Witney Music Festival was back on The Leys Recreation Ground for the culmination of it’s two-week arts programme showcasing the ‘amazing’ talent of the town’s musicians.

The green space was transformed into a festival on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, when a ‘mighty’ line up including the likes of Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Sandi Thom, Ava Joe and Henge brought the house down.

Sandi Thom performing at Witney Music Festival (Image: Ed Nix)

READ MORE: Oxford congestion charge hits hospitality hardest, survey shows

It also saw a hugely popular dance tent and a brand new live comedy night in collaboration with Lone Wolf Comedy Club.

Having ‘smashed’ the big two-decade anniversary, organisers of the festival are already looking ahead to next year.

The crowds at Witney Music Festival (Image: Ed Nix)

A statement released by Witney Music Festival said: “Hot off the heels of Witney Music Festival 26- we are now already thinking about next year… and next year, Witney Music Festival turns 21. So we’re starting early.

“A busy bar and a full field make it look like our little festival is a money-spinner. The truth is the opposite.

“Witney Music Festival is a not-for-profit, we’ve never made money, and most years we run at a loss.

The crowds at Witney Music Festival (Image: Ed Nix)

“We keep prices as low as we can because putting on the event matters more than the balance sheet.

READ MORE: Police at ‘unauthorised encampment’ of caravans in Oxford park

“Festivals are vanishing everywhere, more than 200 lost in the UK since 2019, and the ones still standing survive because their towns turn out for them.

“That’s where you come in. We need Witney behind us, and every ticket you buy helps keep this festival alive.”

Super early bird tickets have already been released for the festival to be held next year, with just 500 spots available at £10 Saturday entry plus a booking fee.

Boutique hotel group Crazy Bear kicked off the summer social season in style, hosting a private party until the early hours to mark a new era.

Former The Xtra Factor presenter, comedian Matt Richardson, was one of the performers on the night.

Hundreds of guests packed the venue and were treated to acts including festival favourites The Cuban Brothers, and a dance-off led by leading Latin dancers Ksenia Zsikhotska and Krystof Grzelak.

READ MORE: Food and drink items recalled from supermarkets

The party earlier this month marked the launch of a new Crazy Bear menu and cocktail range coming soon, plus refurbishment of some of the heritage venue’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

Throughout the night, party goers enjoyed dishes from the refreshed menu, which couple traditional pub food with sumptuous Thai flavours.

Party goers at the Crazy Bear hotel in Stadhampton (Image: Fortitude Communications)

The Cuban Brothers unleashed a mix of funk-fuelled epic dance moves, while Matt Richardson took a break from his national tour with a bespoke version of his celebrated stand-up routine.

Sol Collective, one of London’s leading Latin ensembles, joined the line-up with two fresh, inspiring live acoustic sets on the garden terrace.

The Sol Collective play at the Crazy Bear hotel venue (Image: Fortitude Communications)

The innovative menu brought together classic pub mains, sizzling meats from the grill and authentic Thai wok dishes. Open fire cage cooking, a new weekend feature, included garlic butter king prawns, thyme chicken thighs, and garden larder salads.

Drinks flowed from the new menu, as the foraged cocktail range featuring hedgerow negroni and roasted dandelion espresso martini, was in popular demand.

The dancefloor at the Crazy Bear hotel venue (Image: Fortitude Communications)

A feast featuring handmade afternoon tea favourites piled high kept the party going in the new residents’ lounge, which hosted a bespoke feasting table, vinyl record player and cocktail trolley.

Lauren Thompson, who has a weekly set on House FM and has played legendary club nights for Groove Odyssey and Fabric, took to the decks, followed by resident DJ Tony Nanton, who kept the tempo with a house music set in the Glasshouse.

Guests also enjoyed an outdoor cinema screening of Pulp Fiction, while a set of prizes were won through hook-a-duck on the lawn.

“The party provided the perfect moment to unveil our refreshed experience which captures the Crazy Bear’s spirit with a contemporary twist,” said Jen Needham, marketing director at the Crazy Bear.

“Every guest was treated to the exceptional hospitality set to become synonymous with the Crazy Bear.

“Party goers were led through a rabbit warren of intrigue spanning musical genres, leafy tropical hideaways and wild entertainment while being among the first to sample our exceptional new food and drink offering.

“Our menus and direction have changed, but the essence of the Crazy Bear remains unchanged. So, stand by for elevated dining, unforgettable parties and maverick entertainment as the next chapter unfolds.”

Founded in 1993, the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton is complete with 18 rooms, a cosy 16th century pub, an eclectic choice of indoor and outdoor spaces to eat and drink, plus secret garden and woodland.

It hosts weddings like no other and its public areas are dog friendly. Its sister site in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, has 35 individually designed bedrooms, restaurants, bar and an outdoor swimming pool.

On the Content Ltd was a private limited company that was officially dissolved via a strike-off on April 14, 2026.

The business was originally incorporated on November 24, 2022, and operated with directors Anna Louise Cole and Roma Cots Cole.

The Chipping Norton-based company was involved in travel agency activities, according to Companies House.

The most recent accounts it filed shows the business had just £40 in its bank, down from around £14,000 the year before.

READ MORE: Electric car company collapses into administration with £56m debt

At the financial year ending March 2025, the accounts also show On the Content Ltd had trade debts of £12,396 and owed £215 in tax.

On the Content is not the only Oxfordshire travel company to close in recent weeks.

The Padel Travel Club Limited, which operated from a Henley address, organised padel‑themed breaks and training camps in the UK and overseas.

The business was incorporated in February 2023 and has since been removed from the Companies House register following a voluntary strike‑off, with the final notice of dissolution published in late May 2026.

And Set Sail Cruises Ltd, registered to an address in Bicester, was formally dissolved on March 17, 2026, after a strike-off process, meaning it no longer exists as a legal company.

The travel agency was incorporated on February 4, 2024 and listed its main activity as “travel agency activities”.