In the past week, it has been announced that the NatWest Bank will close, and staff at Pablo Lounge have told customers they also are to close.

NatWest is the latest in a line of banks to shut their Abingdon branch — part of a wider national trend as customers increasingly move to digital banking. However, the closure will inconvenience local businesses that rely on bank services such as change, as well as customers who are not online. The Abingdon branch is set to close on 24th September.

Pablo Lounge’s staff were informed last week that it is closing at the end of this month. Since opening in 2018, Pablo Lounge has been a popular spot for coffee, snacks, or meals — staying open until 11 pm and known for its friendly staff. Its quirky interior, with paintings covering the walls, gave it a charm that will be missed.

According to the 1854 Billings Directory, the bank started as the London and County Bank in Abingdon in the Market Place. In 1909, the London and Westminster Bank merged with the London and County Bank. More Mergers and name changes followed until in 1968, the Westminster Bank merged with the National Provincial Bank to form the National Westminster Bank – now known simply as NatWest.

Paws & Play at Willows have decorated part of Bury Street, including the area outside their own shop, and the next door Pharmacy, and the large tree nearby, with bunting made from fabric strips. They are helping to organise the Against Breast Cancer event that takes place on July 12th.

The Pharmacy next door was closed today. They are without a dispensing pharmacist and will hopefully reopen.

I was surprised not once but twice on going through the Tesco car park yesterday.

A Britain’s Got Talent bus had arrived as part of a promotional tour celebrating 30 years of Tesco Clubcard, which sponsors the show. Visitors had a chance to win tickets to the Britain’s Got Talent final and other Clubcard souvenirs.

On the same side of the carpark, recent clearing has revealed drainage ditches, forming what looks like a moat around an island of trees. None of this was visible before.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) will open a foodhall at the Fairacres Retail Park in Abingdon as part of a wider plan to open twelve new stores in former Homebase sites. The Abingdon store is one of the first confirmed locations and will open in late 2025 subject to planning permission.

The other empty unit in the Fairacres Retail Park was filled when Wren Kitchens opened a showroom on 16th May 2025, relocating from the Botley Road in Oxford. The unit was previously Carpetright.