Loungers Brings Cosy Club to Swansea’s Exchange Buildings 2026

Key Points

• There are plans to open Loungers’ Cosy Club brand’s third venue in Wales and first in Swansea in November 2026 pending council consents.
• The venue will operate on the ground floor of Grade II listed Exchange Buildings located in Swansea’s Maritime Quarter. The landmark was constructed in 1913 by architect Charles T. Ruthen.
• It is a historic fact that Exchange Buildings used to house Pandora’s nightclub that is locally remembered as Dirty Dora’s.
• Cosy Club Swansea will be the 38th establishment in the chain opening up its doors in Wales next to two already established venues – Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay.
• Planned Change of Use, Window Replacements and Access Improvements have been applied for Swansea Council in November 2025.
• According to Lucy Knowles, managing director of Cosy Club, the design will celebrate the history of the building and bring to life the brand’s “distinctly glamorous look”.
• The venue will offer the breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menu featuring modern classics, speciality dishes and a choice of gluten-free and vegan products along with cocktails.
• The owner of the building – Swansea.com – has plans for further regeneration of the Exchange Buildings and Post House with over 80 aparthotel bedrooms to

Swansea (Wales Times) August 13, 2026 – The third Cosy Club in Wales is set to open in uk/local/swansea/">Swansea in November, occupying the ground floor of the historic Exchange Buildings in the Maritime Quarter, according to multiple reports published on 13 August 2026. The venue, operated by hospitality group Loungers, will become the city’s first Cosy Club and the 38th in the brand’s UK portfolio, joining existing Welsh sites in Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay.

What is the Cosy Club Swansea opening date and location?

As reported by Business News Wales, the venue is scheduled to open in November 2026, though an exact date has not been announced and the timeline remains contingent on outstanding consents. The site is the ground floor of the Grade II listed Exchange Buildings, a 1913 structure designed by architect Charles T. Ruthen, currently undergoing renovation.

Swansea Bay News noted that full planning and Listed Building Consent applications covering the ground‑floor change of use, replacement windows across the whole building and access improvements were submitted in November 2025 and are listed by Swansea Council as being considered. The building’s owner, Swansea.com, lodged a pre‑application in early 2025 to accelerate the process, with managing director Jacob Hughes describing the work on a listed building as “both meticulous and incredibly rewarding”.

Who is behind Cosy Club Swansea and how many sites does the brand have?

Cosy Club is part of Loungers, which operates three UK hospitality brands: Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside. The Swansea venue will be the 38th Cosy Club site, following two Welsh locations in Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay.

Lucy Knowles, managing director of Cosy Club, said: “We are so looking forward to introducing Cosy Club to Swansea. We know how important this venue is to the city, and our design team has taken great care to honour that heritage while reimagining the interiors with Cosy Club’s signature sense of glamour. We want to create something truly unique for Swansea.”

What will the Cosy Club Swansea menu and offer include?

As reported by WalesOnline, the venue will operate as an all‑day dining, bar and cocktail destination, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. The menu will feature elevated modern classics, signature specials and a strong selection of gluten‑free and vegan options, alongside a diverse cocktail list.

Knowles added: “From morning to night, we’ll be serving delicious breakfasts, fabulous brunch, lunch and dinner menus, and some of the best cocktails in the city. We can’t wait to welcome everyone through the doors this autumn and to help make this building the most talked‑about spot in town once again.”

How will the interior design reflect the Exchange Buildings’ heritage?

Cosy Club says its design team has worked with manufacturers, creatives and artisans on bespoke carpets, wallpapers, lighting and one‑off pieces inspired by 20th century design. The interiors will feature patterned fabrics, mirrors, statement lighting, soft furnishings, disco balls and fish tanks, consistent with the brand’s cinematic theme.

Knowles emphasised that the approach balances heritage and glamour: “We recognize the significance of this venue to the community, and our design team has meticulously worked to honor its legacy while reimagining the interiors with our distinctive glamour.”

Why is the Exchange Buildings site significant to Swansea’s nightlife history?

For many locals, the building is remembered not only as Exchange Chambers but as Pandora’s nightclub, affectionately known as Dirty Dora’s. The basement venue became a South Wales nightlife institution, drawing rock fans, students and professionals before Wind Street dominated the city’s evening economy.

Cosy Club says it is “proud to pick up the mantle” with a venue for all‑day dining, cocktails and late‑night celebrations, aiming to restore the building’s status as a social hub.

What wider regeneration plans surround the Cosy Club Swansea venue?

The Cosy Club deal forms part of a larger project involving the Exchange Buildings and the adjacent Post House, with Swansea.com aiming to deliver more than 80 aparthotel bedrooms under its Morgans Collection brand. Jacob Hughes said the strategy is to enhance leisure and hospitality facilities in the Maritime Quarter and the city overall.

Upper floors are earmarked for expansion of Morgans Collection accommodation, while additional commercial space in the basement and rooftop is being marketed to a future leisure provider.

Where is Cosy Club Swansea situated relative to local landmarks?

The venue will be located in the Maritime Quarter, near the National Waterfront Museum, Morgan’s Hotel and the Dylan Thomas Centre. The Exchange Buildings sit on a main thoroughfare into Swansea, with views towards the marina.

Background: How did the Cosy Club Swansea development come about?

The Cosy Club Swansea development follows a sequence of steps beginning with the building becoming vacant in August 2024, after which Swansea.com exchanged contracts with Loungers for the ground floor. A pre‑application was lodged in early 2025, with full planning and Listed Building Consent applications submitted in November 2025. The process involves heritage specialists and Swansea Council’s heritage lead to retain historic features while enabling modern use. Initial public statements in late 2024 targeted an opening in the first half of 2025, but subsequent reporting in August 2026 revised the expected opening to November 2026, subject to consents.

Prediction: How could Cosy Club Swansea affect local residents, visitors and the hospitality sector?

If the November 2026 opening proceeds as planned, the venue is likely to increase footfall in the Maritime Quarter and provide an all‑day dining and cocktail option that complements existing bars and restaurants. For residents, the offer of breakfast through late‑evening service with gluten‑free and vegan choices could broaden everyday dining options near the waterfront. For visitors, the site adds a branded destination within walking distance of the National Waterfront Museum and Dylan Thomas Centre, potentially extending dwell time in the area. For the hospitality sector, the arrival of a national operator in a listed building may encourage further investment in the Exchange Buildings and adjacent Post House, particularly as Swansea.com advances its aparthotel plans. The extent of these effects will depend on final consents, the completed fit‑out and the venue’s operating hours once open.