BUSINESSES in a food court 'which people don't know exists' at Oxford's £440m new Westgate Centre have hit out over high rents, poor lighting and a lack of advertising.

Firms and customers have spoken out after Indian-inspired food stall Rola Wala closed its kiosk there last week after just six months of trading.

In an online survey conducted by the Oxford Mail, 36 per cent of shoppers said they had never even heard of the Westgate Social, which boasts an eclectic mix of foodie favourites from around the world.

Another 31 per cent said they had been to the Social once, but did not plan to return to the food court which is underneath the main Queen Street entrance to the shopping centre.

Rola Wala co-founder Mark Wright told the Oxford Mail: “The rooftop is widely advertised, but they haven’t defined the Social.

“Customers think ‘Why would I go down there?', ‘Are they cheaper down there?’ but to be frank, the prices were higher.

“We were stuck between a rock and a hard place: there is just no footfall.

“Where does the Social fit?”

Despite owners of the Westgate, which opened on October 24, saying the number of shopping trips to Oxford was expected to increase from five million to 16 million after the centre opened, businesses in the Social are still not convinced managers are doing enough to promote the downstairs area.

Abdou Ramdane, supervisor of the Social's Lebanese grill Shawa, said: “Outside, you don’t realise this place exists and when people do come down, it’s very dark – it’s off-putting.

“People just don’t know it's here.

“We’ve asked Westgate to put more lights in, and they said they will, but so far – nothing.

“Rola Wala have left now, it’s just going to get worse, especially now that the students are going home.”

Among the businesses still serving at the Social are Benito's Hat burritos, Ned's Noodle Bar, Salt 'n' Sauce fish and chips and Tommi's Burger Joint.

Student Ricky Wong said: “There are no signs to say that there is a downstairs, I wouldn’t know it existed unless I walked past the escalators.”

George Wilson and Jake Ball, both 18-year-old students, agreed, saying: “Going downstairs is just out of the way, it’s not that nice and it’s not bright.

“We have been in, but we’ve not eaten there, and the only reason we’ve been in is because that’s where the toilets are.

“To my understanding it’s just all the expensive food.”

Australian Mr Wright, who based Rola Wala on his travels around India, said he thought the Social was missing a large and familiar brand name as an 'anchor' to pull visitors in.

He said: “Big brands can come in and sustain business for a long period but the Westgate Social are smaller, emerging brands, and the downside is there are absolutely no anchors.

“That’s the missing link – it’s important."

He added: “Westgate Social is based on Trinity Kitchen in Leeds and the anchor there to bring the customers in is Tortilla.

“You just think – 'how does this work?'

“If the Social was placed next to big brands like Primark and Boots then people would be like, 'okay, let’s pop in for lunch' but people want to go to the rooftop.

“There’s also the highlighted issues – basic lighting and the lack of signage.

“We bought into the space as a mixed food and leisure centre, but that’s not what it is.”

At Neds Noodle Bar, however, general manager Thomas Szabo said he remained positive about the future.

He said: “I think initially we were a little forgotten about, but Neds Noodles is very lucky with our position in the Social – we’ve done particularly well."

He added that high rents combined with low footfall could be make business difficult, saying: “Half our rates are spent on rent.

"Its £36,500 a year for 400 square feet.

"However established you are, if you don't have enough money you'll close."

He said traders in the Social were expecting Westgate managers to install new light fixtures, signage and possibly artwork, adding: “We’re hoping the Social becomes a pillar of Oxford.

“If we were a football team, we’re hoping to work our way up to the Premier League."

Westgate Oxford was contacted for a comment but did not respond.