Olive Tree Suite Archives - The Olive Tree Suite

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017

New Westgate Shopping centre in Oxford

From The Oxford Mail:
The opening of the Westgate led to a rise in footfall in Oxford city centre this year, new figures have revealed.

Westgate Shopping Centre - Oxford — Westgate Shopping Centre – Oxford

Footfall counters in Queen Street, Cornmarket and St George’s Place recorded a 3.1 per cent rise compared to the previous year to date.

During the week of the Westgate opening, October 23-29, some 929,260 visitors were recorded in the city centre.

The busiest day was Saturday October 28 with 160,027 visitors, approximately 10,000 more than an average Saturday.

The increase compares to an average year to date change percentage of +0.3 in the South East Region, and -0.8% for the UK as a whole.

Cornmarket Street was still recorded as the busiest location.

Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council, said: “The latest footfall figures reflect a vibrant city centre whose retail offer has been greatly enhanced by the opening of Westgate Oxford.

“The confirmation of Cornmarket as the busiest location is encouraging as this means that business continues to be brisk in other parts of the city centre.”

The city council also reported that there are currently 20 empty units – or 6.4% – in retail areas of the city centre.

Mr Price continued: “There is still a high demand for retail space in the centre of Oxford and the migration of some of the existing retailers to the Westgate provides a great opportunity for other businesses to secure premises in the heart of the city, and this demand will continue to be monitored.

“The Council is working with the landlords of all the vacant units to discuss future leasing plans.”

Easy to get to

The new Centre is easy to get to from the Olive Tree Suite, a convenient bus ride into the town centre takes typically 10-15 minutes.

Westgate Centre Opening Hours

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June 14, 2017November 27, 2017

The Best Cafés And Coffee Shops in Oxford

Where to go for a Coffee in Oxford?

Oxford’s café culture is on the rise. From the coolest brunch hangouts to the weird and wonderful world of the board game café, here are some of the best places to eat and drink in this beautiful city.

Vaults and Garden

This central café has got it covered whatever the weather. If it’s raining, cosy up inside under the stunning vaulted ceilings of the University’s Old Congregation House with a hot chocolate; if the sun is shining head out into the garden, and enjoy your tea with incredible views of Radcliffe Camera. Vaults and Garden serves breakfast and lunch, as well as a good selection of cakes and scone, but it’s the little extras – like offering picnic blankets in the summer and hot water bottles in the winter – that makes this place so special.

Address & Phone

University Church, 1 Radcliffe Square Oxford, OX1 4AH, England01865 279112

Opening Hours

Mon – Sun :

8:30 am – 6:00 pm

The Missing Bean

If you’re after a really good cup of coffee in Oxford, make The Missing Bean your first call. This buzzy, independent espresso bar was inspired by the cool coffee shops of Sydney, and serves up great coffee in a laid-back atmosphere. The owners are serious about their coffee – they even have their own micro roaster just down the road, where they roast their own beans on a weekly basis.

Address & Phone

14 Turl Street Oxford, OX1 3DQ, England01865 794886

Opening Hours

Mon – Fri :

8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sat :

9:00 am – 6:30 pm

Sun :

10:00 am – 5:30 pm

The Grand Café

No trip to Oxford is complete without a visit to the historic Grand Café. Sat on the site of the first coffee house in England, this elegant, gilded café is the place to head for a sophisticated high tea. Work your way through the delicious finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and petit fours, alongside a pot of tea. Or, if you’re the glamorous surroundings have left you feeling particularly extravagant, treat yourself to a salted caramel éclair and an espresso martini.

Address & Phone

84 The High Street Oxford, OX1 4BG, England01865 204463

Opening Hours

Mon – Sun :

9:00 am – 6:30 pm

The Handle Bar

The ultimate breakfast spot in Oxford has to be The Handle Bar. From the cool, Instagram-worthy interiors and the friendly atmosphere to the top-class coffee and delicious menu (how will you pick between the coconut pancake stack and the smashed avocado on toast with tomato and wild garlic?), this popular café is the perfect place to spend a lazy Saturday morning. There are plenty of veggie and vegan options on the menu too.

Address & Phone

28-32 St Michael’s Street Oxford, OX1 2EB, England01865 251315

Opening Hours

Mon – Tue :

8:00 am – 7:00 pm

Wed – Fri :

8:00 am – 11:00 pm

Sat :

9:00 am – 11:00 pm

Sun :

10:00 am – 6:00 pm

The Natural Bread Company

If the smell of freshly baked bread doesn’t draw you into the café, the display of tempting cakes and pastries will! The Natural Bread Company is an artisan bakery in the heart of Oxford, with a small café inside. Here you can sample first-hand the delicious freshly made produce; whether that’s sourdough toast with your Full English or an afternoon pot of tea with a slice of homemade orange polenta cake. And of course it would be rude not to stock up on some warm loaves and pastries at the shop before you leave…!

