SWANSEA: Japanese and Korean BBQ restaurant Joyato marks two years in the city — with UK expansion on the menu

A Swansea restaurant serving sushi, Japanese grill dishes and Korean BBQ is marking two years in the city — and says local support has given it the confidence to expand across the UK.

Joyato, based in Salubrious Court next to the Vue Cinema, opened in 2024 and has built a following among diners in Swansea and the wider area.

The restaurant sits just off Wind Street — a corner of the city centre that has seen a wave of new food openings, with a run of major fried chicken chains arriving in the past 18 months. Joyato has carved out a quieter niche as an independent.

It offers both à la carte and an all-you-can-eat format that differs from a traditional buffet, with dishes cooked fresh to order rather than sitting under heat lamps.

Diners can order up to five dishes every 15 minutes, working through different parts of the menu over a meal — a format the restaurant says has proved popular with groups and families.

Sushi has been one of its strongest areas, drawing both seasoned Japanese-food fans and first-timers.

In May last year, Joyato added Korean BBQ, letting customers grill their own food at the table — a move it says has become a key part of the experience for groups. The restaurant has also joined Deliveroo for selected dishes.

Director Alice Yi said reaching two years in Swansea was “a very proud moment” for the team.

“Opening any restaurant takes a lot of work, but opening something a little different and building trust with local customers takes time,” she said.

She said the restaurant had been grateful for the support shown by people in Swansea and the surrounding areas.

“We have regular customers who have been with us from the beginning, and we also see people travelling in from outside the area because they have heard about the restaurant,” she said. “That is something we never take for granted.”

On the food, Ms Yi said the team had worked to build confidence with sushi lovers who care about freshness and presentation, while keeping the menu approachable for those new to Japanese food.

“The menu gives people room to explore without feeling unsure, and that has helped us reach a wide audience,” she said.

The Swansea restaurant’s success has led to a sister site in Colchester, which celebrates its first year this July. The company says it is now considering further UK locations.

“Swansea gave us the confidence to look at the next stage of the business,” Ms Yi said. “We would like to open more Joyato restaurants across the UK, but we want to do that carefully and make sure each restaurant feels connected to its local area.”

Joyato is open in Salubrious Court in Swansea city centre, with more information on its website.

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NCP enters administration putting key Swansea car parks at risk

National Car Parks (NCP), which operates around 340 car parks across the UK, has called in administrators from PwC after running out of cash.

The company employs more than 680 people nationwide and manages parking at key locations including city centres, hospitals, airports and transport hubs.

What it means right now

Despite the move, drivers are being told it’s business as usual — for now.

Administrators say all car parks remain open, staff are still in place, and there will be no immediate changes for customers.

But a full review of the business is now underway — and that could ultimately lead to closures or changes at some sites.

NCP Swansea Orchard Street car park, a major multi-storey facility serving Swansea city centre.
(Image: Google Maps)

Major Swansea sites under the spotlight

In Swansea, NCP operates several of the city centre’s best-known car parks — all of which are now part of the administration process.

These include Kingsway (328 spaces), Orchard Street (512 spaces), City Gates (251 spaces), Jockey Street (36 spaces), and a small additional site at Northampton Lane. A further NCP car park also operates in Neath on Orchard Street.

Together, these sites provide hundreds of spaces used daily by shoppers, commuters and visitors, making them a key part of the city’s infrastructure.

While no specific closures have been confirmed, administrators have made clear that every site will be assessed for viability.

NCP Swansea City Gates car park near the Vue cinema complex in Swansea city centre.
(Image: Google Maps)

A company with decades of history

National Car Parks is one of the UK’s oldest parking operators, with roots dating back to the 1930s as car ownership began to rise across Britain.

Originally formed to manage growing demand for city parking, the business expanded rapidly in the post-war years, becoming a familiar name in towns and cities across the country.

Over the decades, NCP grew into a dominant force in the sector, operating hundreds of sites and becoming synonymous with multi-storey car parks in urban centres.

However, like many traditional parking operators, it has struggled to adapt to changing travel habits in recent years — particularly the decline in daily commuting.

Why NCP has entered administration

According to PwC, the company has struggled for years following the pandemic.

Changes in working habits — particularly the shift to home working — have reduced demand for city centre parking, while long-term lease agreements have left the business locked into high costs.

In a statement, PwC said the company had insufficient cash to meet its financial obligations, forcing directors to place it into administration.

Zelf Hussain, joint administrator, said:

“NCP has faced a challenging trading environment over several years, with changing consumer behaviours impacting volumes, and a high fixed cost-base leading to trading losses.”

He added:

“All sites are open, staff remain in post, and trading continues as normal.”

Jobs and closures risk

Although staff remain employed for now, the future is uncertain.

Administrators are exploring options including selling all or part of the business, while also negotiating with landlords in a bid to cut costs.

However, they have warned that some locations may not be viable, meaning closures are a real possibility.

What happens next

For now, drivers across Swansea and Neath can continue to use NCP car parks as normal.

But with every site under review, the longer-term future of some locations remains unclear.

For city centre businesses already facing challenges, any loss of parking could have a knock-on effect — making this a story that’s likely to develop in the weeks ahead.

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