On a recent Paranormal Unpacked filming day in Swansea, my good friend and co-presenter Steve Balsamo recalled some strange and unsettling experiences from his time helping at a former antiques shop and café with a reputation for being a little, well, haunted.
We were filming on a farm – along with filmmaker extraordinaire Ant Jones and cryptid expert Gwilym Games – owned by our friends Claire and Kev, who used to run Kismet Vintage Coffee & Curiosities in Sketty.
The building, which had previously been Dylan's Wine Shop, was around 100–150 years old when they had it and, according to Steve, it didn't take long before things started to feel unusual when working there alone late at night.
From unexplained knocks and movement out of the corner of the eye, to doors opening on their own and objects shifting when nobody was nearby, the stories quickly built up. One of the most striking incidents involved an old gramophone, which reportedly came apart without explanation during a conversation in the shop.
Visitors and staff also reported a range of experiences, from objects being moved to a young child seeing a figure standing in the corner of a room upstairs. In another incident, books were found stacked on the stairs despite nobody being upstairs at the time.
Ghost stories aside, we were also filming during a heatwave and had time to explore the surrounding countryside, including fields where people have felt a little uneasy over the years.
Be sure to check out the Paranormal Unpacked channel for the full interview with Gwilym when it's available, especially his story of the Gower Hedgehog Man. Yes, the Gower Hedgehog Man.
