The Old Anchor Inn has reopened. The “To Let” sign has gone, and the much-loved riverside pub is back in use. Sitting by the Thames, the Old Anchor is a familiar sight in paintings and photographs, and its return is good news for Abingdon.

Well worth popping in to raise a glass to the Old Anchor’s return.

On the first evening, the pub was packed, and the new landlord was pleased to see so many people. To encourage local custom, there’s an offer of 10% off food and drink for anyone living within three miles who signs up to the loyalty scheme.

At the moment, it’s drinks only, but a meal wagon will be arriving soon, and the kitchen will follow. The back room and garden are open, and well decorated, and the pub felt much bigger than I remembered.

La Baguette has moved from a larger premises halfway along Bath Street to 5 The Square, next to Papa John’s. Under its new name, The Little Baguette Shop, the business continues selling filled baguettes, coffee, and other hot drinks. They moved around 2 August.

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.