Platter John Lewis will replace the long-standing The Place To Eat brand across 32 cafés, including the one at Westgate Oxford.

The first refurbished spaces will reopen from this month.

The investment forms part of John Lewis’ £800m multi-year investment in its brand, stores and customer experience, as the retailer focuses on giving customers even more reasons to visit, meet and spend time in its stores.

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Refurbishment work has started in three John Lewis stores, with Chichester, Reading and Oxford Street, London, the first branches to undergo investment.

A Place to Eat at John Lewis (Image: Ed Burnett)

The scale of change will vary from store to store, with Oxford Street receiving the most extensive revamp

The Oxford Street restaurant will reopen in early August as the flagship Platter John Lewis, following a 13-week transformation.

All 32 cafés will be refurbished and rebranded by the end of 2027.

There are 62 cafés and restaurants across the store estate, with hospitality accounting for more than 20 per cent of John Lewis in-store transactions.

A Place to Eat at John Lewis (Image: Ed Burnett)

Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services and hospitality for John Lewis, said: “Customers are spending more time in our shops, and food and drink is an increasingly important part of that experience.

“Platter John Lewis will give customers a more modern, welcoming place to pause, meet and enjoy something delicious while they shop.

“This is an exciting investment in our hospitality offer and an important part of how we’re making John Lewis shops even better places to visit.

“We’re pleased to get the first refurbishments underway and look forward to opening our flagship at Oxford Street this summer.”

John Lewis at Westgate Oxford (Image: John Lewis Partnership)

John Lewis has linked up with hospitality specialist Benugo to transform and operate the new restaurants.

The partnership builds on an existing 10-year relationship with Benugo, which already runs cafés under its own name in 10 John Lewis stores.

Platter John Lewis will sit alongside the retailer’s wider hospitality offer, which includes Benugo, Ori cafés, Huffkins tea rooms, Jamie Oliver Cafe and Kamakura at Oxford Street.

While offering a refreshed menu, Platter will keep John Lewis customer favourites, as well as popular My John Lewis membership offers such as free hot drinks and cake.

John Lewis opened as the anchor store at Westgate Oxford when it relaunched in 2017 following a £440m revamp, which included 100 new shops and restaurants, including some at the centre’s rooftop terrace.

It is now the city’s only remaining department store, following the closure of family-run Boswells in 2020, and the closure of Debenhams in early 2021.

The space occupied by Boswells on the corner of Cornmarket and Broad Street is now occupied by The Store hotel, while the former Debenhams in Magdalen Street is to become a £125m lab space overseen by The Crown Estate.

John Lewis Partnership owns the Waitrose supermarket chain.

Organised by the parish of Witney, the Witney Festival of Food and Drink was held on Saturday, May 16, from 10am to 4.30pm.

Nearly 70 stalls were on St Mary’s Church’s grounds and inside the medieval place of worship, offering a wide range of food and drink from local producers.

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Richard Young, licensed lay minister, said he was “delighted” by the event.

He said: “The weather was kind right through to mid-afternoon and there was a wonderful atmosphere across St Mary’s, the churchyard and Church Green from start to finish.

“The expanded programme in the Festival Arena proved especially popular and helped create a real sense of energy and community throughout the day.

The Witney Food and Drink Festival 2026 (Image: Ed NIx)

“Even a few late afternoon drops of rain could not spoil the occasion.”

This expanded programme included a festival bar serving craft ales from Little Ox and Tap Social, alongside cider from Old Stag, and coffees and cocktails from UE Coffee and the Wood Brothers Distilling bar respectively.

A children’s scavenger hunt was put on and live music included Sol Samba on the Church Green at 12.30pm.

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“One of the most encouraging things,” said Mr Young, “was hearing such positive feedback from our stallholders”.

Indeed, Jenny Allsopp from Sutton Courtenay Berry Biscuits said: “We had an incredible sales day. We beat all previous years since we’ve been coming.”

Mr Young added that he and his fellows at St Mary’s Church wanted to thank the volunteers, traders, performers, sponsors and visitors for making the event a reality.

The Wheatsheaf Inn in East Hendred has been listed by WTS Property Consultants, with the premises currently open and continuing to serve both food and drink.

The property dates back to the late 16th century, when Elizabeth I of the Tudor dynasty ruled England, with timber beams throughout, typical of buildings of the period.

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The listing states: “The original part of the building is noted as being of cruck construction, with timber beams throughout the building.”

Around 50 covers can be served within the pub which, according to its website, has served alcohol since the 1700s and was a beer-only establishment until 1960.

The Wheatsheaf Inn in East Hendred has been listed for sale (Image: WTS Property Consultants)

Across its around 0.3 acres the Grade II listed property has a smoking shelter, a commercial kitchen and a car park, with its first floor including several bedrooms.

WTS Property Consultants state that the “property will appeal to local licensed operators, restaurateurs and investors”.

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Currently the pub is open all week from midday to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 9.30pm, excepting Sundays when it is open for lunchtime only.

It has a 4.6-star rating based on 160 Google Reviews and its listing notes it is well known for good food, with the business also offering meals as takeaways.

The operators of The Wheatsheaf Inn have been approached for comment.