No.33 Didcot opened on Great Western Park on March 10 but has been given notice to leave its current space.

Bosses say the business has not been a failure as money invested has almost been entirely made back.

However, it will be closing at the end of August.

A statement from No.33 Didcot said: “It’s with a very heavy heart that we have, today, given notice to leave our space on Great Western Park.

No.33 Didcot opened on Monday, March 10 (Image: No.33 Didcot)

“Before the rumours start, we will put them straight to bed. There’s been no failure. We very nearly made the money back that we invested which, for a hospitality start up in 2026, is pretty bloody good.

“We opened because it was a pretty risk free venture. Low rent. Short term tenancy.

“Unfortunately, although that makes it appealing to go into, it also makes it a business that can’t be sold on.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson spotted filming with sports car for new TV show

“If it’s not paying me a wage and I can’t sell it on, it’s an awful lot of time and effort for nothing. That’s the story. End of. Nothing more to see.

“We will carry on doing exactly what we do until the end of August. Nothing will change before then, so please keep visiting us as you always have.

“There will be lots of ‘thank you’ posts over the next few weeks but, for now, please know how grateful we are that so many of you visited and liked what we did.

“I’m extremely proud of what we built and I hope it made some of you smile.”

Daon has been selected by the British Council to provide identity verification services across its global testing and digital education portfolio. The agreement covers one of the world’s largest English-language testing programmes.

Daon’s TrustX platform will verify test takers at several stages of the testing process, including registration, attendance at test centres and checks during exams. The system will also support face-match re-verification after breaks and during re-tests.

British Council tests are accepted by governments in Australia, Canada and New Zealand and recognised by more than 12,500 organisations, including immigration authorities, employers and higher education institutions. Secure identity checks are important because test results can influence decisions on immigration, education and employment.

The British Council works with individuals in more than 200 countries and territories and has a presence in over 100 countries. In 2024-25, it said it reached 599 million people through its cultural relations and educational programmes.

Daon said the initial rollout would support millions of identity verification and facial authentication transactions over a multi-year term. The arrangement also leaves scope to extend the platform to other British Council services, including English Online.

Procurement process

The contract followed a multi-phase procurement process that required suppliers to meet standards for identity verification technology and services, including certification under the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework. The tender also assessed global support, consultancy and operational practice, alongside biometric authentication and document validation.

Under the agreement, Daon will deploy its xProof identity verification tools on the TrustX platform. The setup includes document verification, facial comparison, liveness detection and chip reading, with manual review available when needed.

The British Council wanted identity checks that went beyond enrolment and covered the full user journey. That reflects broader pressure on testing providers to maintain confidence in remote and in-person assessment as fraud risks evolve.

Anthony Nicols outlined the British Council’s view of the role identity checks play in high-stakes exams.

“Identity is the cornerstone for high stakes exams, and in Daon we’ve found a partner that helps us embed trust throughout the entire testing journey,” said Anthony Nicols, Director of Product at the British Council. “This strengthens the integrity of our results while delivering a more secure and consistent experience for test takers globally.”

Wider use

For Daon, the British Council contract adds a public sector and education deployment with global reach. Organisations increasingly want identity verification to be part of an ongoing process rather than a single check at the start of a service.

Tom Grissen, Chief Executive Officer of Daon, said the project reflected a broader shift in how institutions handle digital identity.

“Organisations like the British Council operate at a scale where identity is more than just a security function,” said Tom Grissen, Chief Executive Officer of Daon. “It’s what underlines trust in the institution and the services it provides. This deployment reflects something we’re seeing across multiple sectors, where identity verification is becoming an ongoing, integrated part of the user journey rather than a single, static checkpoint. Platforms like TrustX are designed to enable organizations to orchestrate identity across channels, use cases, and geographies without adding friction for users.”

The British Council was founded in 1934 and is governed by Royal Charter. The scale of its operations and the international use of its tests mean identity verification decisions under this contract will affect a large volume of candidate transactions across multiple jurisdictions.

Thames Valley Police concluded its investigation into the fire on Buckingham Road, Bicester, on May 15, 2025, and handed it over to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to continue enquiries.

Firefighters Martyn Sadler, 38, and Jennie Logan, 30, and member of the public, Dave Chester, 57, sadly died after the fire at the business park which raged for hours, and two other firefighters were seriously injured.

L-R: Dave Chester, Martyn Sadler and Jennie Logan (Image: Family handouts)

Thames Valley Police concluded that, following a thorough investigation from the force’s major crime unit, alongside HSE, no referrals would be made to the Crown Prosecution Service to bring criminal charges relating to the tragic incident.

READ MORE: Thames Water probe into swim spot human faeces ‘mystery’

Following the conclusion of the police investigation being released, Bicester Motion welcomed the progress in understanding what happened, and issued a short response.

Bicester Motion (Image: Ed Nix)

A spokesperson said: “Bicester Motion would like to acknowledge Thames Valley Police for its professionalism and diligence in conducting a thorough investigation following the tragic events of May 2025.

“As the investigation has now been formally handed over to the Health and Safety Executive and remains ongoing, Bicester Motion will not be providing further comment at this time.”

Thames Valley Police’s assistant chief constable Dennis Murray earlier confirmed the force is not seeking any prosecutions, and added: “Our thoughts will always be with the loved ones of Martyn Sadler, Jennie Logan and Dave Chester, as well as the injured firefighters.”