New signs have now gone up at the former Bystander pub in Wootton, where contractors are converting the pub into a Hickory’s Smokehouse.

Earlier this year, the Southern-style BBQ restaurant chain announced The Bystander pub in Wootton, near Abingdon, run by Greene King, is to become the home of one of its new restaurants.

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The new business is expected to create 100 new jobs and vacancies are being advertised for chefs, with a salary of up to £40,000 for a senior sous chef, £36,000 for a sous chef, and £33,000 for a junior sous chef.

Construction work is now well under way, and it is understood the new restaurant could be ready to open in September.

The former Bystander pub in Wootton near Abingdon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

The pub shut in April for refurbishment but no precise opening date has yet been revealed.

However, contractors working on site in Besselsleigh Road said they expected the new venue to open early in September.

One worker said earlier: “The new smokehouse should be ready to open by the start of September.

“The pub building needs to have wooden cladding all around it – that’s the style for Hickory’s Smokehouse – all their buildings look like that.”

The chain has been recruiting staff and a recent advert for a senior sous chef said: “We’re looking for a senior sous chef to join our passionate brigade of BBQ enthusiasts.

“You will be responsible for running our bespoke kitchen in the head chef’s absence, and in doing so you will be working towards becoming a head chef yourself.

“You will be working with and leading the team to deliver authentic fresh food-based BBQ menu in one of the busiest restaurants in town.”

Staff at Hickory’s Smokehouse in Abingdon (Image: Hickory’s Smokehouse)

There are also branches of Hickory’s Smokehouse in Milton Keynes and Swindon.

A new smokehouse opened in Swindon last year, the first of its kind in Wiltshire, replacing a Hungry Horse restaurant.

Hickory’s managing director John Welsh said earlier: “We are so excited to be heading to Abingdon.

“It’s an area that’s been on our wish-list for a while now, and we’re over the moon to finally be planning our first smokehouse in the town and our first in the wonderful county of Oxfordshire.

“We’ll be spending plenty of time getting to know the area and our ambition is to create something really special. We can’t wait to become part of the local community for many years to come.

“Across all our restaurants we love working with schools, charities, grassroots sports teams and community groups – and Abingdon will be no different.”

Food is served at Hickory’s Smokehouse (Image: Hickorys Smokehouse)

The first Hickory’s Smokehouse opened in 2010 in Chester, and the chain’s restaurants are now open across the North West, Midlands, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, North Wales and in other locations.

Pension providers are entering the final four months before the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard connection deadline, with the pensions dashboards ecosystem now passing 70 million connected pension records.

As the deadline approaches, the focus is shifting from basic connectivity to whether providers, insurers, administrators and integrated service providers can manage dashboard use once consumers begin accessing the service. Industry participants are being urged to test systems, review data and ensure customer-facing operations can cope with a rise in member enquiries.

The MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard is intended to give savers a single view of pension benefits across workplace, personal and State Pension entitlements. That ambition has made the dashboard programme one of the most closely watched digital projects in UK pensions, with firms under pressure to ensure records can be found, matched and returned accurately.

For providers, the task now goes beyond linking into the ecosystem. The next phase will test whether infrastructure can deliver reliable connections, whether response times are fast enough and whether the information shown to savers stands up to scrutiny.

Operational focus

Operational readiness is emerging as a central issue because dashboard use is expected to generate more follow-up contact from pension scheme members. Once people can see a broader picture of their retirement savings, providers may face more requests for information, consolidation support and retirement planning assistance.

That has implications for customer service teams, administration departments and digital servicing functions. Firms may need to assess staffing levels, workflow processes and online systems to avoid delays if dashboard traffic triggers a surge in enquiries.

Maurice Titley, Commercial Director, Data & Dashboards at Lumera, said: “With just four months until the final connection deadline, and a launch date that could be as early as this time next year, attention must now turn to operational readiness for providers.

“Connecting to the dashboards ecosystem is only the first step. Firms should use this period to test processes, strengthen data quality and ensure they can consistently deliver accurate and timely responses once dashboard usage begins to scale.

“The success of dashboards will ultimately depend on the member experience. Savers need confidence that the information they see is accurate, complete and available 24/7 when they need it.

