Flo’s – The Place in the Park, based in Florence Park, Oxford, has reopened its doors following a six-week closure for essential roof repairs and a kitchen refurbishment.

The improvements were funded by Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford Community Foundation’s Step Change Fund, and a private donation, and aim to support the centre’s broader mission to foster community, health and belonging in OX4.

Laura Sewell, executive director of Flo’s, said: “We are delighted and grateful to be reopening Flo’s Cafe and Flo’s Refill Shop to our community once again.

“With fresh decor, a refreshed menu and with a new visual identity and signage, this feels like an exciting new chapter for us.

“This refurbishment is about much more than a building improvement.

“It is about protecting a trusted community space where people can access connection, nourishment, support and opportunities to thrive.”

Flo’s offers a range of inclusive services, including free and pay-what-you-can meals, holiday food provision for children, community classes, and peer support groups.

It also features welcoming gardens maintained by volunteer groups.

To celebrate the reopening, Flo’s will host a free ‘Spring into Summer’ community event on Saturday, May 30.

The event will feature games, children’s crafts, a plant sale, live music, and free bike maintenance and repairs provided in partnership with Broken Spoke Oxford.

Jones and Corden rose to fame as the co-writers of the BBC comedy in which they also played Vanessa “Nessa” Jenkins and Neil “Smithy” Smith, the best friends of the title characters, for three series and three Christmas specials between 2007 and 2024.

Jones, who was in Abingdon in 2023 for a book signing, said she felt there was “unfinished business” between their characters until the last Christmas special, Gavin And Stacey: The Finale, in 2024.

In the episode, Smithy finally decides to marry Nessa after leaving another bride at the altar.

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Speaking at the Hay Festival on Thursday, Jones said: “I think that we always knew, from the very first scene in Leicester Square where Smithy and Nessa met and instantly hated each other, except they also shared a love of pizza.

“I think we always knew that they would have to get together, that that had to be the actual ending of the show, but we didn’t have time.

“We obviously finished series three with Smithy coming down to Barry and starting to talk like a Barry resident… and obviously Gavin and Stacey were expecting their first child, so we sort of tied that up.

“We kind of suggested that Smithy and Nessa, at that point, had come to some kind of an agreement – a workable relationship – but I think there was always this unfinished business.

“When we got together in 2019 to do the Christmas special, I think originally we’d intended to marry them then, but it was just too much of a story to tell.

“Such a long time had passed, it was 10 years almost since we’d finished it.”

The show’s final episode, which aired on Christmas Day 2024, saw Smithy marry Nessa – which enjoyed huge overnight ratings of 12.3 million.

Jones and Cordon went on to co-write a book about the series titled When Gavin Met Stacey And Everything In Between: A Story Of Love And Friendship.

Jones has also written novels including Never Greener (2018), Love Untold (2022) and By Your Side (2025).

Improvement works to Friars Wharf Playground in South Oxford will begin next week following feedback from residents about the need for more equipment for younger children and a more inviting design.

Councillor Anna Railton, deputy leader, and cabinet member for planning and zero carbon Oxford, said: “I am delighted that works are about to start on the Friars Wharf playground thanks to the generosity of an anonymous private donor.

“There was really positive feedback in the consultation about the new scheme and it will be finished in time for the summer holidays, ready for children both sides of the river to enjoy.”

Planned upgrades include removing the large concrete mound and existing multi-play climber and slide.

Two new multi-play climbers with slides will be installed, one for older children and one for younger children, along with a new swing and a 3m cone net climber suitable for children of different abilities.

Additional seating will also be added.

The improvements have been made possible by a personal donation from a resident wishing to create a legacy in memory of her late daughter.

In tribute, the playground will be renamed Emily’s Playground at Friar’s Wharf.

ODS will carry out ground works, with play area specialists Haggs installing the new equipment.

The playground will be closed from Tuesday, June 2, until Friday, July 3.