The Oyster House

Downstairs is a stylish restaurant and bar, upstairs are boutique rooms with a soft seaside feel – and, if you choose wisely, sea views to add to the mix. This is The Oyster House, in the seaside village of Mumbles on Swansea Bay. It’s five miles south of the city in a location that’s known as the gateway to the Gower Peninsula. A stay here offers a comfortable base from which to explore it all.

There are 16 rooms at The Oyster House including accessible and dog-friendly options (dogs are welcome in parts of the bar/restaurant too). Each bedroom is en suite, carpeted and decorated in muted pastels with a nod to the seaside here and there. It’s less blue and white stripes, more framed botanical drawings of corals. If you can, opt for one of the six sea view rooms, which really make the most of this lovely location. Whichever you choose, you’ll find a flatscreen TV, WiFi, hairdryer and tea and coffee-making facilities. For more than that, book on a bed-and-breakfast basis and head downstairs to the restaurant to start the day with your choice of granola, eggs benedict or a full cooked breakfast.

The Oyster House is owned by The City Pub Company, which aims to retain individuality in its properties, whilst delivering great character, fantastic beer, delicious food and excellent service. They are typically well styled with a contemporary feel, and that’s certainly the case here with the location centre-forward in its design. The restaurant/bar is glass-fronted with a roof terrace and patio to make the most of the views. A wall of framed prints reference seaside themes, as do the colourful painted ceilings which are a central feature of this place. Most important of all is the menu – oysters, seafood and fish feature alongside modern gastropub favourites, with produce from named local butchers and fishmongers.

The Oyster House is so close to Swansea, it makes for a convenient base if you have business there but prefer a smaller community feel. But it’s also an escape from the city. Book a weekend in one of its rooms and you can content yourself with eating seafood, walking the seafront mile to The Mumbles Pier, exploring Oystermouth Castle and spending hours on beautiful Langland Bay Beach. Stay for longer and the Gower Peninsula beckons, with cliff-top walks and beautiful beaches stretching west.