A new Boots Hearingcare branch is being worked on in Bury Street, Abingdon. Signs in the window announce ‘A World of Hearing – Coming Soon.’

This will be the third Boots branded shop on Bury Street, with a pharmacy and optician already further along the precinct.

The arrival of the hearing centre adds to a growing number of health and wellbeing shop fronts in the town centre. I heard recently, on the radio, that there is a trend nationally for more Health and wellbeing shops and more cafes in place of traditional shops.

W H Smith in Bury Street has now been rebranded as TG Jones.

The name may have changed, but the shop continues to sell books, stationery, and cards.

The W H Smith high street business was taken over by Modella Capital. On July 1st they began rebranding stores under the new name.

‘TG Jones’ has a similar look, with its blue background, two initials and traditional British surname. William Henry Smith was a real person. TG Jones is an alias.

In the past week, it has been announced that the NatWest Bank will close, and staff at Pablo Lounge have told customers they also are to close.

NatWest is the latest in a line of banks to shut their Abingdon branch — part of a wider national trend as customers increasingly move to digital banking. However, the closure will inconvenience local businesses that rely on bank services such as change, as well as customers who are not online. The Abingdon branch is set to close on 24th September.

Pablo Lounge’s staff were informed last week that it is closing at the end of this month. Since opening in 2018, Pablo Lounge has been a popular spot for coffee, snacks, or meals — staying open until 11 pm and known for its friendly staff. Its quirky interior, with paintings covering the walls, gave it a charm that will be missed.

According to the 1854 Billings Directory, the bank started as the London and County Bank in Abingdon in the Market Place. In 1909, the London and Westminster Bank merged with the London and County Bank. More Mergers and name changes followed until in 1968, the Westminster Bank merged with the National Provincial Bank to form the National Westminster Bank – now known simply as NatWest.

Paws & Play at Willows have decorated part of Bury Street, including the area outside their own shop, and the next door Pharmacy, and the large tree nearby, with bunting made from fabric strips. They are helping to organise the Against Breast Cancer event that takes place on July 12th.

The Pharmacy next door was closed today. They are without a dispensing pharmacist and will hopefully reopen.