Swansea people have been telling of their love affair with the city’s top shopping centre.
The Quadrant, close to the city’s bus station and adjacent to the world famous Swansea Market, first opened its doors to customers as long ago as 1979.
And after more than three decades the shopping centre remains a popular destination with the city’s residents and visitors alike as well as with its best known citizens like actress Joanna Page, TV presenter Alex Jones and current Miss Wales Sara Manchipp.
Nes Isaac, 87, has been a regular Quadrant shopper since the mall first opened.
She said: “I like it because I can sit and wait for friends before we go for a cup of tea. I like the all the shops too. I have to come by bus nowadays since I can’t drive anymore but it’s easy to get to. It doesn’t take long from Yns Forgan where I live to get here.
“It’s a really friendly place where you can meet people and it doesn’t matter what the weather is like as it’s got a roof.”
Nes, who still has a Scottish accent despite being a Swansea resident for more than 70 years, added: “I have always come to the Quadrant to be honest.
“Originally I hail from Perth, Scotland, and came to Swansea after the war. I met a proud Welshman and got married and have lived here ever since. I don’t want to lose my accent as it is important to me.”
Fashion photographer Jonathan Creemer, 35, moved to Swansea from Cardiff in 2003 and says he regularly shops in the Quadrant.
He said: “The fact it is under cover is a big plus and there is a really wide range of shops too. I buy a lot of magazines so use Smiths a lot while Debenhams is ideal for toiletries and the like.
“There are also a good number of fashion shops too which is good. It’s just an ideal meeting place which always seems to have a friendly atmosphere.”
Self-confessed horror movie fan, Beverley Davies, 50, admits she can often be found scouring the shelves of HMV for the latest DVD releases.
Bev, a cleaning supervisor who lives in Tor Temmant, said: “I’ve been coming to the Quadrant for more than 30 years since it was first built. It’s ideal as it’s undercover and is a great meeting place too.
“If I come with my daughter we often have lunch in here too. As well as HMV I like Debenhams a lot and buy clothes and stuff like bedding from there. I have three grown up children and two grandchildren and we all like shopping at the Quadrant.”
Full-time mum-of-one Yasmin Shipperley, 21, of Gowerton, Swansea has a different reason for liking the Quadrant so much – hygiene.
Yasmin said: “Honestly, I have never seen the place dirty or untidy. It means a lot when you have a baby. I am a stickler for hygiene and cleanliness to be honest and I have to say I have always been impressed with the Quadrant.
“I use the baby changing facilities a lot and they are always spotlessly clean and there is never litter lying about in the actual mall.”
She added: “I really do shop in the Quadrant a lot and at most of the shops, particularly HMV, Dorothy Perkins and Debenhams. I also like sitting and having a cup of coffee at Trenchers the café where you can sit outside.
“It’s such a friendly place and someone always says hello as they pass. It’s my favourite shopping place to be honest and I think I always be a loyal Quadrant shopper.”
