Oxford Renters’ Union launched their first campaign on May 1, with a march through the city on May Morning, after forming the not-for-profit co-operative last November.

The union’s aim is to collectively resist rent increases and stop the ‘soaring’ rent costs in the city being decided by landlords alone.

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Strategically launching their campaign on the same day the Renters’ Rights Act took effect, the union is asking renting households to pledge to challenge their landlord if they attempt to increase their rent, by going to a tribunal.

The Act has made the campaign possible by ending ‘no-fault’ evictions, giving tenants the ability to complain to and challenge their landlords without the threat of losing their home.

Housing in Oxford (Image: Oxford City Council)

Maisie W, communications officer for the union, said: “Why should landlords get yet another pay rise by leeching off of my hard work?

“Why am I paying for my parasite landlords’ fancy cars and holidays when I can’t afford to have either?

“Housing should be a human right, and not a commodity. That’s why we’re asking you to resist your next rent increase.

“Resist on principal. Resist for yourself, and for the others in your community who can barely afford to live.”

Oxford Renters’ Union launched on May 1 with a march through the city (Image: Oxford Renters’ Union)

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Average monthly private rent went up across the England in the year to March 2026, up by 3.4 per cent to £1,434, according to data from the Office of National Statistics.

The data also revealed that Oxford paid the highest average rent of anywhere in the UK outside of London in March, at £1,952, up 6.9 per cent on the year before, more than double the average rent increase within that period in the rest of the country.

Oxford has also seen high and increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness, with figures consistently going up over the past five years, and charities like Homeless Oxfordshire pointing to the ‘stark’ rental market picture for tenants.

Oxford Renters’ Union plan is to take private landlords who want to increase rents to tribunal, where they will ‘flood the hearing’ with pledges to demonstrate that the city’s ‘market rate’ is already too high and is still increasing.

The union also argues that overwhelming the tribunal with disputes will prolong the hearing’s processing time, keeping rents ‘lower for longer’.

It is part of a coordinated campaign being launched alongside other unions doing the same, including Resist Rent Rises, a network of unions including London Renters Union and Greater Manchester Tenants Union.

READ MORE: Two major UK restaurant chains to close with 3,800 jobs lost

Resist Rent Rises’ website said: “If your landlord is asking for extra rent when you can afford it least, you’re not alone.

“The cost of rent is out of control across the country, squeezing more and more of us out of our homes.

“Renters have the right to resist rent rises. We need to use those rights, or lose them.”

The restaurant chain opened in Cornmarket Street in 2023, and recently revealed its take on a great British classic – the Sunday roast.

Situated on the first floor of the Jesus College-owned Cheng Yu Tung building, Cosy Club Oxford occupies a vast space, with room for a large number of tables.

Although the restaurant occupies such a lengthy space, it still manages to retain a cosy feel, with its tasteful artwork, subdued lighting, and comfortable seating areas.

We requested a table right at the back, close to the corner window overlooking Market Street – a great position to watch what’s going on in the restaurant itself, and to keep an occasional eye on the weather.

After giving us a warm welcome, staff were happy to help, and switched us to the empty corner table we selected.

Cosy Club Oxford has now launched its new spring–summer menu, with new dishes, an expanded Margarita menu and a dedicated Martini section – apparently built for the kind of long afternoon that has no fixed end point.

Roasted salmon at Cosy Club (Image: Andy Ffrench)

The new menu embraces the season with fresh flavours, and while there is perhaps nothing on the spring-summer menu quite as filling as a Sunday roast, our party of diners found the seasonal dishes equally satisfying.

I selected the herb-crusted roast salmon, which came with crushed baby potatoes, garden peas, broad beans and sugar snaps, finished with a pea and tarragon velouté (£19.50). The salmon was perfectly cooked, and the sauce was absolutely delicious.

My fellow diners enjoyed the Cosy Butcher’s Brunch (£17.25), and the Garden Brunch (£14.75), plus the Malvani chicken curry (£18.50).

A vegetarian brunch (Image: Andy Ffrench)

All the main courses arrived very promptly, and while we waited, we enjoyed some Teetotal Tipples, including a delicious Raspberry and Orange Blossom Tonic (£8.75).

