Cafe boss William Pouget is looking forward to Oxford University students returning at the start of the new academic year.

The Covid-19 pandemic has ripped the heart out of the customer base at the Vaults and Garden cafe in Radcliffe Square over the summer and fewer students, academics and tourists have been turning up to sample the dishes on the menu.

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The cafe is situated in a building dating back to 1320 at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin in High Street, with a vaulted ceiling and garden.

Mr Pouget, who has run the business for the past 17 years, said the enforced lockdown has made life difficult for city centre cafes but he and his staff are now looking forward to a brighter future, with more customers returning, now that lockdown restrictions have been eased.

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William Pouget

He added: “It has been a huge challenge as we depend on the trade from undergraduates, postgrads, language schools and tourists and there haven’t been many of them around.

“I think neighbourhood cafes have actually done okay but here in the city centre we have been bearing the brunt of it.

“But things are starting to pick up - the locals are coming in together with some tourists from places like the home counties.

“It’s really good news that some of the big attractions like the Ashmolean are opening again - that definitely helps to attract people back into the city centre.

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“When places like the Ashmolean and the Pitt Rivers start up again it brings more families back into the centre and that’s very important for cafes like ours.”

Mr Pouget said the cafe’s landlords had been understanding during a difficult time for the business.

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He added: “We have been very fortunate to have the compassionate support of our landlord the university church supporting us through this unpredictable time of crisis for the hospitality industry.”

The cafe owner, whose father Baron Pouget owns The Oxford Cheese Company in the Covered Market, said the Covid-19 crisis had led to a feeling of solidarity among cafe owners and other businesses in the hospitality sector.

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He added: “Of course it’s competitive out there but there’s definitely a sense that the independents are sharing insights and strategies for surviving - that’s been very positive.

“When our customers ask us where to go next we have been directing them to the punting at Magdalen Bridge.”

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The cafe boss said social distancing guidelines has significantly reduced the number of diners it is able to accommodate - down from the pre-lockdown total of 74.

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He added: “We do have some outside space and we are considering trying to get permission for some parasols or a temporary marquee.

“The city council has been very supportive towards outside dining so far.”