Oxford road 'worth travelling for' after bridge reopens

Residents in east Oxford have launched the 'Worth Travelling For' campaign to celebrate the re-opening of Donnington Bridge, which provides car access to Magdalen Road.

The street is home to a variety of businesses that attract customers from all over, but the bridge closure had been a setback for them.

While most customers travel by foot, bike, or bus, some need to drive, and the bridge closure had caused heavy traffic, deterring some from visiting the shops.

The Goldfish Bowl features in the new campaign (Image: The Goldfish Bowl) The campaign will highlight a different small business each week until Christmas, sharing the stories of the owners by asking them three questions.

Craig Simmons, a long-standing resident and former lord mayor of Oxford, said: "We love living in Magdalen Road and the huge variety of businesses make it a fantastic place to explore.

"We’re famous for our great local bakeries, cafes, and restaurants but we also have a piano repairer, a theatre, a gym, a traditional barbers, and one of the best tropical fish shops in the UK.

"We’re telling the world that far from being just for locals, Magdalen Road is worth travelling for and everyone is welcome."

The campaign kicks off with Barry from 'The Goldfish Bowl,' a tropical fish emporium.

The Goldfish Bowl has been trading for nearly 70 years, offering everything from aquariums to accessories.

The campaign follows the re-opening of Donnington Bridge (Image: The Goldfish Bowl) The shop prides itself on its "incredible and unrivalled selection of livestock" and its commitment to supporting its customers and the wider fishkeeping community.

When asked what makes The Goldfish Bowl "worth travelling for," Barry said: "Aside from our unrivalled selection of livestock, customer service and community is at the heart of what we do.

"We’re not here to sell you something you don’t need, we’re here to make your fishkeeping journey exciting and encouraging."

The Goldfish Bowl regularly hosts school tours and special events for families.

The Goldfish Bowl (Image: The Goldfish Bowl) It has previously been named in a Parliamentary Review for best practice within the industry and was selected by SHOAL as one of the five shops in the country to spearhead their campaign to raise funds for the conservation of tropical fish.

When asked about his favourite thing about Magdalen Road, Barry said: "Magdalen Road must be one of the most diverse commercial roads in the country.

"East Oxford is such a vibrant community and Magdalen Road plays a key and central part in the incredible community that makes us proud to be from Oxford."