I still had room for dessert, and chose a light and fluffy Mascarpone and Madagascan Vanilla cheesecake made with Somerset mascarpone, topped with macerated strawberries and white chocolate shards £8.95).

Cosy Club is always a fun place to spend the afternoon or evening. The waiters are friendly and helpful, and the food always arrives swiftly and is expertly cooked, in my experience.

Inside Cosy Club in Oxford (Image: Andy Ffrench)

We weren’t able to sample all the dishes on the spring-summer menu, and will definitely return to sample some of those we missed out on.

These include the Buttermilk Chicken Milanese topped with a free-range fried egg, Gran Levanto cheese and a truffle and black garlic aioli, served with fries or a green salad.

We could also have tried the Open Norfolk Smoked Salmon Sandwich layers smoked salmon with honey-whipped ricotta, courgette ribbons, smashed cucumber and toasted pine nuts on malt rye, with a preserved lemon vinaigrette, or the Chicken and Smoked Bacon Caesar – roasted chicken breast, smoked bacon, gem lettuce, focaccia croutons, and a soft-boiled free-range egg.

Inside Cosy Club in Oxford (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Another fun addition was the Monkey Bread, made for Cosy Club by Baker Tom in Cornwall with clotted cream and a miso glaze.

If you aren’t driving you could sample the Martini Menu – the Classic, the Dirty and the Gibson, each available with Tanqueray Gin or Ketel One Vodka.

Margaritas get their own dedicated section this season – the Classic, Spicy Pear, Picante and The Flirt each crafted with premium tequila, fresh citrus and bold, summery flavours.

Lucy Knowles, managing director at Cosy Club, said: “We’ve worked really hard to create the kind of menu we want to eat ourselves – the sort of food that works for long, balmy afternoons with friends, where nobody’s in a hurry.”

I really enjoyed the new Sunday roasts, and the dishes on the spring-summer menu are definitely worth a try.

Andy Ffrench

Parent firm Fulham Shore shared last month that it planned to shut sites as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) process.

Franco Manca currently runs 70 restaurants but said it has been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for restaurants.

The affected restaurants were “no longer sustainable” as a result.

Franco Manca’s CVA proposal received backing from more than 90% of voting creditors.

A CVA is an insolvency procedure that allows a struggling company to strike a deal with its creditors to pay back its debts while still trading.

Which Franco Manca stores will be shutting?

The following Franco Manca sites will shut:

• Battersea
• Bishops Stortford
• Brixton
• Broadway Market
• Bromley
• Cheltenham
• Chiswick
• Didsbury
• Glasgow
• Hove
• Kilburn
• Lincoln
• New Oxford Street
• Plymouth
• Stoke Newington
• Tottenham Court Road

Marcel Khan, chief executive of Fulham Shore, said: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.

“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base.

“With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”

Paul Berkovi, managing director of Alvarez & Marsal, said: “Today’s vote saw a significant majority of the company’s creditors support the CVA, reflecting constructive engagement across stakeholders.

“Against a challenging backdrop for the sector, this is an important step for Franco Manca, enabling the business to complete its financial restructuring and secure the platform for its operational transformation.”

The Real Greek announces it will be closing down 9 restaurants

Franco Manca is not the only restaurant chain that has announced closures recently, as The Real Greek will be stopping operations at nine of its sites.

A sister restaurant brand to the pizza chain, Fulham Shore, placed The Real Greek into administration.

It was immediately snapped up by Cote owner Karali Group, but announced the closure of nine of its 28 restaurants.

Although more than 100 jobs will be lost, the new owner said it will secure the future of 358 workers.

Paul Berkovi, managing director at administrators Alvarez & Marsal, said: “We have worked closely with The Real Greek’s management team and are pleased to have completed a transaction that secures a future for a restaurant group enjoyed by diners over many years.

“Our immediate focus as administrators will be to provide a smooth transition for the business and to support employees affected by site closures.

“We are grateful to all stakeholders for their constructive engagement throughout this process.”

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