Oxford News
Alex James opens his farm for ‘best ever’ Big Feastival
He may have enjoyed fame and fortune as a member of one of the country’s biggest bands, but right now the Blur bassist has only one thing on his mind – and there is no mistaking his passion.
Having moved to the Cotswolds in pursuit of a quiet life, the rock star turned farmer and cheesemaker is getting ready to open the gates of his Kingham farm for his annual celebration of music, food and family fun – The Big Feastival.
And as we speak, the place is being transformed from a pastoral rural backwater to the home of one of the country’s best loved festivals.
Pastures which are home for the rest of the year to cattle, are now studded with stages, fairground rides and bars in readiness for the arrival of more than 20,000 revellers from this Thursday to Sunday.
There is something endearing about Alex’s enthusiasm for the weekend event he and his family have helped shape – and that excitement is contagious.
“We are flat out at the moment,” he laughs as we catch up at an uncharacteristically early hour – at least for a rock star.
“Everyone is ‘up and at ‘em’ and we are all at it from early in the morning. I am a farmer after all!”
“It is the most fun we’ve ever had,” he says with real delight as he describes how he took the idea of a festival for music lovers, foodies and families – and forged it into a reality on his farm near Chipping Norton.
“It is great to know this all happens here on the farm – and is bigger and better than ever this year.”
And he is not exaggerating. The bill at The Big Feastival is always impressive, but this year’s is a banger. It features huge stars Basement Jaxx, Rudim3ntal, Bastille and The Streets.
Then there are epic indie-rock band Doves, White Lies, Ms Dynamite, Red Rum Club, Freya Ridings, The Coral, Little Mix star Perrie and way more.
Alongside the music acts, there are megastars of the culinary world including MasterChef host Anna Haugh, Ballymaloe Cookery School teacher Rachel Allen, Sally Abé, Simon Rogan, Poppy O’Toole and Emily English.
Then there is comedy featuring The Horne Section, Harriet Kemsley and Shappi Khorsandi.
As a star with Britpop legends Blur, Alex lived life to the extreme. Indeed he still does more than dabble – with Blur having reformed for a massive sell-out stadium tour, and him now fronting his own Britpop Classical show.
The show sees Alex on bass joined by a band performing indie-rock classics of the 90s – accompanied by special guests and, crucially, a full classical orchestra. The symphonic spectacular debuted at last year’s Big Feastival, headlining the main stage as a stirring Sunday finale. This summer he has taken it on the road including an acclaimed show back in Oxfordshire at Henley Festival.
“It is great,” he says. “I am playing bass and I do actually know how to do that. When I am putting on a festival I am winging it, but playing bass is my expertise!”
And while he still gets a massive buzz out of playing live, Alex says nothing makes him happier than throwing open the gates to his farm once a year for his homegrown gathering.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be welcoming everyone back to the farm for our 15th year,” he says.
“I mean, 15 years! If the festival was a plum tree, you’d need a ladder to get the fruit,” he smiles.
“I don’t know if it gets any easier, but with the team we have built up it is a better-oiled machine.
“The key is trying new stuff.”
As the festival has grown so has the number of stages – this year numbering about 30. As well as bands, DJs and comedy venues there are kids areas, spaces hosting live cookery demonstrations, displays of fire pit barbecue tips, hands-on culinary workshops, a cookery school, tasting sessions and banquets. There is even a chance to meet animals up close courtesy of Countryfile star Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park.
“You can ‘geek-out’ or ‘freak out’,” says Alex.
“There are a thousand festivals up and down the UK, but what we do is look after families. When you have kids, nothing is more important than having quality time with them.”
And while the number of stages has mushroomed and the line-ups grow ever more impressive, the festival has stayed loyal to its roots and to Alex’s original vision of an event celebrating “music, food and family”.
“It encompasses everything I care about,” he says.
“I have a terrible habit of making my hobby into my job. It happened with Blur and then with The Big Feastival.”
He goes on: “Some of the best days of my life were at festivals – either performing with Blur or just spending time with people. Being at a festival has a sense of magic about it; you are creating life-long memories.”
As all farmers can attest, this summer’s drought and record temperatures have made conditions hard. But, ever resilient, fromage fanatic Alex has at least tried to create something positive from the relentless heatwaves – developing new ways to use solar energy to melt cheese.
