Another new bakery could be coming to an Oxford city centre unit which has been empty since 2017. 

Knead Bakery has applied for signage at 115 High Street, previously occupied by womenswear clothing brand Hobbs. 

This comes after French bakery La Savoir Boulangerie had plans permitted to move into 12 Turl Street.

The Oxford branch would be Knead Bakery's fourth. They already have bakeries in Cirencester, Tetbury and Elkstone. 

The building in High Street was used as a jewellers and watchmakers' shop for most of the 20th century until it was taken over by the Liberty retail company in 1986, and then by Hobbs in 1997.

READ MORE: Oxford University college ghost gets his own special beer

115 High Street, Oxford, when it was occupied by Hobbs (Image: Oxford City Council) It has been empty since 2017 when Hobbs moved to the Westgate Centre.

The ground floor and the basement of the building are currently unoccupied. Knead Bakery Limited plan to use the ground floor for retail, café and preparation purposes with the basement used for staff and storage facilities.

In the scheme's planning statement, it said: “The company is founded on the key principles of tradition, quality and seasonality and focuses on baking and patisserie, producing and selling breads, pastries, cakes, breakfasts and lunches by hand.

“This is a primary shopping area and a predominantly shopping frontage albeit that in recent years this part of Oxford city centre has suffered a number of shop closures due to the opening of the Westgate Centre, Covid-19, internet shopping and economic pressures on the retail sector. 

“The proposals have been sensitively designed and would enhance what is currently a vacant building.”

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
  • Advert-light access       
  • Reader rewards       
  • Full access to our app

About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby