ONE of Oxford's best-loved coffee shops has announced it is to close.

The Quarter Horse on Cowley Road has said its last day of trading will be Friday, December 23.

The owners said the shop is to become a 'bike cafe' with a focus on coffee and cyclist culture, run by the team behind what used to be 'Zappi's' in St Michaels Street, and is now The Handle Bar Cafe and Kitchen.

Quarter Horse was opened in November 2012 by Nathan Retzer, originally from Normal, Illinois.

He said he spotted a gap in Oxford's coffee market while his wife was studying for her DPhil at Oxford University.

The cafe team said they aimed to find the best coffee beans they could and work with top roasters in Europe.

In Febuary 2015 they opened a second coffee shop and roastery in Birmingham.

Now they are going to close Oxford and move to Birmingham permanently.

Oxford Mail:

Picture: Google 

In a blog post on the Quarter Horse website yesterday Mr Retzer wrote: "It is with the greatest sadness that we have decided to close Quarter Horse Coffee in Oxford.

"We have taken this decision very seriously and have done so because the shop on Cowley Road needs local ownership so that it can achieve its greatest potential.

"East Oxford will not be left without a great coffee shop. We are very pleased to announce that Peloton Espresso is taking over operations at 76 Cowley Road in the New Year.

"This new bike cafe will be run by Matt Rees and Dan Roiser (of Zappis fame) with a focus on great coffee and cycling culture. They will be brewing Quarter Horse beans so we are not leaving East Oxford entirely and all of our great customers can still take Quarter Horse Coffee home with them."

More information about Peloton will be uploaded in due course at http://www.pelotonespresso.com