Joined by physicists, he experimented with fondue and raclette before developing a new treat cooked in a modified solar-powered pizza oven.
And he will be launching it at the festival venue he calls the Cheese Hub – a three-sided farm building which is transformed into a bar and dance club with a glittering bill of DJs including Tall Paul, Seb Fontaine, Sarah Story, DJ Spoony, Chris Stark and Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead star Simon Pegg.
“I call it gastro-physics,” he laughs. “This year the Cheese Hub has a real star doing the cooking!”
While camping passes have sold out, day tickets are still available, with Alex tipping Friday – headlined by Basement Jaxx – as a great day to come.
“If you don’t want to commit to a whole festival, it’s great to come for a day – especially Friday when everything is clean and fresh,” he grins.
“Just come along. Summer is almost over so let’s see it out with a bang!”
The Big Feastival is at Alex James’s farm in Kingham, near Chipping Norton from August 28-30. Details and tickets from bigfeastival.com
The coffee dispenser at the Headington Waitrose is out of order and not for the first time according to reports, leaving customers disappointed they can no longer access their free cappuccino or flat white using their Waitrose card.
The Headington News said: “The Headington Waitrose free coffee machine is out of order again today (Saturday 29 August).”
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The notice on the machine at the store in Old High Street says: “The coffee machine is currently out of order. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
The issue is not a universal problem – coffee machines at other Waitrose stores are working well.
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.
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.”
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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.
Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation after a pigeon was killed in a wildlife crime incident in Plover Drive, Oxford, at around 6.50pm on August 24.
The force said that two teenage boys used a catapult to knock a pigeon from a tree before the bird was attacked by three smaller terrier-type dogs that were with them.
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Descriptions of the two boys have been released with the first described as wearing a black sleeveless vest, dark-coloured bottoms, black trainers with white soles.
In addition he had a black-and-white flat-peaked cap worn backwards and was believed to have been carrying a catapult.
The second was reportedly wearing a light-coloured T-shirt and blue jeans, with brown, medium-length hair.
He was also seen carrying an unidentified item.
A spokesperson for the police said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident or who may recognise those involved from the descriptions above.
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“We would also like to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from the Plover Drive area between 6.30pm and 7pm on 24 August that may assist our investigation.
“Wildlife crime has a real impact on our communities, and we take reports of offences against wild animals and birds seriously.
” If you have any information, please contact the force on 101 or report online, quoting reference 43260448136.”
Following the incident in North Way, Barton on Monday, August 17, Thames Valley Police said it wanted the public’s help to locate Oxford local Arthur McDonagh.
The force warned the public not to approach the 33-year-old, but instead to call the police if they see him.
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On Tuesday, August 18, a spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help to locate Arthur McDonagh, aged 33, from Oxford.
“He is wanted in connection with a serious assault that happened in North Way, Barton, yesterday (August 17).
“Arthur is known to frequent the Garsington area.
“If you have any information about his whereabouts call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference 43260426989.
“If you see him, do not approach him, but instead call 999.”
Well over a week on, the police has revealed that Mr McDonagh remains at large.
The spokesperson said today (Saturday, August 29): “Arthur McDonagh remains outstanding; our enquiries are ongoing to locate him.”
During the incident emergency services were called to Barton Village Road at about 11.10am.
The force closed North Way to the junction with Edgecombe Road while officers carried out their enquiries.
A damaged white pickup truck was left in the middle of the street, surrounded by broken glass and with what appeared to be blood splattered on the rear right-hand side.
The white pickup truck could be seen behind the police cordon.
There were multiple reports of different weapons being used during the assault, but Thames Valley Police confirmed that they do not believe an axe, bat or machete were used in the attack.
But police declined to say what weapon they do believe was used in the assault.
The force confirmed a man was taken to hospital for treatment, and that he was in a stable condition, and they thanked the local community for their support.
Following the incident, Mike Rowley, Labour councillor for Barton and Sandhills, said his thoughts were with the victim and praised local officers for their response.
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He said: “My thoughts are with the victim as the incident sounds horrible.
“I am in touch with the police, but I’m not expecting any updates yet as their priority is finding the offender and making sure there aren’t any further offences.”
Appeals for public help in finding individuals by the police can relate to suspects, witnesses or others who may have vital information in relation to the incident.
They do not mean the person is to blame nor do they imply guilt.
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