Your guide for your
GROUP
Didcot, Wallingford & Thame Thursday, April 19 - Wednesday, April 25, 2018
oxfordshireguardian.co.uk
Developers’ backing for new settlement
Marathon challenge awaits runners
Page 3
Weekly leisure guide for in and around Oxford
Out& About leisure time in &
around Oxfordsh
ire
Classics with French flourishes Review: The Black Horse, Thame
Ivor Novello awa rd-winning mus ician shares his personal
Free
journey
VIP package for
Win! six children Page 28
Pages 18&19
Nando’s fans’ feathers ruffled as August open date revealed By Owen Hughes NANDO’S fans will be spitting feathers at the news they have to wait more than three months for the highlyanticipated restaurant to open. The much-hyped restaurant will launch in the fi rst week of August at Didcot’s expanded Orchard Centre leaving eager eaters lamenting the lack of spring chicken. Speaking to this paper at the launch of the centre expansion a month ago, Hammerson’s development manager Thomas Cochrane said the popular chicken eaterie was due to open in mid-April. But Hammerson has since said: “We are handing over to Nando’s in midApril for them to fit out the store and we are on track with where we are supposed to be for the opening of the restaurant in the fi rst week of August.” Excitement built around Nando’s after the Oxfordshire Guardian revealed in January the restaurant would feature in the food court. Nando’s will be located in a 2,604 sq ft unit occupying two floors of the building beside the existing Next store. Costa Coffee is the only unit open so far in the designated food area, opposite the Nando’s site. French restaurant Bistrot Pierre and casual dining and drinking café Loungers will also open in the restaurant area, although no date has
yet been confi rmed. News of Nando’s imminent arrival was shared on a popular community Facebook group earlier this year with the majority of the 107 comments positive about the restaurant’s opening but the delay is sure to leave them crying ‘fowl’. Dan Rees wrote “Yes! Finally,” while Jade Powell said: “Yaaaaaaay!!! Can’t wait.” Shoppers at the launch of the Orchard Centre extension on March 22 said the retail centre “exceeded expectations” but some were “disappointed there’s no Nando’s yet”. Andrew Berger-North, UK director of retail parks at Hammerson, said: “The ability of the Orchard Centre to attract international brands such as Nando’s is testament to its appeal.” Construction work under way in the space next to the food court is currently blocking access between the location for the new Nando’s and Broadway. A spokesperson for South Oxfordshire District Council said: “We have been told that the pedestrian access to the Broadway is due to be open at the end of the month (30 April).” From May 4, Oxford Etsy will be permanently located at the Orchard Centre in the Pop-Up Didcot space, selling homemade items made by artists and crafters in Oxfordshire.
Children pop in to meet Peppa IT’S not unusual to be star struck when you meet your heroes and that was the case for these two lucky youngsters last week. Six-year-old George - no relation to the popular children’s character – and four-year-old sister Rosie were among hundreds of young fans who met Peppa Pig when the cartoon star held a guest appearance at the Orchard Centre on Thursday last week. For more pictures of youngsters meeting Peppa go to oxfordshireguardian.co.uk
More printed copies than any other weekly newspaper in Oxfordshire (16,103 audited JICREG pending)
OpenWeek 23 - 27 April 9:30am-3:00pm
NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED
CranfordHouse_OxfordGuardian_270x50mm_OpenWeek_17.04.18 AW.indd 1
Moulsford, Oxfordshire OX10 9HT www.cranfordhouse.net
17/04/2018 14:24