Business & Technology
New bakery giant ‘coming soon’ in Oxfordshire first
Councillor Jack Treloar said the Cornish Bakery has received no objection from Witney Town Council to open a new branch in the town.
The Cornwall-based cafe will take over the former Shoe Zone shop in the Market Square and close to Coffee #1, Gails and another independent cafe.
Mr Treloar said: “After this planning application was discussed this evening at the Witney Town Council planning committee. I’m pleased that the result was a unanimous no objection.
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“I know people will say that the market is highly saturated, and to a degree, they’re right, but as a member of management in a locally owned cafe company, I think it’s safe to say there is still a great deal of hunger for more.
“Ultimately, coffee shops and cafes are the new trailblazer in hospitality, with cafes opening at an astonishing rate, and for good reason.
“I look forward to being able to get their beautiful Cornish puddings in Witney, without having to travel to Cirencester. Another great thing, it’s keeping spending in Witney.”
The chain was set to take over the Pret A Manger shop close to Carfax in Oxford, but announced in January this was no longer the plan.
Witney councillor Andrew Coles said he is “absolutely delighted” with the arrival due this summer and added: “It’s a vote of confidence in Witney’s town centre as yet another new business comes to town.”
Business & Technology
UK demolition company enters administration after 23 years
Forshaw Demolition is a family-owned business that has operated for 23 years and boasts more than 80 years of combined experience.
It provides services such as asbestos removal, industrial decommissioning, and the dismantling of concrete and steel structures, including road and rail bridges.
The company also delivers residential, city centre, and high-rise demolition projects.
The Forshaw website explains that the company takes on schemes right across the UK, usually valued between £10,000 and £2 million.
Forshaw Demolition enters administration after 23 years
Now, after 23 years in business, Forshaw Demolition has fallen into administration.
Richard Cole, Stephen Kenny, and Amy Lowden from KBL Advisory Limited were appointed joint administrators on July 24, according to The Gazette.
What happens when a company goes into administration?
When a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.
Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.
“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”
A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.
A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control are handed over to the administrators.
Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.
“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.
“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”
Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.
Through administration, a company can be:
- Rescued and passed back to the directors
- Enter liquidation
- Be dissolved
Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026
It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.
Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.
UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.
Whitbread recently confirmed it will be closing all its UK restaurants in September:
- Brewers Fayre (89 locations) – September 7
- Beefeater (106) – September 10
- Bar + Block – September 3
- Table Table – September 3
- Cookhouse + Pub – September 3
TG Jones and the British Heart Foundation will also both be closing around 150 stores across the UK.
Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:
Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:
Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:
UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.
It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.
It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.
Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.
Which business/store closure in 2026 has impacted you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
Business & Technology
Final days for 40-year-old UK pub chain as near 4,000 jobs lost
Only a month remains until Brewers Fayre – a pub-restaurant business in operation since 1981 – is closed by owner Whitbread, with doors set to be shut across the country on September 7.
With 89 branches around the UK – including in Bicester – the family-friendly brand was well-known for its Sunday Carvery menu.
Earlier this year, it was announced that it and Beefeaters would be closing as Whitbread restructures its wider business.
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Beefeater will shut down all of its sites on September 10, including the branch at the Oxford South Milton Interchange.
The Applecart Beefeater at the Oxford South Milton Interchange (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)
Some of the properties housing the restaurants have been put up for sale while others will be incorporated into Travelodge branches, with 3,800 jobs being lost in the process, although Whitbread has said it will try to retain as many staff as possible.
Across the country, some Beefeater and Brewers Fayre eateries have already been switched over to Whitbread’s own in-house Thyme brand.
Others are being sold and closed with the cuts set to impact about 12 per cent of the company’s 30,000-strong workforce in the UK and Ireland working in its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants.
A statement was issued on the restructuring earlier this year in which it was announced a number of the restaurants would be converted into additional Premier Inn rooms.
A spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites.
Brewers Fayre in Bicester (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)
“As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.
“However, we do anticipate that the proposed changes, which are subject to consultation, would result in a reduction of around 3,800 roles of a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.
Interior of Bicester Brewers Fayre (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)
“We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected.”
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In addition, Beefeater has also provided clarity on its loyalty scheme, publishing a deadline on its website.
A spokesperson said: “All points must be collected (or receipt details added) by Monday 24 August 2026 and then converted into your points-based vouchers and used by Monday 31 August 2026.”
With a loyalty card, customers could collect 5 points for every £1 spent and once 500 points have been earned, they would be able to claim either a £5 voucher, a free bottle of wine or 2 free starters or desserts.
Business & Technology
Decision to sell Oxford pet business ‘not easy’, says owner
Oxford Small Pet Boarding was funded by Megan Timms in 2020, after spotting a gap in the market for specialist boarding facilities dedicated to small pets.
Over the past six years, she’s built a successful business caring for beloved pets like rabbits and guinea pigs, mice, rats, birds, ferrets and tortoises.
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Oxford Small Pet Boarding, a business based on the outskirts of the city, is up for sale (Image: Oxford Small Pet Boarding)
Now, however, Ms Timms is offering the established business up for sale to a new owner, and has put up a listing seeking another ‘passionate animal lover’ to take on the owner-operated, home boarding business.
“The decision to sell has not been an easy one and is not due to a lack of demand,” the founder explained.
“The business is currently based at a premises that can no longer accommodate the boarding facility because of changes to the landowner’s own business requirements.
“Rather than close the business altogether, I would love to see someone else take over and continue what has been built over the past six years.”
She was inspired to create the pet boarding business after working as a pet sitter, travelling between client’s homes to spend limited time caring for and interacting with their pets.
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The owner said she would love to see another animal lover take on the business (Image: Oxford Small Pet Boarding)
However, she felt small animals deserved ‘far more than basic care’, and created the full-time pet boarding set up so she could provide round the clock attention to the animals.
Included in the sale is the established branding, business name, website and social media accounts, the existing customer database, operating procedures and systems, and all the equipment needed to host small pets at a new site including purpose-built cages, outdoor runs and boarding equipment.
Ms Timms added: “The sale presents an exciting opportunity for someone who loves animals and is looking to run their own business.
“The business would suit anyone with a genuine love of animals, whether they’re looking for a career change, a family-run business or an opportunity to expand an existing pet-related enterprise.
“With pet ownership continuing to grow and more people travelling, demand for trusted boarding services remains strong.
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The boarding business cares for all kinds of small pets, from guinea pigs and rabbits to mice, rats, birds and tortoises (Image: Oxford Small Pet Boarding)
“I’d be delighted to see Oxford Small Pet Boarding continue under new ownership and provide the same high standard of care that customers and their pets have come to expect.”
She added that the business is not tied to any particular location, currently based in an Oxford suburb and operated from a nine-by-five metre indoor building with direct access to secure outdoor exercise runs.
The guide price for the business is £29,950 and interest can be registered through agent Goodwins Business Brokers.
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