SOCIAL enterprise Tap Social is to open a new bar in a former butcher’s shop in the Covered Market.
The Botley-based brewers will take over the former Hedges Butchers unit to serve its range of locally-brewed craft beers. The new bar will be named The Market Tap.
Tap Social will also take over the management of the square outside the unit, and turn it into an event space with a full calendar of live music, theatre, film, poetry and comedy.
The square will be filled with new tables and chairs, a new stage, and new decorations.
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Tap Social plans to open The Market Tap this summer, initially for a 12-month trial and has leased the unit on that basis.
Tess Taylor, who helps to run Tap Social, which runs a pub on the Curtis industrial estate in Botley, said: “We are really excited about this opportunity and hope The Market Tap will help to bring new life to the market and boost footfall.
“The market has a very welcoming inclusive vibe and we felt that was a nice fit for us.”
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Tap Social has also taken over The White House pub in Abingdon Road and Ms Taylor and her sister Amy said they expected it to open in the summer following refurbishment.
The aim is to open the new bar in the historic market seven days a week, staying open until potentially 10pm or 11pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays – but this late opening could be expanded to other evenings if the bar proves successful.
Mary Clarkson, cabinet member for culture, said: “It is very exciting that the award-winning social enterprise Tap Social will be joining the Covered Market family.
“Alongside Creation Theatre’s performance of Don Quixote, the Alice in Wonderland sculptures and the pop-up opportunities for small businesses, this is another sign that we’re willing to try different ideas to keep the Covered Market thriving.
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“We’re keen for the market to open late into the evening to match modern shopping habits and successful markets across the country, and we think the new bar and its entertainment calendar could be a catalyst to ensuring this happens.”
It is hoped that other Covered Market traders – particularly food and drink businesses – will open later to complement and benefit from the new bar and entertainment. Currently, the market closes daily at 5.30pm.
The plans will be subject to planning permission, listed building consent, and licensing.
The aim is to bring more people into the market, make better use of the historic space in the evenings, and increase the amount of time that people stop and stay in the 18th century market.
The vision is for people to shop later in the evenings and to buy food and drink from a range of different traders, which they can consume in a buzzing central part of the market.
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Tap Social is an award-winning social enterprise that was established in 2016 to create training and employment opportunities, particularly for ex-offenders.
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