Local independent traders join Lock29 food and drink venue in Banbury's town centre

Roses of Bloxham, Jammin Pizza, Mr Souvlaki and Foosian all opened yesterday, Wednesday December 2, following the end of the second national lockdown.

Banbury local and combat sports afficionado Tony Tulloch of Jammin Pizza will be swapping his boxing gloves for a chef’s apron to bring Lock29 visitors the finest handcrafted pizzas this side of Venice. He is on a mission to share his passion for pizza, offering hot slices that are made with love and bursting with flavour to keep people flocking back for more.

Tony Tulloch, owner of Jammin Pizza, said: “I am so pleased to be able to share my passion. Lock29 will give people yet another reason to come to Banbury town centre and enjoy all that Castle Quay has to offer.”

Roses of Bloxham has built up a loyal following in Banbury over the past few years having firmly established itself as a Castle Quay favourite for its selection of crepes, homemade ice cream and other sweet treats.

Tammy Rose of Roses of Bloxham said: “We have been trading for 20 years in Castle Quay and at first we were nervous about taking the leap and moving into Lock29, but it truly feels like we have come home and are part of a family. All our regular customers came on our first day to wish us good luck and it’s such a lovely feeling to have the support of the community.”

Brought to Lock29 by Ilias Alexias, Mr Souvlaki is about sharing one family’s passion for Greek food in the United Kingdom, but with an added artisanal twist on one of the earliest, most original forms of street food: Souvlaki.

Ilias Alexias, owner of Mr Souvlaki, added: “Opening Mr Souvlaki in Lock29 is all about making a dream come true, to spread the Greek tastes, traditions, and warm hospitality to each and every customer of ours.”

Foosian offers a classic east meets west fusion cooking experience by mixing Pan-Asian street food, made from authentic ingredients, with western classics for a seriously tasty culinary experience. Eastern loaded fries combos have been a real hit with diners and with vegan options also available, there truly is something for everybody.

Dan Gibney, owner of Foosian, said: “Lock29 has an amazing vibe and we’re looking forward to seeing it progress. We are so excited to be part of a street food team who is bringing something new and fresh to the town centre.”

Many of the new names have been operating delivery and click and collect services during the second lockdown, and the updated rules mean they can now offer a dine-in experience.

Lock29 will be also extending its weekend opening hours, remaining open until 9pm Thursday to Saturday. Opening hours may vary between operators, so customers are being asked to check the website for the latest information.

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the German sausage stand, which has become a Banbury festive staple over the years. By popular demand, it will join the Lock29 family for the holiday season, bringing the finest selection of bratwursts to the people of Banbury for a limited time, courtesy of the same operators behind Roses of Bloxham.

Since launching in August, Lock29 has continued to grow and evolve and is fast becoming a haven for foodies from Banbury and beyond.

The venue will also feature a dynamic space for events and activities, which will be open to the whole community when restrictions permit.

As Lock29 continues to grow, and with Castle Quay Waterfront continuing its journey to its first phase of opening in spring/summer 2021, these linked and interconnected canal side spaces are set to become a hive of activity.

Chris Catford, manager at Lock29, said: “Lock29 came from a vision to breathe new life into the canal side and rethink a critical, abandoned space for the benefit of the community.

"The newest additions to our line-up perfectly capture the edgy and independent spirit of Lock29. By partnering with dynamic local businesses and entrepreneurs, we believe this will offer visitors something completely new by celebrating everything that makes Banbury such a unique place to live, work and play.

“Our priority remains the wellbeing of our customers, retailers and teams, and we encourage everyone to enjoy themselves responsibly and take care of one another during the festive period.”