The whitewash paint has gone. Now the windows of a prominent empty unit in Wantage town centre features the work of a group of local artists. It’s the latest initiative by Wantage Town Team as part of their work to improve the look of empty town centre units while work to sell or let them continues. Continue reading →

Oxford Etsy will be opening their first ever pop-up shop in Bury Street, Abingdon on 4 November.

The success comes after the Vale of White Horse District Council’s recently launched Independent Shops Project – an initiative which enlisted the help of town centre specialist, Iain Nicholson.

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Which Wantage or Grove business gives exceptional customer service? Which is your favourite Wantage or Grove restaurant and pub? And which Wantage town centre business has a shop front to be proud of? It’s time for people living in and around Wantage and Grove to have their say in the Local Business Awards. Continue reading →

More independent shops are filling Banbury town centre, boosting its reputation as an indie shopping destination whilst reducing the number of empty units.

Cherwell District Council and its town team coordinators are working with landlords and agents to help overcome the barriers to empty units being let. Continue reading →

Memories of Wantage shops, their owners and staff, and what they sold have been sparked by a collection of photographs being displayed at Vale & Downland Museum and online. Continue reading →

October will be ‘Shoptober’ for independent shops and cafes in Banbury town centre, as a social media campaign to highlight the town’s locally-owned businesses returns after a successful pilot in 2016. Continue reading →

A scheme aimed at attracting independent shops to Abingdon, supporting existing retailers and increasing town centre vitality, is set be introduced in the town centre this summer. Continue reading →

There’ll be a little of Neverland about Wantage town centre for the end of May school half term holidays, as local shops host a special Peter Pan trail.

It’s a joint venture by Wantage town team and The Beacon to celebrate its showing of a recorded performance, captured live at the National Theatre, of JM Barrie’s much-loved tale. Continue reading →

Independent businesses looking to establish themselves in Banbury town centre have a new opportunity to be part of the town’s pop up shop project.

As part of its Cherwell District Council-funded role, Banbury town team has made a number of pop up shop opportunities available to give businesses a way to test their venture without needing to commit at the outset to a long lease, and to build a track record they can demonstrate to future landlords who can be reluctant to agree leases with start-up retailers. Continue reading →

Two more businesswomen have chosen Wallingford as the place to make a step onto the high street, thanks to having a pop up shop programme there.

Patti Miskolczi and Miranda Blaas-Cousins have leased 29 High Street for a 6-week pop up, direct from the landlord, and have opened as ‘Home & living’, with a combination of hand-finished home decor, and a collection of individual pieces including Asian artefacts, Scandinavian modern accessories, wildlife drawings, oil paintings and jewellery. Continue reading →