Closed Oxford pharmacy could be replaced with ice cream shop

Cowan’s Pharmacy in St Michael’s Street, Oxford, was run by pharmacist Adil Cowan after he set up shop independently following the closure of the pharmacy he ran in the Boswells department store in 2020.

But this newspaper reported in August 2021, shortly after its opening, that Cowan’s had been refused a licence to dispense NHS prescriptions after competitor Boots objected to the plans.

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It is not known what caused the closure of the pharmacy in St Michael’s Street, but the company was dissolved in February this year. Mr Cowan could not be reached for comment.

Cowan’s Pharmacy in St Michael’s Street closed at the end of last year, picture: 2021 (Image: Ed Nix)

Now, new plans have been submitted for the former pharmacy to be turned into an ice cream shop, called Aromi.

An applications for alterations to the existing shopfront at 1-3 St Michael’s Street has been submitted to Oxford City Council.

The proposal includes repainting the shop, added new signage and installed a sash window to serve ice cream and other products directly to customers on the street during the summer.

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A planning document by Clark Architecture and Design submitted on behalf of the applicant said: “This proposal seeks to enhance and enliven the existing outdoor dining experience through the creation of a small opening.

“This feature will provide direct access to the restaurant’s interior while serving as an outlet for products to be served straight to the street, adding a level of theatre to the current street scene.”

The application is set to be decided by the council by mid-May.