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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Victoria Jones

Netflix film crews take over Swansea cafe shooting The End of the F***ing World scenes

Filming crews from Channel 4 and Netflix have been spotted in Swansea again.

They've been filming the second season of adventure drama The End of the F***ing World.

Crews took over the popular Kardomah Cafe in the city centre for two days of filming.

In April they shot at the Rowberry Fashion store in Port Tennant , and they have also been filming in Bishopston.

The End of the F***ing World, written by Charlie Covell and based on the award-winning series of comic books by Charles Forsman, is described as a dark, intriguing, tense and chilling tale shot through with moments of absurdity and humour.

The programme follows 17-year-old James, who is played by Alex Lawther, who believes himself to be a psychopath and his rebellious classmate Alyssa, who sees in James a chance to escape from her tumultuous home life.

Kardomah owner Marcus Luporini said two scenes were filmed in the well-known 1950s style cafe, filming on Sunday and Monday.

The Kardomah (Gayle Marsh)

"It was great. They came in, took over and left the place in a really nice state.

"It was very nice to be asked. I think they all fell in love with the decor of the cafe just because it's so unique. There is nothing quite like us anymore.

"There was a massive entourage. They were very nice people, very professional.

"Because we closed the cafe, we offered to open the kitchen for them but they declined because of the noise, so I was watching all these people with certain branded coffee in my cafe which broke my heart!"

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Mr Luporini, 50, said the art director completely transformed the cafe.

"What they've done is amazing," he said, remaining tight-lipped on how the cafe looked for filming.

The set manager visited four of five times before filming even began in a process that started four of five months ago.

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"They built everything off set so when it arrived it was just a case of putting it all together."

The cafe enjoys cult appeal for its retro decor and associations with poet Dylan Thomas, who was one of the Kardomah Boys.

The generation of Swansea artists, which also included the painter Ceri Richards, poet and Vernon Watkins and composer Daniel Jones, used to regularly visit the cafe.

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Dylan Thomas described the Kardomah as “My Home Sweet Homah”. It has been used for location for Set Fire To The Stars and also a David Tennant Dr Who Christmas special. It was also used in a Fred Perry advert.

Liz Davies, a chef at the cafe, volunteered to be on site to make sure everything went smoothly.

"She ended up having the best day ever, she sat outside with all the crew and said everyone was lovely and friendly.

"I didn't meet any of the actors but I think there was a bit of a stir with some of them.

"I think they chose the cafe because of the decor, and I think because of the size - it's big enough to get the whole entourage in here.

"I think it was more about the size factor, and that we are independent so there is no branding.

"They filmed in Rowberry's and Bishopston in the Jenkins Brothers petrol station, so it's quite nice that they are using independents.

"I think it's fantastic for Swansea."

The show will be broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK later this year.

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