The Broad Face in Abingdon, which closed in August while seeking new management, has now reopened. A new team took over and the pub has been open again since Monday — with live music this evening.
The Old Anchor Inn also closed for a few days but is open again tonight.
There’s a new caffé on Bath Street, adding another touch more Italy to the street. (In Italian, caffè means coffee, but it’s also used to refer to a coffee shop or café.) Delicatessen Caffè has been open for about three weeks and offers freshly made bagels with a variety of fillings, stone-baked pizzas, pasta dishes, croissants, puddings, and all the usual hot drinks. You can find out more at delicatessencaffe.co.uk.
Across the road, another shop is being worked on. Three weeks ago, a sign in the window promised a ‘Grand Reveal — Opening Soon: TEN 10.’ That may or may not be a clue, but the balloons that decorated the window have now gone as more fitting out continues.
On Stert Street, another business is ‘Opening Soon’. The sign in the window shows a gold monogram with the letters ABC, and below are the words ‘Aesthetics By Clouds.’ It looks likely to be an aesthetics / beauty clinic.
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.