Oxford’s historic city centre is enjoying a surge of new openings in 2025, with more than 15 new businesses securing lettings across the Covered Market, High Street, Broad Street, Gloucester Green, and Westgate Oxford. The variety of ventures — from artisan cafés and bakeries to fashion retailers and cultural attractions — is being hailed as evidence of the city centre’s adaptability at a time of rapid change for UK high streets.
Covered Market: heritage meets innovation
The Covered Market, a landmark trading hub since the 1770s, has been central to this growth. Following the launch of a new Leasing Strategy in 2021, Oxford City Council has pursued a vision of “quality over quantity”, seeking out independent, specialist, and locally owned retailers to complement the market’s heritage.
In 2025 alone, five new businesses have joined the line-up:
- Lula’s Ethiopian Café & Deli, a local success story that started under the Meanwhile in Oxfordshire… scheme, supporting small businesses with flexible, affordable space. Lula’s first site flourished and the brand has now expanded to a second unit in the market.
- Oxford Dogs, specialising in locally made pet treats and accessories.
- Ginger & Spice, offering global condiments and spice blends.
- Potato Hut, an artisan spin on the baked potato.
- Arbequina, the acclaimed tapas restaurant, which has added a more casual dining offer to the market.
The strategy has given the market its widest-ever mix of artisan produce, cafés, lifestyle retailers, and experiential venues. City leaders point to Lula’s growth as a model for how incubator schemes and flexible leasing can nurture businesses from start-up to established brand.
City centre streets: diverse new mix
Beyond the market, Oxford’s main shopping streets have welcomed a diverse range of businesses this year.
Highlights include:
- Loake Shoemakers, the heritage footwear brand, now open on the High Street.
- KNEAD Bakery, an independent Oxfordshire-based bakery and coffee shop.
- The Oxford Illusion Museum, the city’s newest interactive visitor attraction.
- Amathus Drinks, a specialist wine and spirits merchant, also on the High Street.
- Greens Café, expanding onto New Inn Hall Street.
- Mr Wang Hot Pot, bringing Chinese hotpot dining to Gloucester Green.
- Italiamo Trattoria, new to Broad Street.
- Aromi Caffè, opening on St Michael Street.
- Waterstones, relocating from Cornmarket to a new flagship on Queen Street.
This varied mix of retail, food, drink, and cultural experiences reflects the ambitions of the City Centre Action Plan, which sets out to make Oxford a resilient, vibrant and sustainable centre in response to shifting consumer behaviour.
Westgate Oxford: retail destination grows
The Westgate Oxford shopping centre also continues to evolve, with several new lettings completed this year. The centre has attracted both national and independent brands, adding to the city’s offer as a regional retail and leisure destination. This include:
| Tenant | What/When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sephora UK | Opening autumn 2025 | Marks Sephora’s 11th UK store, its first at Westgate Oxford. Will bring a large beauty/skincare offer including exclusive and viral brands. |
| Snowflake Gelato | New store from 24 Oct 2025 | First Oxford location, opening at Leiden Square next to Joe & the Juice. Sweet treats, gelato, waffles etc. |
| Trinny London | Already opened (concession) | New concession inside John Lewis. |
| Accessorize | Reopened/up-sized | Moved to a larger 2,700 sq ft space between Clarks and TK Maxx. |
| PURESEOUL | First store outside London, from 20 Dec 2025 | Korean skincare & beauty brand, 2,225 sq ft unit; marks expansion beyond the capital. |
| Sunglass Hut | Opened 18 Dec 2025 | Upper Ground. Eyewear retailer. |
| Ji Chicken | New Food & Beverage option | Taiwanese chicken & bubble tea, in Westgate’s street food/social food area. |
| Claire’s | Opened 2 Dec 2025 | 989 sq ft jewellery/accessories store; includes piercing service. |
| The Beefy Boys | Opening Sept 2025 | Award-winning burger joint, crowned UK’s Best Burger in 2023, opening its 5th UK restaurant at Westgate Oxford. |
Council view: resilience and fairness
Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthy, Fairer Oxford and Small Business Champion, said:
“Oxford’s city centre continues to be a strong and adaptable destination, with a wide range of new businesses choosing to set up here. This reflects our commitment to supporting a healthy and fair local economy, and to creating opportunities for independent and specialist retailers to thrive.”
At a glance: new arrivals in 2025
- Covered Market: Lula’s Ethiopian Café & Deli, Oxford Dogs, Ginger & Spice, Potato Hut, Arbequina.
- High Street: Loake Shoemakers, KNEAD Bakery, Oxford Illusion Museum, Amathus Drinks.
- Other streets: Greens Café (New Inn Hall Street), Mr Wang Hot Pot (Gloucester Green), Italiamo Trattoria (Broad Street), Aromi Caffè (St Michael Street), Waterstones (Queen Street).
- Westgate Oxford: multiple new tenants including Sephora, Beefy Boys, Snowflake Gelato, Trinny London, Accessorize, Pureseoul, Sunglasses hut, Ji Chicken and Claire’s Accessories.
