On a wet afternoon on 18th September 2025, I met a friend for a lunch meeting at The Storyteller Swansea. The café is attractively presented and benefits from a strong city-centre location on Princess Way. It appears well suited for informal meetings and casual dining.
What We Ordered
I chose the EGGs Royale, served on an English muffin with smoked salmon, two poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. My friend ordered the Rarebit, which arrived on an English muffin rather than traditional toast. The dish used Welsh cheese and brown sauce, offering a modern variation on a classic Welsh favourite.
Food Quality & Presentation
The EGGs Royale was neatly presented and looked appealing on arrival. The eggs were cooked very well and had a soft, consistent texture. The smoked salmon complemented the dish nicely. However, the hollandaise sauce did not taste as fresh as expected and had a slightly artificial or chemical note. This element stood out and affected the overall balance of the dish.
My friend enjoyed their cheese muffin and found it filling. While the dish did not resemble a traditional Welsh Rarebit in terms of ingredients or method, it was well presented and visually appealing. It felt more like an inspired alternative than a direct interpretation of the classic.
Hygiene Rating Consideration
After the visit, I later noticed that The Storyteller Swansea had received a Food Hygiene Rating of 1, following an inspection on 17th July 2025, as published by the Food Standards Agency. This discovery came as a surprise, particularly given the café’s clean and polished appearance.
The inspection findings included:
- Improvement necessary in hygienic food handling
- Facilities and building conditions rated generally satisfactory
- Major improvement required in food safety management systems
Food hygiene ratings play an important role in customer confidence. For me, they influence decisions about return visits.
Overall Thoughts
⭐️☆☆☆☆ 1 out of 5
The Storyteller Swansea offers a pleasant setting, a convenient location, and visually well-presented dishes. While some elements of the food could benefit from refinement, the main concern lies with the current hygiene rating. I would consider returning once improvements are made and reflected in a higher rating, ideally a Hygiene Rating of 5.
Venue Information
Website:
https://thestorytellerswansea.co.uk/
Food Hygiene Rating:
https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1593160
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085714608034#
Address:
40 Princess Way, Swansea SA1 5HE