Address & Phone

29 Little Clarendon Street Oxford, OX1 2HU, England01865 302996

Opening Hours

Mon – Sat :

7:30 am – 5:00 pm

Sun :

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

The Jericho Café

Tucked away in Oxford’s coolest neighbourhood, The Jericho Café is a friendly, bustling café serving great food from morning ‘till night. Although it’s just minutes from the city centre, The Jericho Café feels a world away from Oxford’s main tourist trail; something that only adds to its appeal. Using mainly local suppliers, the food and coffee is excellent and the award-winning all-day brunch is well worth halting an afternoon of sight-seeing for.

Address & Phone

112 Walton Street Oxford, OX2 6AJ, English01865 310840

Opening Hours

Mon – Thu :

8:00 am – 9:00 pm

Fri – Sat :

8:00 am – 10:00 pm

Sun :

9:00 am – 8:00 pm

Thirsty Meeples

Something of an Oxford institution, Thirsty Meeples is the city’s first and only board game café. With over 2,500 games to choose from, you’re invited to grab a table, pick your game and get competitive over a cup of great coffee or craft beer. The food menu is small but perfectly formed, with a choice of freshly made sandwiches, hot snacks and bowls of nuts, crisps and sweets for when your attention is on the game! But it’s not really the food people come here for, it’s the nostalgia kick of spending an afternoon playing board games you forget, or never knew, existed. Thirsty Meeples can get busy very quickly, so it’s always best to book ahead if you can, especially if you’re coming with a large group of friends.

Address & Phone

99 Gloucester Street Oxford, OX1 2DF, England01865 244247

Opening Hours

Mon – Fri :

11:00 am – 11:59 pm

Sat :

9:00 am – 11:59 pm

Sun :

9:00 am – 11:00 pm

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March 14, 2017November 27, 2017

OXFORD: One of the best places to live in Britain.

OXFORD and Wallingford have been named as some of the best places to live in Britain.

As part of an annual survey by The Sunday Times, the city and market town were recognised as some of the most desired places to settle in two separate categories.

Oxford was placed 16th in the nationwide ‘Old Favourites’ category- behind the likes of Cambridge, Bath and Cheltenham.

The Sunday Times wrote the city has ‘everything going for it’ – so long as someone isn’t looking for an affordable home.

They wrote: “Great schools and lifestyle, improving transport links, extraordinary architecture and one of the best universities: Oxford has everything going for it, as long as you’re not looking for an affordable home.

“The pressure on prices, compounded by a lack of space for news homes, is turning incomers away from the favoured ‘villages’ of north Oxford and across the river in Old Marston, family-friendly Headington and traditionally studenty areas towards Cowley.”

Summertown and Jericho have still been deemed the ‘prized hot spots’ and the opening of Oxford Parkway is thought to have ‘enticed people’ north of the ring road.

Meanwhile, Wallingford’s links with Agatha Christie were noted as the town was placed 15th in the ‘Best Places To Live in the South East’ category.

The ‘genteel town’ was praised for its packed, ‘pretty brick and flint properties’.

The Sunday Times said: “Wallingford is a place where there’s always something going on, whether it’s a pancake race, the St George’s Day parade, swan-upping, the car rally, the rowing regatta, the Blues and Beer festival or Bunkfest.”

From The Oxford Mail

November 4, 2016November 27, 2017

What’s is like to Live and Work in Oxford?

Living and Working in Oxford

It’s given us Stephen Hawking, Hugh Laurie, Radiohead and the world’s most famous university, but what else keeps Oxford’s 158,000 citizens sticking around? Let’s find out…

What types of industry are prominent in Oxford?

Understandably given the combined presence of Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University, plus 32,000 students, the education sector is perhaps the crucial industry associated with the city. In fact, Oxford’s government notes that 67% of Oxford jobs are centred exclusively around knowledge-intensive industries. That said, there are many other key sectors, including health, publishing (specifically academic), tourism, hospitality, car-manufacturingand, notably, a world-renowned research sector.

What’s it like to live and work in Oxford?

Oxford University: The Radcliffe Camera

Which top companies are situated in Oxford?

According to Oxford’s official government statistics, Oxford is home to around 4,600 businesses providing 114,000 jobs. Just some of the top companies situated in the city include Oxford Council, the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University, NHS Oxfordshire, BMW, Midcounties Co-op, the Science & Technologies Facilities Council and BT. Additionally, Oxford is also a base to many companies including manufacturing, logistics and consulting experts Unipart Group and world-renowned charity Oxfam, who both have their headquarters there. It’s also worth mentioning Oxford’s ever-growing tech cluster that is defining itself by software and gaming development thanks to companies like Natural Motion, Brainomix and Onfido.

What’s commuting in Oxford like?

