This is a such a random one but I had the most amazing conversation with a person on the bus back from Swindon to Oxford last night. I forgot to ask for your socials so If this was you and you would like to connect and keep in contact, I’d love to see the adventures you embark on!

Evening all. I’m looking for recommendations for companies who install insulation in suspended timber floors.

If anyone here has had it done and can recommend the company they used I’d be extremely grateful.

I’ve checked Checkatrade but didn’t have much luck.

Thanks very much!

Hey all, I am...blessed with an odd body shape which means no off-the-shelf clothes really fit me.

Going fully bespoke for everything is basically not a viable idea, so I am looking for a tailor who can do small alterations to shirts, polo shirts, and trousers so I have clothes which fit me.

I think what I need is more high-volume but I need someone who won't charge me an arm and a leg....

Ideally somewhere central or east/north Oxford.

Any ideas?

Im new to oxford, a big barca fan, is there a pub where barca fans usually gather to watch the games? If not, would people be interested in watching the game on tuesday?

The only pub that i have seen with multiple screens playing the CL is Jude the Obscure so im thinking of heading there on tuesday. Any other suggestions for pubs?

So if you find yourself in Headington with a hankering for freshly baked flatbread, head to Master Butchers at Headington shops. At the back they bake 12 inch flatbreads to order at £1 for two.

Hi guys, title is somewhat self explanatory and hopefully this sort of post is allowed here.

As a bit of background, I've been living in Oxford for almost four years now as I had to move back in with my parents due to severe depression/anxiety kinda shipwrecking the life I was trying to build. Unfortunately, I don't know anybody in Oxford other than my parents as they moved here whilst I was at Uni, and therefore I feel very isolated because I don't have any friends here (and most of my previous friends were unable/unwilling to support me when I started struggling). Isolation isn't very healthy for anyone and I'm not sure how to go about meeting people - I've tried making new friends online but nothing ever clicks. I game with some old school friends which is good but obviously isn't the same as seeing people in person.

My main interests/hobbies are playing board games, writing (although my creative drive is impacted by my mental health and my muse has been temperamental as a result), playing instruments (I play piano and technically violin although I haven't touched it in a few years), and watching/following various sports (F1 & tennis especially). I've looked into writing groups but given this is Oxford and it's filled with very intelligent people and tons of actual published writers and I can barely write at the moment because of my mental health, I think it'd be too intimidating for me. I've also considered going along to Thirsty Meeples for a board game thing but my previous experiences in other nerd-adjacent spaces never yielded anything beyond passing friendliness because people are stereotypically introverted and also already have friendship groups.

Tldr; Asking for friends on a subreddit as a 29 year old as a shot in the dark, desperate times call for desperate measures. If you're a similar age to me, have similar interests and are willing to adopt a depressed guy who is trying to get better then please point me in the right direction.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I (video)game a lot too, I'm a lifelong Nintendo kid. Would love to play some Mario Party with some people at some point.

Hi people
I’m new to Oxford and I’m interested in mountain biking. Beginner and adventurous so if there’s anyone in Oxford, I’d like to go biking some time. Also looking to learn trails and tricks and tips of mountain biking…

Thanks for reading.

What a shambles. How hard would it have been for them to put up a sign telling people that they can use an alternative entrance (by Sainsbury's)

EDIT: interesting that nobody is suggesting Bicester. Is there a reason for that?

I'll be moving to Oxford in a few weeks' time to start a job at the Schwarzman Centre. I'm a recent graduate (different uni) on a tight budget and I don't know Oxford at all. I'm a woman in my 20s.

I want to rent a place somewhere that's safe and not too noisy, and that's an easy commute from my work.

What areas should I be looking in? Thanks.

Hey, so looking to move back to Ox after about 20 years, saw a couple of places in Barton, but from my memory - granted it was a long time ago, Barton wasn't the best.

Has it changed?

Is it a nice place to live?

TIA

I live in a 1-bed metered flat with my boyfriend in central Oxford, and we've just received our first bill from Thames Water. It is somehow £280 from 1 Sep-15 Oct???

This feels catastrophically high to me based on what I've seen online. The unmetered estimate from Thames Water website for a 1-2 bed flat (and I thought their unmetered tarifs were meant to be higher than metered) is £52 per month.

For context we take 2 showers a day (under 10 min each), run laundry 3-4 times per week, and don't leave taps running for ages. Could this usage be causing the high bill?

As far as I can see we don't have any leaks, but will check more thoroughly.

I just wanted to ask if anyone else has had such a high bill for that sort of usage/property? Maybe I was simply very naive and this is what it costs...?

Any advice or stories appreciated! Thank you!

Hello,

Is anyone missing a cat? They seem quite young, very friendly and has no collar on.

They are gray with a white nose and socks. I have tried to take some pictures but they are a bit blurry.

ETA: she was still around our building this morning so took her to my house, fed her and then when the vet opened I took her to them, she is microchipped so hopefully owners have been able to get her :-)

Finally, those things were disgusting!

