News
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REC chief Neil Carberry appointed OBE for Services to UK Employment and Business
Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), has been awarded an OBE for his outstanding contributions to employment policy and the UK recruitment industry. A respected leader with past roles at the CBI, ACAS, and the Low Pay Commission, Carberry has long championed effective labour market strategies.
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Barclays Bank on Cornmarket to move as part of major Clarendon Centre redevelopment
Barclays Bank is preparing to relocate its longstanding branch on Cornmarket Street, moving just across the road to new premises.
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Waterstones Oxford to move from historic Cornmarket home to Queen Street
Waterstones has served its final customers at its landmark Oxford city centre bookshop, marking the end of a 25-year chapter at the iconic William Baker House on the corner of Cornmarket and Broad Street.
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Trygve Wakenshaw brings Edinburgh Fringe hit Silly Little Things to Oxford
Fresh from being ranked in the Top 5 best-reviewed comedy shows at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, Silly Little Things by Trygve Wakenshaw is embarking on a UK tour with a stop in Oxford. The physically dazzling, hilariously absurd show reimagines mime through slapstick brilliance and emotional storytelling.
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Controversial Watlington Relief Road faces further delay amid planning issues
Plans for the £11.1m Watlington Relief Road have been delayed again as Oxfordshire County Council seeks an extraordinary planning meeting later in July. The proposed road aims to reduce traffic in Watlington, support housing development, and promote sustainable travel.
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The Store wins World’s Best London Dry Gin at World Gin Awards 2025
Oxford’s newest luxury hotel, The Store, has won World’s Best London Dry Gin at the World Gin Awards 2025 with its debut signature spirit. Created in partnership with Hawkridge Distillers, the gin was previously named Best in Country for England.
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Salon Privé partners with Qatar Executive for 2025 luxury showcase
Salon Privé, the UK’s premier luxury automotive event, has partnered with Qatar Executive, the private jet arm of Qatar Airways, for its 20th anniversary celebration in 2025. The prestigious event will be held in August at Blenheim Palace.
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2025 Hampton Court Palace Festival opens with electrifying set by James
The 2025 edition of Hampton Court Palace Festival opened in spectacular style on Wednesday 11 June with an unforgettable performance from indie-rock legends, James.
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Government injects £2.5bn funding into East West Rail connecting Oxford and Cambridge
The government has confirmed a £2.5 billion investment in East West Rail, a major infrastructure project connecting Oxford and Cambridge. The new funds, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves during the Spending Review, will help complete the line through Bicester, Milton Keynes, and Bedford.
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Gladiators Live adds O2 Arena shows after Wembley sell-out
Gladiators fans in Oxfordshire will be thrilled as four extra shows have been added to the Gladiators Live Tour in London as the high-energy spectacle lands at The O2 arena in November.
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Oxford City Council confident of funding Cowley Branch Line despite review silence
Oxford City Council says it remains confident of securing funding to reopen the Cowley Branch Line, despite the project being absent from the government’s recent spending review. The scheme, which would add two stations near Oxford Science Park and ARC Oxford, depends on a £20 million local contribution.
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Beauty giant Sephora set to open at Westgate Oxford in late autumn
The announcement forms part of the brand’s nationwide expansion this year, following the launch of its Liverpool ONE store in May and upcoming sites in Sheffield, Manchester, and Cardiff.
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Petition against Oxford’s £5 congestion charge gains 6,500 signatures in three days
A petition opposing Oxfordshire County Council’s proposed £5 congestion charge has gained nearly 6,500 signatures in just three days. The charge, targeting key roads between 7.00am and 7.00pm, is part of a temporary plan ahead of a traffic filter trial. Critics call it “unfair,” citing the current cost of living.
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“Little Lungs, Big Impact” kicks off at Oxford’s Serco-run leisure centres
More Leisure Community Trust (MLCT), in partnership with Serco Leisure, has launched the “Little Lungs, Big Impact” initiative to ban smoking and vaping near entrances of its leisure centres in Oxford. The campaign prioritises children’s health by reducing their exposure to second-hand smoke.
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Oxfordshire Museum launches journey through the major Ice Age exhibition
The Oxfordshire Museum is launching a major summer exhibition, Ice Age: Mammoth Quest. Visitors can explore dramatic Ice Age climate shifts, dress as ancient animals, and try hands-on archaeology in this family-friendly event features rare artefacts, including remains from Europe’s last known mammoth.
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County council has launched a consultation on new part-night street lighting proposals
The consultation, open until 06 July on the council’s Let’s Talk Oxfordshire platform, focuses on how part-night lighting would be implemented rather than where it might be introduced.