Andy emailed me to say …
It looks like a restaurant chain are interested in the old New Look shop. They could also use upstairs, and knock through into Hallmark cards – whose future is currently under consideration.
The planning application for a change of use to a restaurant is Vale of White Horse application P15/V0055/FUL. (VWHDC website not currently working 15/01/2015 possibly because of the fire at the council offices in Crowmarsh)
The company is called Tasty Plc. They have two chains: Wildwood and Dim T.
There are already a number of restaurants in Abingdon, and more planned at the Old Gaol, but none in the Market Place / Bury Street area.
Sounds promising, not many places for a family meal in town.
Have been to the Didcot branch a couple of times – nice friendly restaurant.
I looked at both restaurants’ menus; they didn’t do it for me. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a good French restaurant with a menu that changed depending on what ingredients were available.
The trouble with this business model in Abingdon is that there are so many cheap shops here and another on the way we are in danger of being considered as a downmarket town!
@peter del. Not everyone’s tastes can be accounted for in any town… Maybe the big cities they can be, but I don’t know of any town that has every style of food, I would take it as a compliment that Wildwood want to evest in Abingdon, it shows they feel there is a gap in the market, and I for one shall frequent the restaurant if it comes here. Its the same with the charter development and the cinema scenario, they are not to everyone’s taste, yet if they happen they will get used!
A restaurant in Bury Street would give it some buzz after 5pm when the shops shut. If there are people about then the cafes might stay open a bit later which would mean there was somewhere to go in the evening that wasn’t a pub or a restaurant
I think there is a very good range of eating places in Abingdon – with the Crown & Thistle, Nags Head and Olives at the upper end, lots of lovely oriental places, Limoncello, Kings Head and Bell etc in the middle, then Ask, Pizza Express and The Narrows for families (sorry for those I have missed). We await to see who goes into the Old Gaol but I think they are aiming at the middle-upper ranges. So we are hardly downmarket.
It would of course have been lovely to have a shop in that unit, but clearly the chains are not interested and having another restaurant, open long hours presumably, can only add to the vitality of the town.
PS I too would love to see a French restaurant somewhere – anyone got good contacts with Raymond Blanc?
French restaurant? Go to Sutton Courtenay and try The Fish. It’s run by a French patron (Sebastien) and a French chef (Jean-Philippe); waiting staff are French. Closed in January for annual holiday, but will re-open at beginning of February. I have shares (wish I did!), but I do eat there once a week – and have done for four years. Always very good, often excellent.
Not many places for a family meal in town? Really? Where are you looking Abingdon Mum?
There’s 4 Indian restaurants, 2 Chinese, Lebanese, 2 Thai, 3 Italians, Greek, Crown & Thistle, Broad Face, Narrows, Kings Head & Bell, Nags Head (probably missed loads of others).
Children welcome in all.
I’ve eaten at all these and they’re fab! More the merrier …. look forward to the new one arriving!
Some interesting comments.
Scott, “I looked at both restaurants’ menus; they didn’t do it for me.” I don’t have a family, but I am quite aware that others do.
Hester, I have only lived in Abingdon for a couple of years but I have been to a few restaurants. Ask was the worst meal I have ever had in any restaurant in the UK. The mens loo in the Nags Head were too dreadful too describe, although the food was quite good! The food in the King’s Head and Bell was very good (and a visit from the Mummers). Upstream was excellent but a bit soulless, we had to ask them to turn on the light to illuminate the undershot water wheel. My favourite is Limoncello, excellent food and friendly staff (although I would like to see a change in the menu).
ppjs, I will definitely try your suggestion.
@ Peter Del
Hope you like it – not open till first full week in January (closed Mondays).
I love Limoncello too!
Places for a family meal?
We started taking our kids to the DilRaj when they were about 2 or 3. Started with rice, popadoms and mango chutney and bits from our main courses. As they got older they shared a chicken korma and now as young adults they are still made welcome!
If you mean older family members, we took 80+ yr old relative to Zabb Thai. Not quite so successful, but then there is no accounting for taste as she loves Ask!
There is a brand new (and very smart) Wildwood on the Market Square in Wantage – and a member of staff there said that there will be a cinema upstairs soon.
They currently have cinemas at there sites in Ely and Peterborough.
The menu looks like a standard corporate chain kind of thing.
They are probably no better than the likes of Ask etc.
Chef Mike will be king here.
I’m sure this isn’t going to be Michelin style dining, but neither will it be Michelin style pricing, which suits our town profile pretty well. This is nothing other than good news.
I think a decent shop would be better news….. Not that I have anything against this restaurant and I wish them luck but Abingdon is hardly short of places to get pizza and pasta.
The Brewery Tap does excellent food, the Sunday Roasts come highly recommended!