Last month, the two coffee dispensers at the Botley Road Waitrose were out of order for about a week, leaving some customers disappointed they can no longer access their free cappuccino or flat white using their Waitrose card.

According to staff, the store was waiting for an engineer to source parts for the coffee machine, which is positioned close to the store’s entrance.

READ MORE: Tributes after aspiring pilot killed in Cotswolds crash

One of the dispensers was eventually fixed, but now it has broken again, leaving customers with the choice of going without their free coffee, or buying one from the store’s cafe.

The Botley Road Waitrose store (Image: Andy Ffrench)

A member of staff said: “It’s a real shame this has happened again – we’ve got calls in to the engineers to come and fix it.

“This time round, a refrigeration part has gone which affects the milk.”

Another member of staff added: “Some of us use the machine as well – we notice when it’s not working.”

The customer notice fixed to the front of the coffee dispensers says: “Sorry, we are unable to serve hot drinks at the moment because our coffee machine is out of order.

“Please ask a partner (member of staff) if you require assistance.”

The issue is not a countrywide problem – coffee machines at other Waitrose stores including the one in Abingdon are working well.

The member of staff at the Botley Road store said she did not know how long it would be before the machines was fixed.

One customer, who works on a trading estate nearby, said: “Not again – the cappuccinos and flat whites this machine makes are excellent and I definitely need one first thing in the morning.

“I’m really hoping there isn’t a long delay this time before they fix it.”

The Waitrose chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, restored its free coffee offer in January 2025.

Following outrage over the withdrawal of the offer during the pandemic, the company told the nine million members on its My Waitrose loyalty scheme they would again be entitled to a complementary americano, cappuccino, latte or tea once a day regardless of whether they bought anything – as long as they have their own reusable cup.

The Botley Road Waitrose store (Image: Andy Ffrench)

In a statement, Waitrose said at the time: “Some of our My Waitrose members like to have the free coffee before they shop or during the shop, rather than afterwards, so we are just offering a bit of flexibility in response to customer feedback.”

There were queues at coffee stations and complaints from customers that the offer was attracting the “wrong type of shopper” when Waitrose introduced the perk in 2013.

In 2017, it cracked down on ‘freeloaders’ by forcing members to buy something before pouring themselves a free hot drink.

The scheme was scrapped during the Covid crisis, but reintroduced in November 2022 – again for customers making a purchases. This is no longer a requirement.

The free coffee offer is seen by some industry insiders as a way of building customer loyalty in the face of fierce competition from rivals M&S, which has been building a series of large foodhalls, including one in Abingdon.

A spokesperson for the John Lewis Partnership said last month: “We are sorry that the free hot drink offer is currently unavailable due to a fault with the coffee machine.

“We are working to fix it it as quickly as possible and apologise for the inconvenience.”

The Love Island host is understood to have completed the deal in December 2025 via Penny Property Holdings.

This is a company she incorporated in September, which lists the three‑bedroom home on official land registry records.

Located near Chipping Norton, the countryside bolthole joins the TV star’s expanding portfolio of homes after she admitted earlier this year that she now owns several properties in different locations.

READ MORE: Oxford University college buys Stonemason House for £6.7m

Occasional personal use has also been hinted at, with the cottage likely to double as a retreat for weekends or breaks between her many filming commitments.

When the 31-year-old is not staying there, the house is advertised at around £374 per night, with guests booking two nights or more promised a “locally sourced welcome basket” on arrival.

Strong reviews have been noted on major booking platforms, with one site awarding the property four out of five and Airbnb users rating it an impressive 4.96 out of five.

The rural getaway includes three bedrooms, a feature fireplace, a rustic kitchen, an outdoor dining space, on‑site parking and modern touches such as free Wi‑Fi and complimentary toiletries.

READ MORE: TV legend’s daughter selling £3.95m Oxfordshire mansion with swimming pool

The property in the Cotswolds. (Image: Booking)

Choosing the Cotswolds places Ms Jama among a host of famous names with homes in the area, including Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Simon Cowell.

News of the purchase first emerged in an Instagram Q&A last year, when she told fans: “To answer my DMs right now lol I also bought a house in the Cotswolds last year so I’ll be there sometimes, maybe I need to do a lil catch up life update vid or something soon.”

On the work front, the presenter has juggled fronting Love Island All Stars, filming Celebrity Traitors and launching the latest series of Love Island with a fresh line‑up of single contestants.

In her personal life, Ms Jama has recently addressed her split from Manchester City defender Ruben Dias, which ended in April after about 18 months together.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson ‘parties in pub until 4.30am’ celebrating win

Manchester City’s Ruben Dias lifts the FA Cup trophy in 2026. (Image: Mike Egerton / PA)

The broadcaster spoke openly for the first time when she replied to a podcast clip discussing her love life and said: “Truth is, even when I tried to keep my relationships private, we get photographed anyway; I’m an all-or-nothing girl.

“I don’t casually date, so yes, I will love loudly or not at all, and if it ends, it ends. I decided a long time ago not to base personal life decisions on public opinions.”

Maya Jama and Manchester City footballer Ruben Dias met in November 2024 at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester.

Following their initial meeting, the pair began dating and later went public with their romance, but went their separate ways earlier this year.