Oxford’s first indoor golf activity bar to open in Botley

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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.