The Old Anchor, a historic riverside pub in Abingdon, is now available to lease on a free-of-tie basis. This means the new tenant can buy their beer from any supplier, giving them greater flexibility and independence. The details are at https://www.fleurets.com.
The pub closed in May 2023, and in August, the Oxford Mail reported that Greene King had decided to stop managing the Old Anchor as one of their tied pubs.
If you see a house with Christmas lights up on 8th November, the people who live there are probably trying to spread some good cheer and enjoy the season a little longer.
And when Bury Street, has its Christmas Lights on 8th November, it could be that the management company have read the studies that show that Christmas Lights help boost people’s mood. Many small businesses rely on the festive season for a significant portion of their annual revenue, and shopping early can help them.
The Bookstore, an independent bookstore in Abingdon-on-Thames, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. Thanks to Ian and his staff, and the shop’s commitment to providing excellent service and promoting local concerns, The Bookstore has continued for 25 years, even as Amazon and e-books have changed the landscape of the book industry. Ian said that their first-ever customer still visits the shop.
Two highlights for me, writing this blog, are the long queues that stretched down the precinct each time a new Harry Potter book was released and the long queues when Terry Wogan came to visit, not once but twice, and being able to meet the man.
Today was quieter, with rain falling.
Ian also features in one of Geoff Dunbar’s cartoons in the Abingdon Museum Exhibition. Geoff had drawn an Abingdon bookseller from his youth and wanted to show him next to a contemporary bookseller.
Masons, the fabric and wool shop in Stert Street, Abingdon, is the oldest of the three Masons shops and is a family business that has been in operation for over 80 years. It is managed by a lady who has been there for 40 years, starting as a Saturday girl.
The shop was originally owned by two elderly ladies, and when one of them passed away, the other decided to sell it but asked the new owners to keep the name, Masons. So, although it has been run by the North family, they have kept the name Masons (ref 1).
The shop is still known for its wide selection of knitting and crochet wool. There was a decline in knitting in the 1980s and 1990s, but during the 21st century, knitting and crocheting have become increasingly popular (ref 2).
Knitting and crochet are both relaxing and enjoyable activities. They are creative activities where people can use their imagination to create unique and beautiful items. They are also relatively inexpensive hobbies. A bonus for Abingdon people is that they have Masons in the town centre.
Source:
1) https://www.masonsfabric.com/about
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_knitting