At midday on 24th September 2025, the NatWest branch on Abingdon Market Place closed its doors for the final time. It is one of 55 NatWest Branches closing in 2025.

The closure also ends the personal contact many customers valued with familiar faces of staff. Staff have either been redeployed to Oxford, taken redundancy, or accepted early retirement.

The closure also means the loss of the branch’s ATMs. The indoor machine was unusual in allowing withdrawals of just £5, and the external one was popular with drivers for its easy access. The branch’s cash machine allowed cash deposits. Local businesses and people will now need to bag their change and take it to the Post Office.

Soon after the doors shut, a van arrived and took down the NatWest signage, removed the external ATM and sealed the nightsafe.

The building is not listed and has mostly been a bank with offices upstairs since it was first built in 1885-6. It replaced an earlier London and County Bank building.

The Ock River Bakery, which opened just a week ago, has already proved very popular. This morning the courtyard and cabin had a steady flow of visitors, with queues at times. It looks like they’ve found the perfect gap in the market – and in Ock Street.

The bakery is at the site of a former outdoor flower and plant seller – neatly filling the gap between Abingdon Baptist Church and Coxeters – and offers fresh, locally made breads and pastries. Three courtyard tables give customers a sunny spot to enjoy patisseries with hot drinks. I tried a Double Chocolate Pain au Chocolat with hot chocolate – a very good way to fill a mid-morning gap.

The bakery is run by Maria, formerly Head Chef at The Eyston Arms, who has spent time honing her patisserie skills at a local bakery. The bread is supplied by a nearby baker, to keep things all local. It was selling fast.

The Old Anchor Inn has reopened. The “To Let” sign has gone, and the much-loved riverside pub is back in use. Sitting by the Thames, the Old Anchor is a familiar sight in paintings and photographs, and its return is good news for Abingdon.

Well worth popping in to raise a glass to the Old Anchor’s return.

On the first evening, the pub was packed, and the new landlord was pleased to see so many people. To encourage local custom, there’s an offer of 10% off food and drink for anyone living within three miles who signs up to the loyalty scheme.

At the moment, it’s drinks only, but a meal wagon will be arriving soon, and the kitchen will follow. The back room and garden are open, and well decorated, and the pub felt much bigger than I remembered.

La Baguette has moved from a larger premises halfway along Bath Street to 5 The Square, next to Papa John’s. Under its new name, The Little Baguette Shop, the business continues selling filled baguettes, coffee, and other hot drinks. They moved around 2 August.