We want to change the perception of cider through social tasting events over the next year. The ciders we hope to present are far closer in quality to wines than they are to 'a pint o'scrumpy'. In fact champagne owes its existence to the efforts of Oxford cider makers, so really, a flight of 6 fine ciders is a bargain compared to an equivalent wine tasting! Come along and find out for yourself just how good cider can really be. You can find us on Instagram (@)oxfordciderclub

Afternoon everybody! As regulars know, I write a weekly restaurant blog and this week’s review comes from Oxford - I always put them in this sub when they’re Oxford reviews, because you’ve all been really lovely about my writing in the past.

This week I am at The Punter on Osney Island, which used to be a vegetarian pub but now only slightly is, to see what it’s like now that the Botley Road is open for business again.

Hope you enjoy it, and as always I’m sorry in advance if this comes across as spam or isn’t your cup of tea. Either way, have a lovely day.

Does anyone have a spare ticket for the boo cabaret tonight in the old fire station?

Winners announced at Oxford Climate Awards

Last night, the Oxford Mail and Oxford City Council hosted the 2026 Oxford Climate Awards at Oxford Town Hall.

Raff Lab was named as the overall winner for 2026. By reusing and recycling laboratory materials, reducing energy use and cutting waste, the team has saved an estimated 1,000kg of plastic waste and 6,000kg of CO₂ emissions annually.

The full winners list has been published on our socials, or pick up tomorrow’s (17 October) Oxford Mail for in-depth coverage.

4,000 Oxford families now waiting for housing

In an unwelcome milestone, more than 4,000 families are now on our Housing Register and waiting for social housing.

The latest figures show 4,068 applicants are registered for social housing in Oxford, as demand continues to far exceed the supply of available homes.

The council is working to deliver 1,632 affordable homes, including 1,072 for social rent, over the next four years through our housing company, OX Place, and partnerships across the city.

We have argued the way to tackle the housing crisis for future generations is to release a small part of the Green Belt around the city for development, under a proposed Greater Oxford Council.

Trader survey finds Gloucester Green Market is performing positively and well-liked

Due to the high level of public interest, we recently commissioned The Retail Group to conduct an independent study, which included an anonymous survey of traders and industry expert opinion, of Gloucester Green Market.

Data from the study found that, overall, Gloucester Green Market is performing well, traders are satisfied and it attracts a high frequency of visits, typically at least weekly.

Museum of Oxford updated business plan to be discussed at Scrutiny and Cabinet

This month, Oxford City Council will discuss an updated Museum of Oxford Business Plan for 2026-2029.

The updated plan sets out a vision for the Museum’s future, focussed on improving long-term financial sustainability, increasing access for Oxford residents and developing new opportunity for community support, philanthropy and sponsorship.

The proposals aim to ensure that the Museum can continue to share Oxford’s stories, support learning and engagement and care for its collections for future generations.

Statement on County Council issuing legal letter on LGR

The government is reorganising local government across England by replacing district, city and county councils with unitary councils.

In July, the government announced it was minded to create three unitary councils for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

This week, Oxfordshire County Council announced it had taken the formal step of issuing a legal letter to government ahead of a potential judicial review of local government reorganisation.

The government is currently reviewing its decisions following legal advice and to ensure the reorganisation programme is robust and aligned with the new government's priorities.

In response, Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said: "While I understand the leadership at Oxfordshire County Council was disappointed by the Government's preference for three unitary councils, I don't think it should be spending public money on a legal challenge.” Read the Leader’s full statement: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1923/statement-on-local-government-reorganisation

We've published our latest Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report

The report shows an 8% reduction in emissions during 2024/25 and a 31% reduction compared with our 2019/20 baseline.

Projects commissioned during 2024/25 are also expected to save around £100,000 a year in energy costs.

Want this in your inbox? Subscribe to our Your Oxford newsletter: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/newsletter

Hello!

Is anyone aware of any squash ladder leagues, preferably at Iffley Road Sports Centre as I was going to get a membership, but if not, anywhere.

I've been playing for a few years but would still consider myself entry level, so just trying to find a league at my level to get back into it since moving here.

Thanks!

I’m looking to make more catholic/christian friends in Oxford, I’m very new to religion and having a hard time talking to my regular mates as they have no interest but I’m hoping to find a friend/friends that can help and just casually guide me! Most of the churches I’ve been too don’t have people my age (25) and are mainly older, any suggestions on where I could go would also be appreciated :))

A train I can get arrives at 8pm then I need to get a hotel their isn't an easy bus that time of night ,will I find a taxi? Is Uber reliable?

We're looking at doing the Time Cops treasure hunt from Escape Hunt Oxford for a pre-teen party group. I've read mixed reviews about incorrect/incomplete/irrelevant clues, but all quite old.

Also it's £20 per person for a self-directed hunt around Oxford - so for 6 people it's £120, which doesn't feel great.

Have any of you done it recently? How was it? What alternatives should we do instead?