Oxford News
New ‘capsule’ hotel plan for Oxford Five Guys building
Criterion Capital’s Zedwell hotel chain has announced plans to open a hotel in the centre of Oxford as part of a UK-wide expansion.
According to Property Week, Zedwell will convert the 22,000 sq ft, six-storey, Oxenford House at 13-15 Magdalen Street into a hotel.
READ MORE: Significant number of jobs lost at Mini plant
The building, which has Five Guys restaurant on the ground floor, is close to tourist attractions including the Ashmolean Museum. The luxury Randolph Hotel is nearby.
According to Property Week, the plans follow Zedwell’s opening of the ‘world’s largest capsule hotel in Piccadilly Circus and the opening of Zedwell Underground Park Lane – the brand’s second subterranean hotel in the UK.
Halima Aziz, head of hotels at Zedwell, said: “Oxford is one of the world’s most iconic and culturally rich cities, making it a natural fit for Zedwell as we continue to scale up across the UK.
“With a current and committed pipeline of more than 9,000 rooms by 2028, Zedwell is gaining powerful momentum across key urban destinations. We look forward to introducing our unique guest experience to Oxford and welcoming travellers from around the world.”
In 2023, plans were put forward for the first to fourth floors and part of the basement and ground floor to provide 55 en-suite student rooms.
Planning consultants Bidwells put the application forward on behalf of Croudace Properties.
The owners also planned a roof extension to the front elevation above the fourth floor and a two-storey roof extension to the rear elevation above the third floor.
At the same time, a planning application was submitted by the owners for a change of use from educational facilities to office accommodation.
The planning application said at the time: “It is noted this planning application is being submitted in tandem with a separate planning application for the change of use of Oxenford House to student accommodation.
“This twin-tracked approach has been adopted to ensure the applicant has complete flexibility in respect to the building’s future use and to meet market demand.”
Now it appears that the 2023 plans are being replaced by the latest plans for the boutique ‘capsule’ hotel.
City councillor Susanna Pressel said: “We were expecting this building to become yet more student accommodation, but actually I think a reasonably priced hotel would be better for the city.
“We are told that there is a big demand for more hotel rooms, in spite of some recent new hotels.
“At present, too many tourists are day-trippers and the city would gain more if they stayed overnight: they would spend more, which would create more jobs.”
The Zedwell chain offers “a simple, smart, and affordable way to rest, and your own cosy space to recharge, right in the centre of the action that is budget friendly”.
Individual sleeping capsules offer you your own private space within a shared dormitory, according to the chain.
It says: “Meet like-minded travellers in the lounge, then slip back into your capsule when you’re ready to unwind. It’s your space to switch off, rest, and recharge. Here you don’t need more, just what matters.”
It is not yet known if the Five Guys restaurant would remain once the new hotel opens.
Boutique hotel The Store hotel opened in May, 2024, on the site of the former Bosewells department store.
The hotel on the corner of Cornmarket Street and Broad Street is renowned for its fine dining Treadwell restaurant and rooftop bar.
There are also plans for an 145-room aparthotel and community hub on the site of the former Odeon Cinema in George Street.
Walter Klen, of Farmoor, Oxford, was sentenced to 19 years in jail at a sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, July 13.
The 60-year-old was found unanimously guilty of 13 counts, by a jury which police said had to listen to ‘the most vile and harrowing descriptions’ of the child sexual offences.
READ MORE: Thames Water announces hosepipe ban starting this week
These were four counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of attempted rape and four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.
The court heard that between 2003 and 2010, Klen sexually abused three children over a seven-year period at addresses in Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire and Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire.
All three victims were girls who were under the age of 13 at the time of the offences.
Klen was arrested on July 11, 2023, and charged on May 9, 2025.
He was subsequently convicted following a nine-day trial at Oxford Crown Court, which began on June 11.
READ MORE: Major delays on Oxford ring road due to traffic incident
Thames Valley Police’s Investigating officer Detective Constable Bryn Smith, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Klen’s offending was sickening, devious and manipulative and he will rightfully spend many years in prison.
“I commend the bravery of the three victims and their families and friends who had to endure hours of giving evidence in court over these nine days.
“The fact that Klen was found unanimously guilty of all 13 charges is testament to the resolve of those involved and the support they gave each other.
“I would also like to thank the jury. Twelve people from all walks of society who had to listen to the most vile and harrowing descriptions of child sexual abuse over many days.
“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual abuse to come forward and report it to police.
READ MORE: Thames Valley: 12 arrests and 73 incidents reported in World Cup 2026
“You will be listened to and supported by experienced officers and staff.”
Anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault can report offences to Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or making a report online. In an emergency, always call 999.
The force said: “We understand that coming forward can feel difficult, and support is available whether or not you choose to make a report to the police. Please see our website for more information.”
Daniel Walsh was found guilty of a public order offence at a hearing at Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on July 10.
The 35-year-old used threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to harass, alarm or distress a man at the centre, court documents say.
READ MORE: Oxford teenager caught with knife at popular UK theme park
Walsh denied the offence, which happened on July 1 last year when entering a not guilty plea on August 12, but the conviction was proved in his absence.
Magistrates issued a community order ending October 9, 2026, with specific supervision requirements.
Walsh, if Dunchurch, Rugby in Warwickshire, is also excluded from entering the Westgate shopping centre for three months, also ending October 9, 2026.
The exclusion was ordered as part of the sentence to protect others from further distress.
Walsh’s conviction was recorded under the Public Order Act 1986.
Game, the once‑dominant high street video‑games chain which had over 300 UK stores, continues to disappear from city and town centres across the UK.
An administration report shows the business owed roughly £3.5m to its secured creditor and about £12m to unsecured creditors, many of whom are not expected to recover what they are owed.
READ MORE: Postcodes affected by Thames Water’s hosepipe ban this week
The retailer, now owned by Frasers Group, has been through insolvency once before in 2012 but had rebuilt around a mix of smaller shop units and in‑store concessions inside Sports Direct and House of Fraser.
Those concessions now represent Game’s main physical footprint in Oxfordshire with a branch housed in Cowley’s Sports Direct at Oxford Retail Park on Ambassador Avenue.
That means customers in and around Oxford can still buy products over the counter in Cowley, even as the chain’s standalone stores close elsewhere.
READ MORE: Ann Widdecombe murder suspect in court today as cause of death unknown
Witney, however, has already lost its dedicated Game branch after the store held a closing‑down sale in December 2023, before shutting in January 2024.
National coverage has since confirmed that Game’s remaining high street outlets in other parts of the country will shut during 2026.
This ends more than three decades as a standalone presence and leaves the brand trading online and through concessions only.
This pattern is already evident in Oxfordshire, where the Witney shop has gone, and the Cowley counter inside Sports Direct survives.
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoJune heatwave would be ‘virtually impossible’ in 1976
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoStage Watch: ‘I think we need much more laughter in the world’ says John Cleese
-
Business & Technology5 days agoHSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments
-
Business & Technology6 days agoValarian lands USD $50 million backing for sovereign AI
-
Oxford Events3 weeks agoWhat’s on in Oxford & Oxfordshire this July
-
Oxford Events4 weeks agoStage Watch: Lord of the Dance celebrating 30 years with spectacular return to Oxford
-
Oxford Events3 weeks agoOxford’s traffic filters questions answered
-
Oxford News2 weeks agoNew romantasy bookshop attracts queues of customers