ONE of Oxford’s best known restaurants and a fledgling wine bar will shut up shop after a bid to renovate a landmark Victorian building in Jericho was approved.

The Big Bang sausage restaurant in Walton Street will close after plans for 35 student flats and six new shops were passed on Thursday.

The restaurant is expected to relocate.

And wine bar Bottega will also go under the plans.

The development, on the corner of Walton Street and Little Clarendon Street, will see the refurbishment of three properties including the renowned ‘Lumley’s Tea’ building, dating from the mid 19th century.

But 126 Walton Street and 32/32a Clarendon Street will be demolished for a new four storey extension under the long-mooted plans.

Restaurateur Max Mason, owner of Big Bang for six years, said he was likely to close in April.

He said: “I think we’re going to be lucky to survive a full winter there but it’s still four years longer than we expected to be there.

“It’s such an improvement to that area that it feels a bit unfair making any objection to it as long as they are sympathetic to the structure that’s already there.

“The need for student accommodation is greater than mine. There’ll always be another site that we can move to in the city in due course.”

However Chris Murray, who runs Bottega wine bar in Walton Street, said he feared the move would drive out independent firms. He said he did not know if it would relocate.

Mr Murray, whose shop is on a six-week rolling lease, said: “It’s a real shame because when we took it over the estate agent said there’s a good chance we’d have first dibs on the building.

“But having spoken to the project manager it seems like the rent might go up by two or three times.”

Developer Shirehall Properties originally wanted to demolish the Walton Street shop, famous for its Lumley’s Tea advertisement on the front of the building.

That will now stay under the new scheme, which was approved by Oxford City Council’s north area committee. Council officers recommended approval for the site for the first time.

But the St John Street Area Residents’ Association warned it was an “over development”.

They were also worried 35 study rooms could disturb neighbours.

However Summertown city councillor Jean Fooks said it would not be visible from the street and conditions meant students would be supervised.

She said: “We are very pleased we’ve got a scheme that retains the facade on the corner with the advert.

“This is providing more student rooms and the concerns of people have been addressed as a condition from the planning officers.”