Croeso, the two-day St David's Day Celebration returns to Swansea with chefs, culture, live music and a lot of fun!
Croeso in association with Shirgar is set to bring a feel-good atmosphere to Swansea city centre with a varied mix of entertainment - the city’s celebration of all things Welsh returns on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March, promising a fun‑filled weekend for all.
Visitors can look forward to an exciting schedule of performances including talks, poetry, Q&As with top Welsh names, a music stage and live cooking demos designed to inspire and delight food lovers.
This free festival, delivered by Swansea Council, in association with Shirgar, and supported by Food & Drink Wales, will be buzzing with activity.
With no entry fee, you’re free to explore the various city centre venues and dip into whatever catches your interest.
Food and drink take centre stage at Croeso. Wander through the stalls and discover some of the finest local produce from makers and growers across Wales. If you’re looking for a dash of culinary creativity, don’t miss the cooking demonstrations by some of the UK’s top chefs and talented home cooks - guaranteed to tempt your taste buds. Take a look below to see who will be showcasing their skills at this year’s Croeso festival:
Saturday 28th February
11:00 Katie Davies
Katie Davies, was a quarter finalist on Britain’s Best Home Cook on BBC One with Mary Berry. Katie is a passionate home cook, with a flare for combining unusual ingredients, always on the lookout for new flavours or textures to use in her elevated home cooking. Katie surprised and wowed the judges with her creativity and palate whenever she cooked, & particularly her use of. Locally sourced Welsh produce.
12:00 Jonathan Woolway - The Shed
After 16 years working alongside the legendary Fergus Henderson as Chef Director at the globally renowned St. JOHN Restaurant Group in London, Swansea native Jonathan returned to his hometown to open the Shed Restaurant in February 2024. Inclusion in the Michelin Guide, Good Food Guide and SquareMeal’s top 100 UK Restaurants (number 48) swiftly followed alongside glowing reviews from the Guardian, Telegraph and Financial Times amongst others.
13:00 Bara Brith with Shirgar - Q&A Session with Leon Britton and Kev Johns
Get ready for plenty of laughs, local flavour, and a bit of friendly banter as Swansea City legend Leon Britton teams up with Kev Johns on Saturday 28th February at 1pm in the live cookery demo marquee on Portland Street.
With thanks to our main sponsors Shirgar, guests can enjoy buttery Bara Brith and Welsh Cakes while Leon takes part in a lively Q&A - chatting about his incredible football journey, his years at Swansea City, and life in Wales. Kev will, of course, be on hand to keep him on his toes.
Everyone who pops by can also enter our free prize draw to win a gorgeous Shirgar hamper packed with Welsh goodies.
Leon Britton remains one of Swansea City’s most iconic modern era players - a key figure in the club’s rise from League Two to the Premier League and a longstanding fan favourite whose loyalty shaped an unforgettable era.
14:00 Sam & Shauna Hang Fire BBQ
Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn started ‘Hang Fire’ in 2013 after a 6-month BBQ pilgrimage to the Southern US states, immersing themselves in communities and learning the culture of slow and low BBQ. Their energy, passion and in-depth knowledge of all aspects of barbecue has seen them go on to be lead ambassadors for outdoor cooking internationally with huge success. The pair have won many awards for their sustainable, ethical cooking, a highlight being previous winners of Observer Food Monthly ‘Best Restaurant’, winners of Slow Foods UK ‘Best Restaurant’ and previous winners BBC Food Awards ‘Best Street food’ and winners of NatWest ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.
They created and hosted 3 seasons of their own BBC cooking series ‘Sam & Shauna’s Big Cookout’, regular live TV appearances on Saturday Kitchen and Masterchef The Professionals. They are judges with BBC Food & Farming Awards and The European Street Food Awards. They host, cook and compare many demo stages and fire pit areas across the UK’s most popular festivals every year and participate in international festivals in Europe and Australia. They are the writers of internationally bestselling cookbook ‘Hang Fire; Adventures in American BBQ’ and regularly contribute recipes and articles to National food and drink publications. They run their own popular BBQ School in Wales.
15:00 Wine Tasting session with Antoinette Milne UWTSD
Join us for an engaging wine tasting session led by Antoinette Milne, Lecturer in International Gastronomy Management at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and an award‑winning WSET‑certified Wine Educator. With extensive experience in the UK and Canadian wine industries and her role as a Wales and World Final YYY Wine Competition judge, Antoinette brings exceptional knowledge and an infectious passion for wine.
The session will begin with an introduction to Welsh wines, exploring local grape varieties, climate influences, and what makes Wales an exciting emerging wine region. Antoinette will guide the audience through the basics of wine tasting, sampling some Welsh wines using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting to discuss impressions, aromas, and flavours in an accessible and enjoyable way. The session will finish with a brief overview of the WSET Wine qualifications offered at UWTSD and an engaging Q&A session.
Sunday 1st March
11:00 James Freeman, Head Chef Beach House Oxwich
James has been cooking in Michelin starred kitchens since 2007, currently head chef of The Beach House which holds a Michelin star. Prior to this he was head of the 1 Michelin starred House restaurant in Ireland.
The Beach house is coming up to its 10 year anniversary. Hywel Griffith is the culinary director. It has held a Michelin star for 6 years and 3 AA rosettes. It is situated in Oxwich Bay and is part of the Seren collection.
