There is a ‘For Sale’ sign outside Walton House on Ock Street – the former home of Franklins Solicitors, a familiar name in Abingdon.

The sign follows events in March, when a notice appeared on the door saying that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) had closed the practice of Hunters Solicitors LLP. The closure of the firm and all its associated offices included the Abingdon solicitors.

Franklins’ story in the town goes back much further . The practice started as A.H. Franklin & Son and became Franklins. Between 2022 and 2023 it became part of Hunters.

The March notice with information to help clients and employees is on the Franklins website https://franklins-solicitors.co.uk/.

Morrisons Daily is to replace Budgens at the Peachcroft Shopping Centre in Abingdon.

Half the shelves in the Peachcroft shop are already empty ahead of its closure on Sunday, April 12. The store will then undergo a refit before reopening as a Morrisons Daily on Thursday, April 23 – St George’s Day. The reopened shop will retain the existing staff.

Budgens stores are usually independently owned but supplied through a national wholesaler. In recent years, Budgens has been owned by Booker Group, which is part of Tesco. The Peachcroft Budgens has stocked Tesco-linked own-brand products, such as the Jack’s range.

Abingdon will soon have almost every major supermarket, either as a large store, neighbourhood shop or petrol station outlet. That includes Aldi (large), Asda (petrol station outlet), Co-op (two stores), Lidl (large), Marks & Spencer Food (opening soon), Morrisons (opening soon), Tesco (one large and two neighbourhood stores), and Waitrose (large). Sainsbury’s is the exception.

Signs have started to go up for the new Marks & Spencer Food Store at Fairacres Retail Park in Abingdon, marking another visible step towards its opening.

Recruitment is also underway. It’s possible that other vacancies have already closed. At the time of writing, the Marks & Spencer careers website lists three full-time roles in Abingdon: one Customer Assistant position in the Chicken Hot Hold (closing 8th April 2026), and two Customer Assistant roles in the in-store bakery (closing 31st March 2026).

The new restaurant in West St Helen Street opens on April 2nd. It brings something new to Abingdon and appears to be like tradition small, fine dining French restaurants where the chef creates the menu around what is in season.

There is a single dégustation menu. Diners let the kitchen to take them through a series of around ten carefully prepared courses, letting the evening unfold at its own pace.

Good luck to them on April 2nd and beyond.