A new café bar opened two days ago at 15 Market Place, Abingdon, offering a daytime café and a wine bar in the evening.

On my first view on this chilly April morning, people were enjoying the warm seats indoors, but not too many were using the seats outside yet. Someone joked that the additional seating adds to the ongoing “Chair Wars” on the Market Place.

Martin, originally from Belgium, says the chairs on the Market Place remind him of the wonderful café culture on the continent.

The premises were previously a nursery shop and, before that, another café with a French name. The name lives on in Bath Street.

The Clarks shoe shop on Bury Street closes today (April 22nd, 2024). This follows the recent closures of Clarks branches in Newbury, Maidenhead, and Windsor. However, Clarks will remain open in Didcot and Oxford.

So we don’t have a shoe shop in Abingdon anymore.

A new pet shore opened on April 2nd! It’s run by the same people who ran the old store nearby. They have lots of experience (over 30 years!) selling pet supplies. The old store closed on March 28th, but a new owner opened this one. It’s in Coxeter’s Yard off Stratton Way

This new shore has everything you need for all sorts of pets and food for wild birds.

The manager has a dog called Freddie.

The hotel at Old Abbey House has been open since October 2023. The notice board was added recently, prompting me to check customer reviews.

Guest reviews highlight the cleanliness of the rooms and the ease of the self-check-in system. Some guests would prefer a more personal touch upon arrival.

The hotel’s location in the historic centre of Abingdon is a major advantage. One reviewer mentioned the church bells ringing for ninety minutes on a Tuesday evening. The bell-ringing practice at St Nicolas Church is every other Tuesday. This Sunday is Easter, and the 8 a.m. church service at St Nicolas Church will have a special bell ringing from 7:30 a.m.