12:00 Georgie Grasso (GBBO winner 2024)
Georgie is a proud Welsh-Italian and lives in a farmhouse with her family as well as ten hens, two ducks, two dogs, and a cat. She has been on quite the journey already winning the Great British Bake Off and can't wait for plenty more adventures this year.
13:00 Beca Lyne Perkis (S4C/Bake Off)
14:00 Alun Wyn Jones
Celebrity MasterChef finalist and the worlds most capped Ruby Union player, Alun Wyn Jones brings his passion for food from the screen to the stage. In this cookery demo session, Alun will mentor an International Gastronomy Management student, giving them the unique opportunity to prepare one of his standout MasterChef dishes live. As the dish comes together, Alun will share an insight into the competition, his creative menu choices, and the culinary journey that took him to the final. Guests will have the chance to ask their own questions, and of course, enjoy a taste of MasterChef‑quality cuisine created right before their eyes.
15:00 ND John Wine Tasting
Welsh wines are showcased in this intimate testing session from Swansea’s established wine merchant ND John. These tasters will give you a great insight into the different styles of wines being produced in Wales in 2026, helping you find new favourites. A great learning experience and good fun too!
The session will be expertly delivered by Chris James. His knowledge of Welsh wine producers is second to none and follows the popularity of their unpretentious instore Wine Tasting experiences in Uplands, that have become a hit with wine fans from all over.
Thank you to our sponsors
In association with Shirgar
Shirgar Welsh Butter is delighted to be supporting the Swansea Council Croeso event, taking place over the St David’s Day weekend. The event celebrates Welsh identity, civic leadership and collaboration, making it a natural fit for the Shirgar brand.
For Shirgar Butter, this association reflects a strong commitment to community, authenticity and pride in Wales. As a proudly Welsh brand, Shirgar Butter values opportunities that bring people and organisations together to share ideas, strengthen connections and celebrate place. Holding the event over St David’s Day weekend adds special meaning, linking modern governance with a time of national celebration and cultural identity.
Supporting the Croeso event reinforces Shirgar Butter’s role as a brand that champions local heritage, positive engagement and a welcoming spirit. Shirgar Butter is proud to be associated with an event that showcases Swansea as a confident, forward-looking city rooted in strong Welsh values.
Walkabout Characters - supported by Nathaniel Cars
Established in 1980, Nathaniel Cars is a family-run business proudly serving drivers across South Wales for over 40 years. With showrooms in Bridgend, Cardiff, Cwmbran and Swansea, we provide everything from new and used car sales to servicing, MOTs, repairs and tyres.
As a multi-award-winning MG main dealer and the largest in Wales, we also stock over 350 quality used vehicles. Every car comes with free lifetime MOTs, a clear HPI check, valid service history and a spare key – plus a free courtesy vehicle while yours is being cared for.
But what truly sets us apart is our commitment to people and community. For us, it’s not just about selling cars – it’s about building long-term relationships based on trust, teamwork and care. Our dedicated staff work together to deliver the very best service, while we also give back by supporting and nurturing local sports teams, helping to strengthen the communities that have supported us for over four decades.
At Nathaniel Cars, we combine quality, value, teamwork and community spirit, going the extra mile to ensure every customer feels like part of the family.
Croeso Children’s Trail - supported by Childcare Offer for Wales Swansea
The Childcare Offer for Wales: Help with childcare costs for eligible parents of 3- to 4-year-olds.
Do you need help with childcare costs? Under the Childcare Offer for Wales, you could claim up to 30 hours of early education and childcare a week, for up to 48 weeks of the year. This government-funded childcare scheme aims to lessen the burden of childcare costs so that you can spend the money you’ve saved on the things that matter most to your family.
The Offer has already helped parents from all over Wales to return to work, increase their hours or work more flexibly. If you’re looking for a job, or thinking about going back into education or training, but are worried about childcare costs, this support could make all the difference. Don’t miss out on your share of this childcare funding.
Get 30 hours of childcare for 3 and 4 year olds: Apply | GOV.WALES
Welsh Children's Stage Activity - supported by The Early Years Commissioning Team
The Early Years and Childcare Commissioning Team is proud to sponsor a Welsh‑language children’s entertainer at this year’s Swansea Croeso event on 28 February and 1 March. Our support reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting the Welsh language from the earliest years and strengthening opportunities for children and families to experience Welsh culture through play.
This year, we’ve offered a Welsh Language Celebration Grant to childcare, play and early years settings across Swansea, enabling them to plan meaningful, child‑led Welsh activities within their settings. Sponsoring Croeso allows us to extend this celebration, bringing families together in the heart of the city to enjoy high‑quality, FREE entertainment.
Croeso offers a vibrant programme for children, young people and older adults of all ages, showcasing music, food, culture and family‑friendly activities. We’re delighted to help ensure that Welsh language experiences are accessible, joyful and central to children’s learning and development.
www.childcareinformation.wales/servicedetail?localauthoritycode=W06000011
Children's Pabell Pawb a Phopeth activity - supported by Flying Start
Welsh Government is taking a phased approach to the Flying Start Childcare Expansion (FSCE) across Wales.
Flying Start childcare offers:
- Funded, high-quality, part-time childcare for children between the ages of 2 and 3 years through the medium of English or Welsh.
- Childcare for 2.5 hours per day, up to 12.5 hours per week, in line with school terms.
You can check your eligibility and apply for Flying Start Childcare using the following link: Check your eligibility and apply
