Oxford Etsy have opened a pop-up shop in Bury Street, Abingdon today. The new shop will be open from 10am – 5.30pm six days a week (closed on Mondays) from 4 November to 17 December.

This is part of the Independent Shops Project – an initiative where the VWHDC have enlisted the help of Iain Nicholson, a town centre specialist. The scheme helps small businesses to fill empty units in the town by creating pop-up shops and also allows retailers to ‘test the waters’ before committing to a permanent location in the town.

Oxford Etsy sell locally handmade items: jewellery, art, prints, candles, greetings cards, children’s clothing, furniture, bags, accessories and home decorations.

Christina O’Hare, who runs her own business, Christina Made It, has co-ordinated the Etsy team and said, “I soon realised there was a high demand for a retail outlet.”

She added, “I contacted Iain who helped me enormously by explaining the process and putting us in contact with the landlords.”

Follow the teams progress on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/oxfordetsyteam.

Abingdon’s most recent takeaway is at the corner of Bridge Street and Turnagain Lane. It opened on 29th September.

This evening felt cooler but the stars looked brighter.

On Nags Head Island there were lights both sides of the bridge. As well as the panoply of lights and flares along the Nag’s Head side, Annie’s at the Boat House was still lit up on the other side.

Annie has been putting on free films for children during half term and up until 31st October, and has many other Halloween themed activities.

A planning application has been submitted for the former Stan James betting shop to become a restaurant. The premises has been empty since May 2016. The proposal includes a first floor roof terrace at the rear, and so the issue of noise and disturbance to residential neighbours nearby is one consideration. Another consideration is the change of use. Before becoming a betting shop in 1998 it was retail.

Work is beginning on the Oxford Abingdon Hotel near Tesco, in what the hotel website describes as a ‘refurbishment‘. They say on their blog ‘The full make-over will be finalised by Autumn 2018.‘

Hoarding are being put up to allow work to begin on the new wing.

The hotel will then be re-branded as a Hilton Garden Inn.

The existing hotel accomodation (slightly dwarfed in this picture by the new wing) will continue to operate during that time. The hotel website says… ‘The hotel’s reception and breakfast area will both be relocated and we will be offering all guests complimentary continental breakfast. Evening meals will not be available; we can, however, recommend local eateries.’