Oxford’s historic Covered Market has welcomed four new businesses over the last two months, including a popular bakery and a family-run Italian business.

Il Corno, a family-run bar and shop from Naples, opened over the weekend. They offer two key Neapolitan products: panuozzi, a sandwich made with pizza dough with a variety of fillings, and taralli, a salty snack in a toroidal shape.

Hamblin Bread, a local bakery on Iffley Road, took on two of the three recently restored units by the Oxford City Council in partnership with Oxford Preservation Trust.

They plan to open their kiosk in December, alongside a snack bar in January. The kiosk will offer a range of bread, buns, and pastries, while the bar will offer a selection of sandwiches.

These two new businesses follow Crystal Spirit Emporium and OxUnBoxed, which opened in the last two months. Crystal Spirit is a family-run small business selling crystals, minerals, and fossils, while OxUnBoxed is a refill shop aiming to promote low waste living.

Two existing shops, A Woollen Cosy Life and The Woolhound, have moved to larger units within the market.

Next year will mark the 250th anniversary of The Covered Market. The city council, which owns and operates the market, had plans throughout the year for this upcoming anniversary. 

This February, the city council approved almost £7 million of investment to revitalise the historic market and launched a trial of later opening hours.

The funding project aimed to refurbish the entrances in High Street and Market Street, provide larger seating areas inside, and create an outdoor seating space on Market Street.

On the new businesses joining the Covered Market, Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown commented that “The Covered Market has been at the heart of the city for almost 250 years and I’m so pleased that it continues to inspire and attract new businesses.

“Bringing a bakery back to the market is something both locals and the council have wanted to do for a while now, so I am incredibly pleased that Hamblin Bread will join the market’s wonderful array of businesses. 

“We work hard to protect the market’s unique charm and history while ensuring it stays relevant and inviting for new generations and I’m excited to see the next chapter in its story.”

Image Credit: Heather Cowper via flickr

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