Multiple customers said they left the Aldi in Broadway, Didcot, without any chilled food today (Tuesday, May 26) due to broken cooling systems in the shop.

It comes as temperatures are due to reach 32 degrees Celsius in the hottest part of the day, in an unprecedented May heatwave which is breaking records in Oxfordshire.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire breaks temperature records after 82 years

Several other supermarkets in the county are showing empty shelves, as products are returned to the warehouse to prevent spoiling them while fridges and freezers are out of action.

One such store is the Waitrose in Bell Street, Henley, where cooled shelves have been cleared and a notice put up in the place of products like dairy and meat.

Some shelves are empty in the Waitrose store in Henley due to issues with the supermarket’s cooling system (Image: Newsquest)

The notice said: “Due to the extreme temperatures and a breakdown of our main refrigeration units we have, unfortunately, had to send our chilled and frozen products back to our warehouse to prevent the stock being destroyed.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to get this stock back as soon as possible.”

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Waitrose confirmed the Henley store is the only one of its branches in Oxfordshire affected by cooling system issues today.

A spokesperson for Waitrose Henley said: “We’re really sorry for the inconvenience, and are working hard to get our chillers back up and running as soon as possible. 

“We’re incredibly grateful for customers’ understanding, and likewise to our partners who worked quickly to make sure that all chilled stock was returned to our distribution centre – to prevent food waste.

“Our shop remains open for non-chilled items, and our nearby branches in Twyford and Wallingford are also welcoming customers.”

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There are also reports of broken cooling systems at the Sainsbury’s in Didcot, though this has not been confirmed.

It is not known how many supermarkets are affected by system issues, but reports from other parts of the country show the heatwave is having an impact across the south east.

Sainsbury’s and Aldi have both been approached for more information one which stores are affected and for further comment..

The Port Mahon in St Clement’s Street, in the heart of Oxford, has submitted a planning application to repair the three-storey building’s roof, fixing the structure and stopping up leaks, and removing and replacing asbestos tiles.

It comes after the Greene King-owned foodies pub benefited from a £190,000 investment in its kitchen, cellar and outdoor decking just two years ago.

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It reopened in September 2024 having been closed for the summer, relaunching with an emphasis on ‘simple, seasonal food’ under new manager Jonathan Perritt.

Chef Paolo Cangiano at The Port Mahon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Ahead of its next round of improvements, The Port Mahon has been named Oxford Mail’s pub of the week.

New plans reveal the building now needs its pitch roof coverings removed with asbestos roofing tiles on the east roof to be taken off by a specialist contractor.

Existing slate roof tiles taken off during the works will be cleaned and reused, and damaged ones replaced with reclaimed slate roofing tiles.

It is not yet known if the pub will have to temporarily close while the works are carried out, and The Port Mahon has been approached for comment.

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The public house dates back to the 18th century, with some alterations to parts of the building.

The Port Mahon in St Clement’s (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Although the interior has been modernised, it features original fireplaces and a dog-gate at the foot of the stairs, ‘retaining the heritage’ of the building.

Because of its storied history, the pub has sought listed building consent to refurbish its roof.

The planning application states that the ‘well-established’ pub ‘is central to the local community and plays part in the daily lives of locals’, and the impact from the works are unlikely to have any impact on its aesthetic characteristics, heritage or other features.

Demonstrating its role in community life, The Port Mahon hosted a Celebration Day event on Monday, May 25.

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Celebration Day is a non-profit initiative which encourages people to take the last Monday in May to remember and mark the memory or people that have inspired them.

The pub hosted a social run, offering 5k or 10k routes to the first 100 runners to show up, followed by a free beer and a ‘big toast’ to the person each runner dedicated their celebration day to.

As well as regular community events, The Port Mahon serves British pub food plus Sunday roasts, hosts a weekday happy hour, and is open five days a week, from 4pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm to midnight o Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday and noon to 9.30pm on Sundays.

Upgrade work at Kings Road car park in Henley will start on June 2, with construction expected to take around two weeks to complete.

The works will focus on the area near Henley Library and include repairs to footpaths, improvements to disabled parking bays, and the replacement of benches.

Sue Cooper, cabinet member for environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “These improvements to Kings Road car park will help make the area safer, more welcoming and easier for people to use, while still protecting the existing trees and improving the overall look of the car park.

“The changes will also make access to the library and town easier, particularly for people with mobility needs.

“We’d like to thank residents and visitors for their patience while the work takes place.”

The two disabled parking bays nearest the library entrance will be temporarily closed during the project, and access to the walkway connecting Ravenscroft Road and Adam Court may be limited at times.

However, the pathway will remain open throughout, and entry to the library will be maintained.

Contractors will upgrade the walkway, which has become hazardous due to tree roots pushing through the tarmac.

The existing surface will be removed, the roots protected, and two new pathways built with a grassed area in between.

The current bench will also be replaced with two new ones.

Elsewhere in the car park, alternative disabled parking bays will remain available.