Access to offers in shops and restaurants in Swansea city centre and information about what’s on there are among the features of a free new app that Swansea residents are being reminded to install.

Created and run by Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) and funded by Swansea Council, the residents rewards app was first launched last month.

The progressive web app now includes 26 offers and a list of many forthcoming events in the city centre.

Replacing the old Big Heart of Swansea app, residents can benefit from the new one by visiting app.bigheartofswansea.co.uk and installing it on their mobile devices.

The progressive web app also includes a searchable directory of city centre businesses, as well as their opening hours, locations and directions to get to them.

Other features include a dining out section with listings of Swansea city centre restaurants and cafes.

Also now included are the locations and information about all council-run city centre car parks where motorists pay £1 per hour to park and no more than £5 to park for the whole day.

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said:

“The app provides a one-stop shop where local people can find all sorts of information about the city centre, as well as access to exclusive discounts for Swansea residents.

“More and more events, offers and other information are now being added every week as the app continues to be strengthened to meet the needs of local people and local businesses.”

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said:

“The app is aimed at benefiting Swansea residents thanks to the information and access to offers it provides, as well as city centre traders thanks to the extra city centre footfall the app is aimed at helping encourage.

“With the Christmas shopping season having now started, it’s a great time for local people to install the app and discover everything that’s available in our city centre – from shops, restaurants and pubs to cultural venues, activity-based businesses and professional service providers.

“As well as a £1bn regeneration programme ongoing to make the city centre a more vibrant place to live, work, study, visit and enjoy, we also now have a #EnjoyYourCityCentre campaign on the council’s Facebook and Instagram pages to raise the profile of our fantastic city centre businesses.”

The progressive web app is also linked to the new city centre loyalty card scheme that enables residents to build up points for shopping in participating businesses, with the chance to win a monthly prize.

Andrew Douglas, of Swansea BID, said:

“This app is a huge step forward for the city centre. It won’t only give local businesses an opportunity to reach new audiences but will be a big driver in attracting more footfall to the city; making it a more vibrant place to shop, eat and enjoy.​

“Its capabilities of housing special offers, rewards schemes and useful city centre information from parking to events, means that the city becomes accessible in the palm of your hands.​

“It’s important that as a city centre, we can give visitors new and exciting reasons to visit and hosting all key information in one place will make it that much easier for people to know what’s going on in the heart of the city.”

To show they live in Swansea and get access to the offers on the app, residents can create an account by heading for the app's log-in page via the menu. They will then be asked for an email address, to create a password and to submit their Swansea postcode.

When residents claim an offer, they’ll then be shown a QR code on their mobile device that they can use in-store at the business providing the deal.