“Providers should also prepare for increased engagement from members who will, for the first time, have a clearer view of their total pension savings. That means ensuring customer service, administration and digital capabilities are ready to support higher volumes of enquiries and follow-on activity.

“The organisations best placed for a successful rollout will be those treating dashboards as an operational readiness exercise as much as a technology programme, with data quality, governance and resilience at the centre of their preparations.”

Data quality

Data quality is likely to be one of the most sensitive issues in the final run-up to the deadline. Inaccurate, incomplete or poorly maintained records could lead to missed matches, inconsistent information or member confusion, undermining confidence in the dashboard system at launch.

Providers are therefore being pressed to review data governance arrangements and matching processes, as well as the quality of the records behind dashboard responses. The challenge is not only to make existing data available but also to keep it updated as member details and pension entitlements change over time.

That work also carries compliance implications. Once connected, trustees, scheme managers and pension providers will be expected to meet the legislative requirements attached to dashboards, making data accuracy and availability a regulatory as well as a customer service issue.

Wider pressure

Dashboard preparations are taking place against a broader backdrop of change in pensions administration. Firms are already dealing with wider reform demands that place extra strain on data management and servicing operations, raising the stakes for any dashboard-related weaknesses in legacy systems or manual processes.

In practice, providers may use the remaining months not only to meet the immediate dashboard timetable but also to strengthen the technology and operational arrangements needed for future regulatory changes. The connection deadline may be fixed, but the operational demands linked to dashboards are likely to continue well after firms complete their initial integration.

Passing 70 million connected records suggests substantial progress across the ecosystem. The next test is whether that technical progress translates into a service that can handle consumer demand without errors, delays or gaps in information.

For the industry, the final phase before connection is becoming a test of execution rather than intent. Reliable records, clear processes and the ability to respond to members at scale may determine whether the rollout builds confidence among savers or exposes weaknesses in how pension data is held and managed.

TG Jones, previously known as WH Smith before its rebranding last year, currently operates more than 450 stores with 4,700 staff (mostly in the UK).

But it is now set to close 150 of those stores as part of a “restructuring” plan which was approved by the High Court on Wednesday (July 1).

TG Jones to close 150 stores as part of “restructuring” plan

TG Jones said the store closures are part of a wider plan to rescue the business from insolvency.

The closures will affect hundreds of jobs across the UK, although the company has not confirmed the exact number of redundancies expected.

Chief executive of TG Jones, Alex Willson, said: “We welcome the court’s approval of our restructuring plan.

“This decision allows us to move ahead with our turnaround strategy.

“The plan protects the substantial core of the store estate and makes TG Jones a stronger, more sustainable business.”

The aim of the TG Jones closures is to rescue the business from insolvency. (Image: Alamy Stock Photo/PA)

The restructuring plan includes a new £15 million loan from TG Jones’ owners, Modella Capital, and rent reductions for landlords.

This is intended to prevent an £8 million funding shortfall and potential insolvency.

Tom Smith KC, representing TG Jones in court, said the “working assumption” is that around 150 stores will close, particularly where landlords do not accept reduced rent terms.

He said the company has suffered from “long-term sales decline” due to high inflation, increased online shopping, lower consumer spending, and rising labour costs.

Mr Smith said the rebranding from WH Smith to TG Jones also negatively impacted sales.

The TG Jones brand was created after Modella Capital acquired WH Smith’s high street stores last year.

Travel locations, such as airport and train station outlets, remain under the WH Smith brand.

You will still find WH Smith travel stores at UK airports and train stations despite the TG Jones rebrand. (Image: Getty Images)

Mr Willson expressed thanks to those who have supported the business through the restructuring process.

He said: “We are incredibly grateful to all the colleagues, partners and stakeholders who engaged constructively throughout the process, and to Modella Capital for its continued financial commitment.”

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:

Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Luxury UK holiday company Salamander Voyages shut down back in April after entering administration.

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Plus-size clothing brand Evans also returned to the UK high street recently after closing all its stores and concessions in December 2020.

Is there a TG Jones store near you that could be at risk of closing? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.