Reading Room at the Corner House

Mon 29 Dec 2025, 09:10

 Many congratulations to all who have worked so hard on The Corner House and good that John mentioned Paddy and Roy, who has worked and worried over many, many years.  

It was a thriving community centre in the past and interesting to see some 'new' ideas coming up which also used to happen---for example the seminar/discussion/debate. Not so long ago Jonathan Luxmoore organised a series of debates which were very popular.

Good luck to all the enterprises.

Mon 29 Dec 2025, 07:38

A reminder that with the deli reopening today, so therefore is the bookshop and reading room. With regard to the latter ..

• It's an attractive overflow for the café. A large, warm comfortable space for coffee & conversation - a quiet, but not silent, space.
• If you have unwanted up-to-date newspapers & periodicals, do leave them for others on the large table there. Nothing older than yesterday's daily paper or last week's weekly journal or last month's monthly, please! (And take home & recycle anything older that you find there, please - the space is unstaffed and it's up to all of us to maintain it!).
• In the spring we're going to start a series of short talks/seminars/discussions there on a wide variety of topics, using the cornucopia of knowledge in town. Already planned are sessions on Tolstoy, Horace's Odes and Alma Mahler. Let me know what you'd like to lead one on!

Tue 9 Dec 2025, 16:39

A couple of tub armchairs and a coffee table are now in situ.  The armchairs are upholstered in "vegan leather" -- and so are ideal for sipping your oatmilk latte in.

And yes, Rachel is right:  the room is available for hire from 3.00 pm Monday - Saturday and from 12 noon on Sundays.  It's ideal for civilised parties, for public events, for business meetings (we have a pull-down screen in the ceiling, flip-chart easels, whiteboards etc - just ask!), or really at the low hourly price we charge just for getting away from the grandchildren or the in-laws over the Christmas period.

Sun 7 Dec 2025, 22:33 (last edited on Sun 7 Dec 2025, 22:54)

I believe it's still possible to rent the room after 3 p.m. - a lovely venue for meetings now.

Sun 7 Dec 2025, 14:06

I seem to remember somewhere asking everyone to bear with us (ie the D & C) a little while we work things out in our new home.  And as John says, this is all part of it.  And as I also keep saying (to anyone who'll listen), the potential here is huge!

Sun 7 Dec 2025, 12:35

.. But are there plans to open up more, especially at weekends? The front door is usually locked when Cornerstone closes and then the café closes ? I know this is difficult but this is a facility that deserves to be used! ..

Thank you for your kind comments, everyone.  It reminds me of when I used to be a proper vicar -- others did the work and I got the glory.  So a quick name-check for Paddy Gallagher with his Sisyphean labours and Roy Scott with his Zen-like patience over many years!

We'd love to see the building open for longer, but our insurance conditions preclude it being open when it's unstaffed.  I'm not wanting to hassle the good Deli folk .. the move has been quite a challenge for them .. but in time I plan to talk it all through with them (particularly about the front door, as well as the back, being unlocked throughout Deli opening hours).  Essentially, though, the Bookshop and Reading Room are available (if sometimes with ingenuity) whenever the Deli is.  We'd all like them to be open for longer too .. but that's a question of their turnover justifying longer opening hours.

Meanwhile, a couple of tub armchairs and a coffee table are on their way, and new curtains are being made for us.  I do hope you'll all come and support our local artisans at their sale in the room this coming Friday evening;  and why not book the room yourself for a function -- it's hard to imagine that there's a space that good available that cheaply anywhere else in the county!

Sun 7 Dec 2025, 11:10

It is indeed wonderful John. Love the Persian rug and plans for more improvements.good to see the Corner House becoming more of a community hub, especially  with the Deli and café. But  are there plans to open up more, especially at weekends? The front door is usually locked when sornesrstone closes and then the cafe closes ? I know this is difficult but this is a facility that deserves to be used! 

Sat 6 Dec 2025, 14:27

Look forward to checking out the Reading Room. 

Thanks to everyone who have given the Corner House a new purpose, funding it and making it happen. 

"Nobody can make you inferior without your consent. Never give it." Great quote. 

Maybe the people who don't like change.......

Sat 6 Dec 2025, 14:26

We also popped in to have a look today, so brilliant to see this building feeling so alive! Well done to John and everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition. 

Sat 6 Dec 2025, 11:35

Sitting in the reading room now, with a coffee from the Deli, what a great space to meet & chat with friends, let alone all the books.  Great job.

Sat 6 Dec 2025, 08:25

Congratulations John on the reading room and the deli move which I’m sure the ‘majority’ of Charlbury residents are happy with

Sat 6 Dec 2025, 08:05

Thank you, Marjie.  Having been abused, indeed sworn at, for "ruining the Corner House" and "riding roughshod over the wishes of the people of Charlbury", it's always encouraging to receive a compliment or two!

Sat 6 Dec 2025, 07:29

The Reading Room photos look fantastic.  Well done to all involved.  We saw some very hard working people lugging the large rug in the front door of the Corner House yesterday  -- great work and thank you.  Looking forward to seeing it in person and reading a book there.