The iconic Palace Theatre building in Swansea has reopened its doors as Tramshed Tech's newest location, marking a significant milestone in the city's £1 billion regeneration.
The historic landmark – which dates back to 1888 – has undergone an extensive three-year restoration, led and funded by Swansea Council with an investment worth more than £6.9 million from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns initiative.
The carefully restored six-floor building now offers state-of-the-art workspaces designed to support tech, digital and creative businesses.
Cherished architectural features have been maintained, including the decorative iron balcony, original Ebbw Vale brick, and restored floor tiles.
The historic theatre stage has been preserved and reimagined as an event space and collaborative work area.
The project has been delivered by council officers, R&M Williams, GWP Architecture, Hydrock (now Stantec) and TC Consult.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said:
“It's amazing to see this fantastic piece of Swansea's heritage saved, restored and given a new lease of life so that future generations can enjoy it. The transformation of the Palace has been done with such care, style and attention to detail. It's a real credit to all who have worked so hard to achieve this.
“With capacity for over 300 people, I look forward to local people running businesses that make the Palace Theatre building their home. The Palace holds such a special place in the hearts of Swansea people, and I'm delighted that they'll be able to enjoy it for many years to come.
“Before the council acquired the building almost five years ago, the Palace had fallen into an alarming state of disrepair and was in danger of being lost forever.
“I thank the council officers, our contractors and partners and all the teams who've successfully brought this unique and remarkable building back to life.”
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Investment and Tourism, said:
“As part of the council's ongoing £1 billion regeneration of the city, the restored Palace Theatre building will be a catalyst for further improvements to the High Street area – where tens of millions of pounds have already been invested.
“It'll also provide a significant boost for the whole city centre which is already benefiting from the successful delivery of other major schemes such as Swansea Arena and the Albert Hall.
“There's more to come too, with projects such as 71/72 Kingsway, Y Storfa and the Biophilic Building well under way.”
Jayne Bryant, the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, said:
“It's wonderful to see how our Transforming Towns programme has supported the restoration of this iconic building in the heart of the city centre.
“The redevelopment of the historic Palace Theatre is a crucial catalyst to regenerating Swansea's High Street and will help encourage economic growth and opportunities for small businesses. I can't wait to see how this project will benefit both businesses and the local community alike.”
Louise Harris, CEO at Tramshed Tech, said:
“Today marks an exciting new chapter for both Swansea's business community and this beloved landmark.
“This remarkable transformation has been a collaborative effort and what's been created is space where history meets innovation – where local entrepreneurs can collaborate, grow, and shape the future of business in Swansea.
“The revival of the Palace Theatre demonstrates what we can achieve together, preserving Welsh heritage while fostering innovation led entrepreneurship.”
Plexus Fire and Security worked with a team from Whitehead Building Service to oversee the installation of fire alarm, disabled refuge, intruder alarm, access control and CCTV systems.
Jamie Grey of Plexus said:
“As a Swansea-based company, we are only too familiar with the rich history of the Victorian venue and were over the moon when Whitehead Building Service appointed us the fire and safety company to work on the project.”
The new business hub offers flexible coworking spaces, private offices, virtual office services, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, event space, and ‘Da' – a new independent coffee shop open to the public. All spaces are equipped with high-speed connectivity and state-of-the-art amenities designed for modern businesses.
To celebrate the opening, Tramshed Tech is offering a range of launch promotions including 50% off all bookings with code SWANSEA50, part-time co-working memberships from £99/month, and two months free office space when you sign a 12-month contract. A bounce-back offer giving customers 25% off their next booking will also be available through December.
Supporting Swansea's innovation ecosystem goes beyond workspace, say Tramshed Tech. This is why the company delivers comprehensive business support through its innovation programmes, designed to nurture start-ups from idea to scale-up.
Topics include product market fit, investor readiness, IP and building a data room, along with peer-to-peer support, mentorship and networking opportunities, making the Palace Theatre a true hub for business growth and innovation in Swansea.
The first major event, ‘From Swansea Start-up to Amazon Acquisition: The Veeqo Journey' featuring Veeqo Founder and CEO Matt Warren, will take place on November 8 to showcase the potential for tech business growth in Swansea.
Visit www.tramshedtech.co.uk/locations/palace-theatre for more information about Tramshed Tech Swansea and upcoming events.
