Beaujolais Day in Wales is an increasingly popular date in the social calendar, with Swansea leading the way as one of the liveliest places outside France to celebrate the special day.

Below is our 2023 list of the biggest and best Beaujolais Day parties in Swansea, Cardiff and the whole of Wales.

To find out more about how Swansea became a focal point for Beaujolais Nouveau Day, scroll down.

Beaujolais Day in Swansea

• Brangwyn Hall
• No Sign Wine Bar
• Morgan’s Hotel
• The Grand Hotel
• Heaven 
• Bambu Beach bar
• Swansea Arena
• Peppermint Bar & Kitchen
• The Swigg
• Swansea Yacht Club
• The Welsh House
• N.D. John Wine Merchants
• The Overdraft Cocktail Bar

Beaujolais Day in Cardiff

• The Parkgate Hotel
• Butterfly Brunch @ The Depot
• Maison de Boeuf
• Mia Porto Due
• Laguna Kitchen & Bar
• Cote Brasserie
• The Classroom / Y Dosbarth
• The Angel Hotel
• Daffodil
• St Peter’s Hall
• Pitch Bar & Eatery
• The Welsh House
• The Botanist
• Portland House
• The Ivy
• Pasture
• Pontcanna Inn
• Coal Exchange Hotel
• Le Monde Restaurant
• Cardiff Masonic Hall
• Giovanni’s
• Ty Madeira (Introbiz Networking event)

Beaujolais Day – Rest of Wales

LLANELLI

• Diplomat Hotel

NEWPORT

• The Celtic Manor Resort

VALE OF GLAMORGAN

• Gileston Manor

BARRY

• Sorayas Cocktail Bar

CAERLEON

• The Priory Hotel

BRIDGEND

• El Prado

CAERPHILLY

• Aviary

Why is Beaujolais Day so Popular in Swansea?

Beaujolais Day has become almost synonymous with the city of Swansea, Wales yet the big question on everyone’s lips is ‘why?’.

The unlikely union is largely attributed to one man, Clem Thomas – former captain of the Welsh Rugby team and owner of the [now] legendary No Sign Wine Bar.  Clem was reported to own a house in Burgundy and thus occupied an advantageous position in the race to return the first of each year’s Beaujolais Nouveau to Wales.  

This rather tenuous link to France seemed to ignite a passion for Beaujolais Day in Swansea and whilst its popularity in the city might have ebbed and flowed since (Clem owned the No Sign bar in the 1960s), the tradition continued. Following a resurgence over the last decade or so, the day is now undoubtedly one of the highlights of the social calendar.  

The celebration of Beaujolais Day was also somewhat of a trend in various UK towns and cities over the years but nowhere quite embraces the party atmosphere of the day like Swansea.  Indeed Swansea’s success in popularising the event has led to a large number of Cardiff’s restaurateurs and publicans hosting their own events.  As the ‘brand’ awareness of Beaujolais Day has increased, so have the number of venues across Wales celebrating the release of the latest Beaujolais Nouveau.

Whilst it’s likely Swansea wasn’t the first place to host a Beaujolais Day event in the UK, the city has arguably done more than any other town or city to keep the Beaujolais Nouveau flame burning bright.