The ozone layer must love Oxford: commutes by bicycle, foot and bus have all increased lately, while car commutes have stayed roughly at the same level – that’s 68% of journeys within the city being made up from sustainable methods of travel. That’s also good news for congestion considering that, according to Oxford’s government, some 46,000 workers living elsewhere have to commute in by car, train and other means.

Image: iStock

What are the salaries like?

In the recent Best Places in the UK to Make a Living survey by Total Money (via the Independent), Oxford charted impressively – coming in at number 19 out of 64.

In terms of employment statistics, it does incredibly well with just a 3.7% unemployment rate and job growth standing at 7% – indeed, one of the unique things to bear in mind is that there are actually more jobs in Oxford than residents (it has a job density ratio of 1.08). The downside is that Oxford’s also the least affordable city in the UK with average house prices 16.2 times the average earnings. For example: Oxford’s median monthly take-home salary of £1,991 is balanced by an average monthly mortgage repayment of £1,423, compared to number 1-placed Blackburn’s £1,646 median monthly take-home salary against a £354 mortgage repayment.

How about Oxford’s nightlife?

Oxford is blessed with great pubs with real history. TV fans can head over to the Turf Tavern (as featured on the Morse TV series), or literature fans can head to the Eagle & Child (a local to JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, once upon a time). For a louder evening, music fans can visit the 02 Academy Oxford for a chance to see everyone from Public Image Ltd to Nelly this year.

Anything else?

Oxford doesn’t attract 7 million visitors per year for no reason. One of the most enjoyable things you can do – weather permitting – is go punting along the river Cherwell. Should the rain strike, however, get into the academic spirit of Oxford and visit the historic Bodleian Library – which was opened in 1602!

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November 4, 2016November 27, 2017

Areas and Neighbourhoods in Oxford

A brief guide to Areas and Neighbourhoods in Oxford

Living & Staying in Oxford

As with any city in the world, there are neighbourhoods which may be more or less desirable to live in, and more or less affordable than the others. So what are the different neighbourhoods in Oxford, and what are the rents and housing like?

Our favourite: Iffley Village is a 10 minute walk from our Olive Tree Suite in Oxford

A guide to the Areas and Neighbourhoods of Oxford City

Central North Oxford – This area is north of the city centre, primarily around Woodstock and Banbury roads. It is within walking distance of the University and city centre, has large individual houses, shared houses, and several apartment complexes. Rent tends to be highest in this area.
City Centre – There are few properties available for rent in the city centre, as most housing is owned by the University.
Summertown – Approximately two miles north of the city centre on the Banbury Road (near Marston Ferry Road) is the self-contained town of Summertown. There are many Victorian and Edwardian homes in this area, as well as several apartment complexes and shared houses. Summertown is on a direct bus route to the city centre. Rent is still fairly high in this area, but less than Central North Oxford.
St. Clements – East of the city centre, along St. Clements Street. This area is popular with students. Rents are lower than in Central North Oxford or Summertown.
Cowley Road – East of the city centre, along Cowley Road, and the side streets. This area is popular with students. There is a great ethnic mix in this neighbourhood, and many shops, restaurants, pubs, and clubs can be found here.
Headington – Headington is a town in its own right. There are many suburbs, with all types of housing, and a full shopping centre. Oxford Brooks University is located here, as well as the popular Headington High School (currently attended by Emma Watson – Hermione of Harry Potter fame). Rents vary greatly in this area. It is not walkable to the city centre, but there are buses that run often into Oxford.
Marston – Marston can be found along Marston Ferry Road, east of Summertown. Houses are much newer here, and so lack the character (and some say, the beauty) of many of the homes in Oxford.
Jericho – Very near the city centre (easy walking distance), west of St. Giles and along the canal is this lovely part of town which boasts narrow streets, century old cottages and townhouses, and a good shopping and eating area along Walton Street. Rent isn’t cheap here, but the housing varies greatly, so good rents can still be found.
Osney – Near to the railway station, it’s similar in look to Jericho, but not as appealing, and slightly further away from the city centre. And there is no equivalent to Jericho’s Walton Street.
South Oxford – Abingdon Road is the centre of this neighbourhood. Rents are less the further south you go from Oxford’s city centre. Many homes in South Oxford are walkable to the city centre.
Wolvercote – There is ‘upper Wolvercote’, which is just west of North Oxford (just before the Wolvercote Roundabout), and ‘lower Wolvercote’, which is over the bridge and down the hill. Upper Wolvercote is a ‘working class’ neighbourhood with many shared homes and flats, in addition to single family homes. Lower Wolvercote is next to Port Meadow and has a more rural feeling. Rents are lower here than in North Oxford.
Botley and Cumnor – West of the City, outside the ring road, and connected mainly through the Park & Ride system. There is a mixture of old and new homes and apartments here. Rents are lower the further outside the city you go.
Iffley – Iffley is a village within a city, with many lovely old homes and buildings and quiet neighbourhoods.

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