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 →

Wantage shoppers can enjoy the special atmosphere of Christmas Lights-lit late night shopping on two Thursdays this December, plus free parking Fridays.

Many of the town centre’s independents plus a number of nationals will open late for the two evenings in an initiative supported by Wantage & District Chamber of Commerce and the Town Team.

They’ll run on Thursday December 8^th and Thursday December 15^th, with shops and cafes staying open until 8pm. Continue reading →

Efforts to boost Banbury town centre will go under the spotlight as part of a search for the best examples of work to stimulate Britain’s high streets.

Cherwell District Council’s economic development team has entered Banbury for the Large Market Town category of the Great British High Street Awards. The winners will be announced this December. Continue reading →

Start-up and growing independent retailers will get a chance to trial a shop in Swindon town centre for a short period under a new scheme launched today, which helps to overcome one of the biggest barriers to empty shop units being let. Continue reading →