A former printing shop in High Street in Oxford could soon become a Japanese restaurant.

Simon Tong has put forward plans to the city council to convert the former shop unit owned by Magdalen College into a Japanese restaurant called Ramen Korner.

The 18th century building on the corner of High Street and Longwall Street is Grade II listed and was last in use as a printing shop between 2019 and 2021.

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Before that it was a computer and mobile phone repair shop between 2017 and 2019 and it was a money exchange bureau between 2015 and 2017.

Oxford Mail: The former printing shop in High Street

Before 2015 a property letting agent occupied the premises.

Change of use planning consent is not needed, according to the planning application documents on the city council website.

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The existing ground floor will be the main customer dining area and an open kitchen, covering 90 sq m.

There will be room for 31 dining places at tables in the restaurant.

There is a Japanese restaurant in Walton Street called Koto.

It was previously in North Parade, and received a five-star food hygiene rating in 2021.

And Japanese kitchen Edamame is in Holywell Street.

Oxford Mail: The printing shop in High Street

Its website says: "Edamame is an authentic Japanese eatery in Oxford.  We serve our own style of home-cooked food, offering various Japanese dishes, and sushi, at low prices.

"It is not a sushi bar and it is not a formal Japanese restaurant.  It is a very casual and friendly setting that might not appeal to people in search of more formal dining! 

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"However, everyone is most welcome, and we do our very best to make you feel comfortable through what might be for some a new kind of dining experience.

"In Oxford there are several formulaic chains and Asian 'fusion' food outlets.

Oxford Mail: The former printing shop in High Street

"At Edamame we fiercely maintain our policy of serving only authentic Japanese food, that we carefully prepare and then serve to you with much pride.

"Our signature dish edamame "eh-dah-mah-meh" are juicy, baby soy beans. Pop them out of their salted pods to enjoy their succulent and addictive flavour."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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