EditorTalking about the weather, the Royal Family and the perfect cuppa: Swansea’s top British obsessions revealed
Researchers polled those living in Swansea to discover the people, places and things which have become woven into the fabric of their British life.
Weather tops the list
According to the survey, 73% of Swansea residents admit they’re obsessed with the weather forecast, making it the city’s number one British trait.
Whether holidaying abroad or enjoying the great British summer, those in Swansea will endlessly debate about if it is too hot outside (50 percent) what to do on a bank holiday weekend (50 percent), what to have for dinner (29 percent) and moan about the traffic to whoever will listen (36 percent).
Everyday debates
The research, commissioned by Jason’s Sourdough, found that people in Swansea:
Roast dinners (55 percent), talking about how much things cost (41 percent), putting the bins out (50 percent), continually saying sorry (27 percent) and what’s happening in the soaps (55 percent) also made the list, along with dogs (32 percent), the perfect amount of gravy (36 percent), how many hours of sleep you’ve had (23 percent) and the goings on of their neighbours (36 percent).
One in five (20 percent) of those in Swansea say that as a city we’re obsessed with what the thermostat should be on in the house, while 21 percent believe that cyclists are a constant topic of conversation, according to the survey.
In fact, on average, folk from Swansea talk about how much things cost, the weather and their pets 12 times a week, what to have for tea, what’s on TV, how to make the perfect cuppa and politics ten times a week.
They also chat about the traffic nine times a week and debate football results and gossip about what’s happening in the soaps seven times a week.
“Part of what makes us British”
All (100 percent) of those in Swansea think that there are certain traits and characteristics that make us uniquely British, and the same, agreeing that mildly obsessing over certain things is a quintessentially British trait.
Dr Anna Machin, evolutionary anthropologist, said:
“Having these little ‘obsessions’ — whether it’s queuing properly, chatting about the weather, or debating the perfect cup of tea — isn’t just small talk. For Brits, it’s a shared language that helps us bond, feel part of a community, and even find comfort in tradition.”
Top 10 Swansea obsessions
👉 [Scroll down for the full top 30 list]
“We’re proudly obsessed”
Jason Geary, Master Baker at Jason’s Sourdough commented
“I knew it! I knew I wasn’t the only one in the UK who has an everyday obsession – the majority of those in Swansea take so much pride in their passions that even the experts agree it’s bordering a healthy obsession.
“At Jason’s Sourdough, we and our millions of regular buyers, know a thing or two about everyday obsession. Every loaf we bake is the result of years of perfecting our craft, the way we nurture our mother starter to hand-finishing every batch, The details matter. Just like Brits love to discuss their favourite topics, we’re proudly obsessed with making sourdough bread that’s packed with flavour and baked with passion.”
Why it matters
Despite this, well over a half (59 percent) of those in Swansea admit they have been told by friends and family that they are obsessed with certain things, although it didn’t put them off talking about them as (62 percent) went on to chat about the subject MORE.
And according to the research, it seems that certain topics aren’t just personal, just over four in five (82 percent) of those in Swansea say their family share the same passions, so much so that eight in ten (83 percent) bonds over them.
Almost all (95 percent) believe that some obsessions also bring people closer together.
Of those who don’t share the same obsessions, those living in Swansea remain happy with 75 percent saying they never argue.
With this in mind, over half (59 percent) admit that their obsessions have increased with age, with all (100 percent) agreeing that topics like the weather, traffic, TV shows are great conversation starters.
Even though 86 percent think odd passions are a part of our national identity and 64 percent think a sense of humour is essential to British culture and identity, 73 percent appreciate that for people who don’t live in the UK they may view our obsessions as strange.
Full list: Swansea’s top 30 British obsessions
1. The weather forecast — 73%
2. The football results — 64%
3. Orderly queues — 59%
4. The Royal Family — 55%
5. Sunday lunch — 55%
6. Soaps / TV Shows — 55%
7. The pub — 50%
8. The correct way to make a cup of tea — 50%
9. Whether it’s too hot — 50%
10. Bank holidays — 50%
11. Putting the bins out — 50%
12. The cost of things — 41%
13. Mowing the lawn — 41%
14. Gravy — 36%
15. Other drivers — 36%
16. The goings on of our neighbours — 36%
17. The traffic — 36%
18. Dogs — 32%
19. Street parties — 32%
20. What’s for dinner — 29%
21. Escaping to the countryside — 27%
22. Saying sorry — 27%
23. Biscuits — 25%
24. Jokes — 23%
25. How many hours sleep we’ve had — 23%
26. Marmalade — 23%
27. Cyclists — 21%
28. What temperature the thermostat should be at — 20%
29. The right way to light a BBQ — 19%
30. Having to sleep on ‘your’ side of the bed — 18%
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