Keen golfers Ollie Yates, 34, and Karim Sutton, 36, first met on the course at Frilford Heath Golf Club, discovering a shared passion for the game and a vision for a business.

Five years later, they’re just weeks away from opening Slice, a brand new golf simulator activity bar and pizza joint coming to Botley’s West Way development.

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Virtual golf involves hitting a golf ball into a hitting screen and watching it fly as it would in real life through a projection, offering players rounds of golf, mini games and even data to help the super keen golfer perfect their swing.

CGI rendered images of the new venue Slice, opening soon in Botley (Image: Slice)

“The idea is it’s for everyone,” said Mr Yates. “Whether you’ve never pickled up a golf club before or you’re a pro, everyone can get something out of the technology.”

With a large bar space, an interactive darts board, a kitchen serving up small plates and New York-style pizza by the slice, and drink partnerships with Tap Social Movement, Newground Coffee and The Oxford Wine Company, the new entertainment venue is offering something new to Botley.

CGI rendered images of the new venue Slice, opening soon in Botley (Image: Slice)

Mr Yates added: “Every conversation we have with people locally is about how Oxford needs more of this sort of thing.

“I think we’re seeing trends where people, and particularly people from younger generations, are less interested in just going drinking at the pub and instead want to have an activity that’s a bit less drink-focused.

“And golf has been growing a lot over the last few years, it’s captured the attention of a slightly younger demographic.”

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Slice is designed to cater to all of those things through the emerging market for virtual entertainment venues, as a place for anyone to come along and practice their game or try golf for the first time, without worrying about the etiquette of the course.

‘Golf, pizza, vibes’: Slice is coming soon to Botley West Way (Image: Newsquest)

“We want to make it that anyone, no matter what their lifestyle is, can come in and find something for them in here, where they can come and enjoy themselves,” Mr Yates said.

Opening in Botley is central to the vision too, where the business owners have a ‘vested interest’ and a real desire to see the West Way development thrive.

Mr Sutton said: “I think we’re just really excited to get open, and bring something to this area.

“We both live locally and this is something we wanted to see in the area – golf is our passion and we’re opening a business to bring that to Botley.

“If I were opening my dream business it would have golf, darts and pizza in it – and we’ve got it all under one roof.”

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Mr Yates added: “We’ve got a vested interest in seeing this development do well and bring more people here.

“This is where we’re from, and we wanted to set up here to get this area a bit more lively and introduce some fun things to do.”

Slice will open at 7 West Way Square, Botley, in mid-May, with a firm date to be announced.

Since the first new generation MINI rolled off the Oxford production line on April 26, 2001, the brand has continued to innovate and maintain its unique place in British culture.

Over the past quarter-century, 4,671,664 MINIs have been produced in the UK, encompassing four model generations and various body styles, including the original three-door, five-door, Roadster, Coupe, Clubman, Clubvan, and Convertible.

MINI is marking its milestone by unveiling 25 facts for 25 years, celebrating the people, places, and production moments that have defined the quarter-century of modern MINI manufacturing.

These facts include the diversity of the workforce, which represents 64 nationalities, the production of 26 special edition MINIs, and the fact that MINIs built at Oxford have been exported to over 100 countries.

Markus Grüneisl, CEO of BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd, said: “This 25-year milestone is a proud moment for MINI and for everyone involved in its production here in the UK.

“From the very beginning, our plants in Oxford and Swindon have been at the heart of MINI’s global success, combining exceptional craftsmanship with innovation.

“Above all, it is our people – their creativity, expertise, and pride in what they do – that continue to make MINI so special.”

The MINIs crafted at Oxford and Swindon are distributed to over 100 markets worldwide, cementing their status as a significant part of Britain’s automotive manufacturing industry.

Together, the two sites employ more than 3,000 people, producing around 800 MINIs each day.

At Plant Oxford, a new MINI rolls off the production line every 78 seconds.

The Swindon plant, which manufactures thousands of precision-engineered body panels daily, has also played a crucial role in the modern MINI’s journey.

In 2006, BMW Group’s Hams Hall plant in North Warwickshire began producing engines for the MINI, adding another layer to the vehicle’s all-British production story.

Today, more than 4.6 million engines have been produced for the Oxford-built models.

The Oxford plant, which has been a part of its community for 113 years, has also become a popular tourist destination, with over 17,500 visitors enjoying the plant tours in 2025 alone.

In 2025, the BMW Group sold 2.46 million passenger vehicles worldwide.

The group’s production network comprises over 30 sites worldwide, with a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy.

Cyber-attacks are the biggest risk facing professional firms in 2026, according to a survey by insurer Everywhen. The poll found that 65% of respondents ranked cyber-attacks as their main concern.

Cyber threats were well ahead of economic pressures, which came second on 18%. Professional negligence claims followed on 9%, while regulatory changes were cited by 8% of respondents.

The findings suggest a marked shift in priorities among firms in sectors such as legal, financial and consultancy services. These businesses hold large volumes of sensitive client information and rely heavily on digital systems for day-to-day operations, making them more vulnerable to data breaches, ransomware and related disruption.

The gap between cyber risk and other concerns suggests digital security has moved ahead of more established threats in boardroom discussions. Economic uncertainty, compliance demands and negligence claims remain part of the risk landscape, but the survey indicates most respondents no longer see them as the most immediate threat.

Risk shift

The results come as professional firms also contend with rising costs and changing client expectations. Those pressures have created a more challenging operating environment, even before the impact of a cyber incident is considered.

For firms that provide advice or handle confidential material, the effects of an attack can extend beyond the immediate technical damage. A breach can lead to business interruption, regulatory scrutiny and claims from affected clients, increasing both direct and indirect costs.

An Everywhen spokesperson said the findings reflect the growing weight of cyber exposure in professional services.

“What this data shows very clearly is that cyber threats represent a fundamental and growing business risk. Professional firms are custodians of highly sensitive client data, and that makes them a prime target.

From an insurance perspective, cyber incidents rarely sit in isolation. They can lead to business interruption, regulatory investigations and even professional indemnity claims if clients are affected. That is why it is critical for firms to understand how their cover responds and where potential gaps may exist.

There is still a tendency to view cyber insurance as optional, but the reality is that it is becoming a core component of a firm’s risk management strategy.”

Boardroom concern

The survey suggests professional firms increasingly see cyber risk as a business issue rather than a narrow technology problem. A successful attack can affect client service, reputation and regulatory standing at the same time, helping explain why it now outranks more traditional concerns.

Legal practices, accountancy firms, consultants and other advisory businesses often hold commercially sensitive and personal information. That makes them attractive targets for cyber criminals seeking direct financial gain or leverage through extortion.

At the same time, the results indicate that regulatory change and professional negligence, while still significant, are being overshadowed by the speed and frequency of cyber incidents. The ranking also suggests firms may be reassessing how different risks interact, particularly where a cyber event could trigger wider legal or professional consequences.

Insurers have seen demand for cyber-related cover rise as businesses look to manage the financial effects of attacks. The Everywhen findings add to wider evidence that many companies now view digital threats as a central operational and governance issue rather than a peripheral one.

The spread between first and second place in the survey was particularly stark. Cyber-attacks drew more than three times the share of responses recorded for economic pressures, underlining how far concern about digital threats has moved ahead of other business risks.