menus and anecdotes of your experiences at The Dragon Hotel over the last 50 years to include in an exhibition to be held at the hotel later in the year. If you’d like to share your memories please contact enquiries@dragon-hotel.co.uk or 01792 657105.

To view articles about our birthday featured in the South Wales Evening Post click here

The tag line reads ‘The Best of The Best’ and staff and management at The Dragon Hotel are indeed delighted to be included within this elite group once again. (more…)

Come and join us for some festive fun at the Christmas races.

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Now available from the Hotel’s Beautician

 Eyelash extensions are a revolutionary advanced product that lengthen and thicken eyelashes. Individual eyelash extensions are single strands of a synthetic material that are curved to replicate a natural eyelash. Applied and bonded to each individual eyelash on a lash by lash basis to create an instant elegant and luxurious look.

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By Friday morning every semblance of style was out the window if you had looked closely at the lucky few that had been celebrating the night before, but nothing can detract from The Dragon Hotel’s win last Thursday night at The Wave & Swansea Sound Culture & Lifestyle Awards.   A big thank you is due to all those who supported the popular city centre hotel as they depended on the public’s on-line voting to claim victory in The Hotel Award with TWK Thomas and Manor Park.

In a spectacular black tie event at Swansea’s Waterfront Museum with entertainment from the likes of Britain’s Got Talent success story, local dancers A3, and last season’s X Factor runner up Olly Murs, the evening celebrated a mixture of iconic Swansea classics as well as the latest enterprises to hit the city.

Long standing favourite The Cross Keys claimed success in The Bar Award sponsored by Swansea BID and new face Odyssey was victorious in The After Dark Award with The Norton House Hotel.  Café TwoCann added to their list of awards with The Coffee Culture Award sponsored by McDonalds and MODA was the winner of The Boutique Fashion Award. 

Cath Garcia, of The Dragon Hotel says ‘Winning an award like this, where members of the public go out of their way to vote, is a real privilege.  It’s like a big thank you card that tells us our hard work does not go unnoticed.’  

 According to Sean Tighe of The Wave and Swansea Sound, the calibre of nominations this year was strong ‘It’s difficult to believe that such eminent establishments such as Morgans Hotel or  Oceana night club came in as runners up – such is the quality of life in and around Swansea these days.’  He says.  ‘The amount of votes cast was staggering as well.  The response from our listeners has been tremendous, a real testament to the city in which we live.’

Join us at The Dragon Hotel from 10:00am – noon on Friday 24th September 2010 to help raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support

Like thousands of others accross the country The Dragon Hotel offers you the opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in comfortable surroundings with great company.  There’s also the chance to win in the raffle, sample some delicious homemade cakes and enter competitions all whilst raising funds for the worthwhile cause

We hope to see you there!

The UK’s biggest cycle race is coming to Swansea on Monday 13th September, returning to Wales for the first time since 2004. Due to this there are a number of major road closures in place.

Please click here to view the road diversions