I’m often complaining about the lack of seafood-specific eateries in Swansea, considering we’re a seaside town. There’s the Gower Seafood Hut in Mumbles, El Pescador in the Marina, and that’s about it when it comes to fresh fish? (Let me know in the comments if I’ve got that wrong).
A year or so ago when I stuck on an episode of Escape to the Country and saw Alistair Appleton eating in a beautiful seafood shack in Swansea, I couldn’t believe my eyes – Selwyn’s Seafood Shack – a hidden gem!
Selwyn’s Seafood Shack location
I’ve attempted to go to Selwyn’s Seafood Shack twice since seeing the show and failed so badly, I sort of convinced myself it didn’t actually exist – maybe it was set up for TV. However, there’s a giant sign on the main road running along it, which maybe wasn’t there the last times I tried – or maybe, which is pretty likely, I’m just awful at following Google Maps. But this time, I found it – and I couldn’t have been happier.
Based in North Gower’s fishing village, Penclawdd, or more specifically, the tiny area next to it, Crofty – you’ll find Selwyn’s Seafood Shack at Lynch Factory Marsh Rd, Wernffrwd, Swansea.
When you turn off the main road you’ll go down a little lane and will find the shack itself is in the Selwyns’s cockle factory grounds. Honestly, It’s a shame it’s not thirty seconds further down the road where there’s a lush sea view – because the location isn’t picturesque, especially when you drive in, but once you’re in the vicinity, it’s a pleasant place to eat. The shack itself is beautiful and it’s so worth having a wander down to the estary after you’ve eaten.
The shack is in the corner of the factory grounds, with outdoor tables under a big tree, with a cockle-shell floor.
Selwyn’s itself is a family-run business collecting and distributing cockles, laverbread and seaweed snacks all over the UK. Then a few years ago, they opened up the shack which is a restaurant, a visitor’s centre and a shop serving gourmet food.
Definitely read about their history on their website – Selwyn’s is a Swansea institution.
Selwyn’s Seafood Shack Menu
With the freshest seafood (collected and processed next door in the factory), you can pick your live lobster and crabs to take away or have them cooked on-site, or something delicious from the bored such as deep-fried cockles or fish goujons.
When I visited, we ordered lobster, deep-fried cockles, laverbread cakes and streaky bacon, and a pint of shells and chips – it was a birthday celebration, so went big. The cockles were plump and beautifully fried – so much better than I thought. My favourite food in the whole world is laverbread, so wish there was an option that showcased the seaweed better, because the laverbread cakes, which were good – didn’t have the laverbread hit I was hoping for.
The lobster was picked live and cooked on-site, and served with bread and lemon – and delicious. If I could make a suggestion, is that I’d like to be able to order sauces or dips on the side. I’d have loved some garlic butter to dip everything in, or even some garlic aioli – and would have happily paid extra for it.
Selwyn’s Seafood Shack prices
Listen, fresh seafood is never going to be the cheapest option, but the prices seemed incredibly reasonable to me.
I’m often in Swansea Market buying cockles and spend more than £4.50 for a tub, and you’re not paying for the ‘cooking’, service, utensils and everything running a restaurant costs.
All in all, I got a load of food for three people (which was too much, so had to box a load of it up to take home), including a lobster, pint of prawns, two laverbread cakes, two battered cockles, two cones of chips, two cans of San Pellegrino and a tea – and it cost £60ish, with the lobster being £30 of that.
The service was warm and friendly – they couldn’t do enough. Go check them out, they deserve love from the locals and tourist trade.
Have you been to Selwyn’s Seafood Shack? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.
Visiting the Gower? Make sure you head to Langland Bay and Mumbles.
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