Charlbury Deli & Cafe
For the uninitiated, the
Charlbury Deli & Café was set up as a limited company in 1991 (then ka The
Good Food Shop) by a group of people, as I’ve always understood it, who simply wanted
the town to have such a facility. It has
always been run more as a community enterprise than in the expectation of private profit, with paid managers and staff but
volunteer directors.
Faced with financial difficulties
in 2016/17, a new group of directors came forward, including me, and funds were
raised through a second share issue. The
business then moved, enthusiastically and energetically, into the Old Bank
House on Market Street.
As you may be aware, with the end
of our lease in sight, we moved into the Corner House in November last year. The shareholders voted before Christmas to
aim to convert the company into a Community Benefit Society (CBS), a far more
sensible structure for a community based enterprise. It would also be far more in keeping with the
new location. With the use of the garden
and newly refurbished reading room it has enormous potential, with any profits
going to support both the Corner House itself and other local charitable
causes.
But sadly the company is
currently faced with similar difficulties as in 2016/17 – one major difference
being that despite several attempts to find new directors, this time no-one has
come forward. Instead, we have an
advisory team but only one director – me.
I really need to stand down for personal reasons and have given notice
to the shareholders that I intend to do so come what may on 31 March (postponed
once already from 31/12).
The company’s poor financial
position also means we are not currently able to go for conversion, even
assuming one (or ideally more) new directors were willing to take over. But there is nothing to prevent other people
setting up an entirely new CBS, with members rather than shareholders – and
then acquiring the business and/or its assets.
We plan to hold an open public meeting to discuss that as soon as we can
agree a date (probably with Plunkett UK, a locally based but national charity which
supports people in rural areas to set up and run a wide range of businesses in
community ownership). So watch out
for the date in Events!
In
the meantime, we’ll not only be very glad of your custom but if anyone might be
willing to stand as a director, even if only as a ‘caretaker’ pending further
developments, do please get in touch. The
company cannot continue to trade without at least one director so would
otherwise have to go into liquidation, with all the difficulties and loss of
employment that would entail. Which after
35 years, I think would be a great shame.
Charlbury, the choice is yours.
R
O Evans
12/02/2026
PS For anyone interested, there is a useful introduction here: https://cwmpas.coop/what-is-a-community-benefit-society
Rod Evans ·
Wed 11 Feb, 12:29 · Link
WODC revises Spendlove car park times
From a press release from West Oxfordshire District Council:
“Following feedback from its recent public consultation, West Oxfordshire District Council has revised its approach to parking stay times in Burford, Charlbury and Woodstock district council car parks. After carefully considering the views of residents, businesses and visitors, the Council has amended its original proposals, including adjustments to plans for long-stay parking in Woodstock and Charlbury.
“As a result, the maximum long-stay period in the three car parks will change, mostly to ten hours. This aims to support local workers while still discouraging all-day commuter parking. The mix of long- and short-stay spaces is also being adjusted to improve turnover for shoppers and visitors, while maintaining longer-stay options.”
Separately, WODC has confirmed it intends to close the paid-for public toilets it currently operates next to the free car park.
Richard Fairhurst ·
Tue 10 Feb, 11:09 · Link
Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
- Grey Tiles Sturt Road Charlbury
T1 - Cherry - Reduce by 1 metre, crown raise to 1.5 metres, remove lower sucker growth. T2 - Contorted hazel - Reduce by 1 metre, crown raise to 1.5 metres and remove smaller sucker growth. T3 - Holly - Reduce height by 2 metres.
WODC reference: 26/00309/TCA - Fri 06 Feb 2026 - Under consideration
- Abbeywell Pound Hill Charlbury
T1 - Cherry - Reduce by 1 metre to around old points. Crown raise to 2 metres clear road side.
WODC reference: 26/00288/TCA - Wed 04 Feb 2026 - Under consideration
- Lee Place Hixet Wood Charlbury
Discharge of condition 4 (roof materials) of planning permission 24/01582/LBC
WODC reference: 26/00237/CND - Fri 30 Jan 2026 - Under consideration
- Well Cottage Thames Street Charlbury
Conversion of existing garage/workshop to dwelling
WODC reference: 26/00053/FUL - Wed 04 Feb 2026 - Under consideration
Mon 9 Feb, 06:15 · Link
BlaBla French Conversation Groups
Would you like to practice your spoken French in Charlbury, in the company of a French native speaker and fellow francophiles? After a long and successful career as a professional freelance technical translator, I am now running weekly French conversation groups:
Level 1 on Mondays at 11am: you're just beginning to learn (or relearn) the language, and know simple words and phrases, but do not yet feel confident to communicate with French speakers
Level 2 on Mondays at 3pm: you can understand a French speaker (if they speak slowly!) and you can have a basic conversation with them
Cost: £10 per person per session, £45 for five sessions.
For more info or registration, please contact me by email at valeriezitoun@aol.com or through this website.
Valou Pakenham-Walsh ·
Thu 5 Feb, 14:43 · Link
Consultation on Local Government Reorganisation opens
This statutory consultation seeks views on the proposals that the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received following the Secretary of State’s invitation to councils in Oxfordshire to submit proposals for unitary local government for Oxfordshire.
You can respond to the consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-reorganisation-in-oxfordshire/proposals-for-local-government-reorganisation-in-oxfordshire
Liz Leffman ·
Thu 5 Feb, 14:30 · Link
Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
- 1 Wychwood View Woodstock Road Charlbury
G1 - Over mature hedge line predominantly consisting of dead elm - Fell to Ground level and remove stumps - To allow installation of new boundary fence, planting of a new evergreen hedge row and planting of new trees to improve screening for all parties following new development.
WODC reference: 26/00210/TCA - Wed 28 Jan 2026 - Under consideration
- Minster Cottage Church Street Charlbury
Replacement of 20th century Stormsure casement windows with flush hardwood casement windows
WODC reference: 26/00035/LBC - Tue 27 Jan 2026 - Under consideration
Mon 2 Feb, 06:15 · Link
Charlie Hurst's 100th Birthday
One hundred years ago today Charlie Hurst was born in Charlbury. Today it was a pleasure to present birthday wishes to Charlie from His Majesty The King.
Marjorie Glasgow ·
Sun 1 Feb, 17:14 · Link
