Keen golfers Ollie Yates, 34, and Karim Sutton, 36, first met on the course at Frilford Heath Golf Club, discovering a shared passion for the game and a vision for a business.

Five years later, they’re just weeks away from opening Slice, a brand new golf simulator activity bar and pizza joint coming to Botley’s West Way development.

READ MORE: Bicester fire – house up in flames in Launton Road

Virtual golf involves hitting a golf ball into a hitting screen and watching it fly as it would in real life through a projection, offering players rounds of golf, mini games and even data to help the super keen golfer perfect their swing.

CGI rendered images of the new venue Slice, opening soon in Botley (Image: Slice)

“The idea is it’s for everyone,” said Mr Yates. “Whether you’ve never pickled up a golf club before or you’re a pro, everyone can get something out of the technology.”

With a large bar space, an interactive darts board, a kitchen serving up small plates and New York-style pizza by the slice, and drink partnerships with Tap Social Movement, Newground Coffee and The Oxford Wine Company, the new entertainment venue is offering something new to Botley.

CGI rendered images of the new venue Slice, opening soon in Botley (Image: Slice)

Mr Yates added: “Every conversation we have with people locally is about how Oxford needs more of this sort of thing.

“I think we’re seeing trends where people, and particularly people from younger generations, are less interested in just going drinking at the pub and instead want to have an activity that’s a bit less drink-focused.

“And golf has been growing a lot over the last few years, it’s captured the attention of a slightly younger demographic.”

READ MORE: Claire’s closing this weekend for good amid administration

Slice is designed to cater to all of those things through the emerging market for virtual entertainment venues, as a place for anyone to come along and practice their game or try golf for the first time, without worrying about the etiquette of the course.

‘Golf, pizza, vibes’: Slice is coming soon to Botley West Way (Image: Newsquest)

“We want to make it that anyone, no matter what their lifestyle is, can come in and find something for them in here, where they can come and enjoy themselves,” Mr Yates said.

Opening in Botley is central to the vision too, where the business owners have a ‘vested interest’ and a real desire to see the West Way development thrive.

Mr Sutton said: “I think we’re just really excited to get open, and bring something to this area.

“We both live locally and this is something we wanted to see in the area – golf is our passion and we’re opening a business to bring that to Botley.

“If I were opening my dream business it would have golf, darts and pizza in it – and we’ve got it all under one roof.”

READ MORE: Oxford trust children’s mental health ‘requires improvement’

Mr Yates added: “We’ve got a vested interest in seeing this development do well and bring more people here.

“This is where we’re from, and we wanted to set up here to get this area a bit more lively and introduce some fun things to do.”

Slice will open at 7 West Way Square, Botley, in mid-May, with a firm date to be announced.

Bring a Trailer, a global online collector car auction site, has joined forces with the heritage site as part of its expansion into the UK market.

The company will make its first appearance at the Bicester Scramble on Sunday, April 26, alongside its UK partner Sports Purpose.

Randy Nonnenberg, co-founder and president of Bring a Trailer, said: “We are delighted to partner with Bicester Motion as BaT continues its formal expansion into the UK market.

“Bicester Motion is a place that we as a team have long admired, a true haven for car enthusiasts in the UK.

“It embodies the very best of the British car scene’s passion and expertise, so it’s the perfect venue for BaT over here.”

Set on the grounds of the former WWII RAF Bicester Bomber Training Station, Bicester Motion has been transformed into a thriving hub for automotive businesses in recent years.

Daniel Geoghegan, founder and CEO of Bicester Motion, said: “For Bring a Trailer to have chosen to partner with the Scramble is a real coup for us at Bicester Motion.

“It aligns with the ethos of the Scramble perfectly.”

The Bicester Scramble, held several times a year, showcases a broad range of vehicles.

At the April 26 event, Bring a Trailer will display a range of cars currently listed on its UK platform.

The line-up includes a Porsche 356 Speedster, a Guards Red Porsche 987 Boxster Spyder, and a historic Chevrolet Camaro racecar.

Since the first new generation MINI rolled off the Oxford production line on April 26, 2001, the brand has continued to innovate and maintain its unique place in British culture.

Over the past quarter-century, 4,671,664 MINIs have been produced in the UK, encompassing four model generations and various body styles, including the original three-door, five-door, Roadster, Coupe, Clubman, Clubvan, and Convertible.

MINI is marking its milestone by unveiling 25 facts for 25 years, celebrating the people, places, and production moments that have defined the quarter-century of modern MINI manufacturing.

These facts include the diversity of the workforce, which represents 64 nationalities, the production of 26 special edition MINIs, and the fact that MINIs built at Oxford have been exported to over 100 countries.

Markus Grüneisl, CEO of BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd, said: “This 25-year milestone is a proud moment for MINI and for everyone involved in its production here in the UK.

“From the very beginning, our plants in Oxford and Swindon have been at the heart of MINI’s global success, combining exceptional craftsmanship with innovation.

“Above all, it is our people – their creativity, expertise, and pride in what they do – that continue to make MINI so special.”

The MINIs crafted at Oxford and Swindon are distributed to over 100 markets worldwide, cementing their status as a significant part of Britain’s automotive manufacturing industry.

Together, the two sites employ more than 3,000 people, producing around 800 MINIs each day.

At Plant Oxford, a new MINI rolls off the production line every 78 seconds.

The Swindon plant, which manufactures thousands of precision-engineered body panels daily, has also played a crucial role in the modern MINI’s journey.

In 2006, BMW Group’s Hams Hall plant in North Warwickshire began producing engines for the MINI, adding another layer to the vehicle’s all-British production story.

Today, more than 4.6 million engines have been produced for the Oxford-built models.

The Oxford plant, which has been a part of its community for 113 years, has also become a popular tourist destination, with over 17,500 visitors enjoying the plant tours in 2025 alone.

In 2025, the BMW Group sold 2.46 million passenger vehicles worldwide.

The group’s production network comprises over 30 sites worldwide, with a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy.