Please note that this is an archived page, left here for historical interest only.
Each year, our new Oxford Christmas and New Year Information Page goes live online at the start of December, and is clearly signposted from our homepage: www.dailyinfo.co.uk.
Merry Reading!
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Daily Info over Christmas
and New Year Holiday sheet date: 19/12/2008 (paid ads for the 19/12 edition will last till 8/1 in print and online).
The first sheets of 2009 will be 9/1, 16/1, then back to Tue/Thu/Sat from 20/1/2009. Our last printed sheet of 2008 will go out on Friday 19th covering the following three weeks. You'll have to wait until 9th January for the next printed edition of Daily Information! The deadline for Friday 19th is 10am Thursday 18th. The website will continue to be updated during the Christmas season. You can continue to put adverts / events listings up in 51 categories on this website yourself, both paid and unpaid. Just click here (for ads) or here (for events) and follow the instructions. Any problems, email info@dailyinfo.co.uk A Merry Christmas to all our readers! |
Christmas Concerts, Carols, Festivals and Services
Wed 17th
BBC Oxford’s Big Christmas Carol! Be part of Oxfordshire’s biggest-ever carol service. Time: 7.30pm.
More info www.bbc.co.uk/oxfordThu 18th
Christmas Concert with Oxford Graduate Philharmonia / Fauré, Saint-Saens & Mendelssohn. / graduatephilharmonia@gmail.com / 8pm, £10 (£5) / University Church of St Mary the Virgin , High Street, OX1 4AH
Fri 19th
Journey From Darkness To Light Sospiri / Choral Music for Christmas by Pärt, Sheppard, Palestrina and others / www.sospiri.co.uk / john@sparks.co.uk / Tel. 07533 722996 / 8pm-9pm (£10/£5) / Merton College Chapel, Merton St.
Sat 20th
Messiah / Oxford Philomusica / Handel Messiah, Joanne Lunn, Julia Riley, Mark Milhofer, Quentin Hayes / www.oxfordphil.com / info@oxfordphil.com / 0208 450 1060 / 7.30pm £37 £26 £17.50 £10 / Sheldonian Theatre , Broad Street / 305305.
Oxford Waits Christmas Concert / A 17th-century Christmas in Music & Spoken Word / 4pm & 7.30pm, £10 (£9) / tim@costumebands.co.uk / 305305 / Holywell Music Room, Holywell St
Carols For Choir And Audience / Christmas music with this popular Oxford choir. / Oxford Pro Musica Singers / 7.30pm, £15 / £10 (Students) / www.opms.org / 305305 / University Church of St Mary the Virgin, High Street, OX1 4AH
Sun 21st
Christmas Concerto by Candlelight / City Of Oxford Orchestra / Vivaldi, Winter. Corelli,Christmas Concerto. Bach, Air on the G string. Manfredini, Christmas Concerto. Pachelbel, Canon. Bach, In Dulci Jubilo. / www.cityofoxfordorchestra.co.uk/ / Tel. 744457 / 3pm, 5pm, 8pm. £23, £17 / Exeter College Chapel , Turl St.Arias on Ice / Opera Anywhere / Opera Anywhere "gets its skates on" for Christmas. / www.oxfordvocalists.co.uk / Tel. 305305 / 5.30 & 8.30pm, £12.50 adults, £10 concessions and £5 children / Oxford Ice Rink, Oxpens Road.
Magpie Lane Christmas Concert / Oxfordshire folk band's seasonal wassails and carols / 4pm & 7.30pm, £10 (£9) / tim@costumebands.co.uk / 305305 / Holywell Music Room, Holywell St
Candlelit Carol Service / Choir, readings, carols in an ancient church softly lit by candlelight / 6.30pm, free / 311198 / St Giles' Church, St. Giles
Mon 22nd
Arias on Ice / As Sunday, above.
Carols by Candlelight / The Oxford Singers / www.theoxfordsingers.co.uk / Tel. 744457 / 6pm, £7/£5 / St Michael's at the Northgate, Cornmarket
Joy To The World! / Free concert by The Lovett Singers from Georgia, USA / 1.05pm / http://concertorganisers.com / 01306 741000 / Christ Church Cathedral
Tue 23rd
Christ Church Cathedral 276155
Thursday 18th December, 6.00 pm - Friends' Carol Service (Open to all)
Saturday 20th December, 4.00pm - Crib Service
Monday 22nd December, 7.00pm - Compline for Advent - Sung by the Gentlemen of the Cathedral Choir.
Tuesday 23rd December, 7.30pm - Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. (60 reserved seats will be available in the lodge at 9am. There will be enough unreserved seats for those who queue.)
CHRISTMAS EVE, 3pm - Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. (Again, 60 reserved seats will be available in the lodge at 9am. There will be enough unreserved seats for those who queue.) 11.30pm - Midnight Eucharist.
CHRISTMAS DAY, 8am - Said Communion Service (1662), 10am - Matins (sermon by Bishop of Oxford), 11.15am - Eucharist (sermon by the Dean).St Mary Magdalen, Magdalen St 247836
(High Church C of E - ceremony, incense, colour, choral works, recommended by our late proprietor)
Thu 18th Dec - Carols by Candlelight. 7.30pm.
CHRISTMAS EVE - 4pm Crib Service, 11.30pm Blessing of Crib & Midnight Mass of the Nativity
CHRISTMAS DAY - Mass 8am, High Mass of Christmas 10.30amUniversity Church of St Mary The Virgin 279111
Sun 21st Dec: 10.30am - Family Eucharist, 6pm - Festival of nine lessons and carols. In aid of Family Links. Music from University Church Choir. No tickets, all welcome.
CHRISTMAS EVE: 4.30pm - Children's Carol service and blessing of The Crib. For children and parents. 11.30pm - Midnight Mass with choir.
CHRISTMAS DAY: 10.30am - EucharistSt Giles Church 510460
Sun 21st Dec - Carol service. 6.30pm. All welcome.
CHRISTMAS EVE: 11.30pm - Midnight Communion
CHRISTMAS DAY: 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Matins and Holy CommunionSt Margaret's Church 510460
CHRISTMAS EVE: 3.30pm Crib service. 11.30pm - Midnight Mass
CHRISTMAS DAY: 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Parish Eucharist
Blackfriars, 64 St Giles 278400
CHRISTMAS EVE: 12 noon Mass, 4pm Crib Service, 6pm First Vespers of Christmas, 11.30pm Midnight Mass
CHRISTMAS DAY: 8am Mass, 9.30am Family Mass, 6pm Second Vespers of Christmas
St Mary's, Iffley village 773516
Sunday 21st 8.00am BCP, 10.00am Parish Communion, 6.30pm Christmas Carol Service followed by mulled wine & mince pies.
Monday 22nd 6.00pm Carol singing in Iffley Village, followed by barn dance at 7.30pm.
CHRISTMAS EVE: 3.00pm Christingle service for all the family, 11.00pm Midnight Communion Service
CHRISTMAS DAY: 10.00am Parish CommunionSt Michael and All Angels, Lonsdale Road, Summertown
Sunday 21 December, 10am Children's Carol Service & Sunday Club Tableau, 6.00pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols
(rehearsal for the Tableau on 14 December at 10am - ALL WELCOME)
CHRISTMAS EVE: 4.00pm Crib Service for children, 11.30pm Midnight Mass
CHRISTMAS DAY: 8.30am BCP Holy Communion, 10am Family Eucharist for ChristmasEvangelical Services
St Aldates Church, 244713, office@staldates.org.uk
Sun 21st - 6pm Carols by Candlelight, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.
CHRISTMAS EVE: 11pm Midnight Communion
CHRISTMAS DAY: 10.30am Family ServiceSt Ebbes Church, Pennyfarthing Place (behind the Westgate Centre) 240438
Wed 17th December 12.45pm - Lunchtime Carols. Buffet lunch 12.45-1.15 (£2), then a short service ending at 1.45.
Sun 21st - Carols by Candlelight, 6.30pm, followed by mince pies.
CHRISTMAS DAY: 8am Holy Communion, 10am Service for all agesSt Ebbes in Headington, meeting at 30 - 34 Lime Walk
CHRISTMAS DAY: 10.30am - All Ages Service.
Other Christian Denominations
Temple Cowley United Reformed Church, 751621
CHRISTMAS EVE: 11.30pm - Watchnight service with Holy Communion.
Also associated with Collinwood Church, Risinghurst, who have the following:
Sun 21st, 6.30pm - Carols by Candlelight.
CHRISTMAS EVE: 11.15pm - Watchnight service with Holy Communion.
CHRISTMAS DAY: 10.00 - 10.45am - Christmas morning worship service.
Wesley Memorial Church, New Inn Hall Street 243216
Sun 21st: 6.30pm - Carols by Candlelight followed by mince pies. CHRISTMAS EVE: 11.30pm - Holy Communion
CHRISTMAS DAY: 10.30am - Christmas Family ServiceFancy singing a carol or two but not sure of the words? Want to find the score to your favorite song of praise? There's a treasure trove of hymns at www.cyberhymnal.org.
For information on how Pagans celebrate the Winter Solstice (21st December) click here (BBC version) or here (Wikipedia).
See also: Oxford Exhibitions Page
Museum of the History of Science, Old Ashmolean Building, Broad Street, 277280
(Currently showing Small Worlds)
Normal Opening Hours: Tues - Fri 12-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm. Admission free.
Closed Wed 24th December - Thu 1st Jan inclusive.Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street. Tel: 278000
(One of the oldest public museums in the world - about to close for refurbishment)
Normal Opening Hours: Tues-Sat and Bank Holiday 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm. Admission free.
Closed from Tue 23 December 2008 to November 2009.Cast Gallery, currently completely closed as part of ongoing refurbishments.
University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road. Tel: 272950
(Dinosaur skeletons and live invertebrate exhibits: great place for children)
Normal Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm every day. Admission free.
Closed Thu 25th - Sun 28th December and Thu 1st January.Pitt Rivers Museum, Through the Natural History Museum, Parks Road. Tel: 272950
(Anthropological delights, newly re-organised)
Normal Opening Hours: 10am - 4.30pm every day. Admission free.
Already closed until spring 2009.Christ Church Picture Gallery, Christ Church (entrance via Canterbury Gate / Oriel Square) 276172
(Changing selections from the college's collection of Old Masters' drawings and paintings - see our Exhibitions page)
Normal Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10.30-1. 2-4.30; Sun 2-4.30. Adults-£2, Conc-£1
Closed Sat 20th December - Sun 4th January inclusive.Museum of Oxford, St Aldates. Tel: 815559
(Oxford City Council's Museum of the history of Oxford)
Normal Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 10-5, Sat & Sun 12-5, closed Mon.
10am-3pm Christmas Eve, Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year's Day. Otherwise normal hours.Modern Art Oxford, 30 Pembroke Street. Tel: 722733
(Now showing French and Estonian contemporary art)
Normal Opening Hours: Tues-Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun: 12-5pm. Admission free.
Closed Wed 24th December - Thu 1st January inclusive.
The Oxford Tourist Information Centre (252200) is running walking tours throughout the festive season, except for Christmas Day itself.
These include University and City tours every day at both 11am and 2pm. Additional University and City Tours will be run every Saturday at 10.30am and 1pm. On Jan 1st there will be tours at 1pm and 2pm, and no morning tour. University and City Tours cost £7 for adults, £6.50 for senior citizens and £3 for children.
There will be an Inspector Morse tour every Saturday at 1.30pm. Inspector Morse tickets are £7.50 for adults, £7 for senior citizens and £4 for children.
Family tours restart in February.
Tickets are available from the walking tour desk at 15-16 Broad Street or from the guide directly outside the Centre when the TIC is closed.
The TIC will be open on Wednesday 24th December: 9.30am - 5.30pm, closed Thu 25 - Sat 27th December, open Sun 28th - Wed 31st: 10.00am - 3.30pm, closed 1st January, and open normally, (9am - 5.30pm) on Fri 2nd.
See also: Oxford Family Events Page
At the University of Oxford Botanic Garden Rose Lane, OX1 4AZ 286690
The Botanic Christmas Tree. A Christmas tree with decorations made entirely from plant parts. See how many different plants you can see on the tree! Free with entry to the Garden. No need to book. During opening hours: daily 9.00am until 4.30pm Entry: Admission charges apply during the weekends. Weekdays by donation.At Science Oxford, 1-5 London Place, St Clements.
Funfair Challenge. For budding engineers! Become an engineer for the day and build your own motorised fairground ride with the K'Nex construction kit. Sessions suitable for 7-12 yr olds at 11am or 2pm. 30 Dec 2008
At the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road:
Polar Adventure Trail "An imaginative journey through the Museum to find Santa. On your voyage you might see giant sparkling rocks and waddling penguins." Saturday 13th December - Tuesday 6th January, during opening hours.
Storytelling with Darwin - Darwin's adventures and the wonders of evolution are brought to life. Listen to Darwin tell you about his fantastic travels to the corners of the earth. You can even make your own Darwin beard to take home. Saturday 17th January, 2pm - 4pm, drop-in
Family friendly fun - Borrow a backpack full of activities especially designed for families. Every Sunday at the Museum, 2 - 4pmAt the Museum of Oxford, St Aldates. Tel: 815559
28 November - 24 December: Santa’s Snow Trail: Follow the snowy trail around the museum and find all the clues to win a prize. Gallery trails: £1.00 per person, includes prize or souvenir pencil.
Tuesday 23 December: 10.30 - 11.30am; 2.00 - 3.00; 3.30 - 4.30pm Christmas Craft Creations: £2.00
Make some last minute Christmas crafts to decorate your home.Tuesday 30 December: 2.00 - 3.30pm: Silk Painting: £2.00
Design and paint a silk calendar and a silk dream catcher.Wednesday 31 December: 2.00 - 3.30pm: African Art: £2.00
Find out how traditional African pottery is made.Friday 2 January 2009: 2.00 - 3.30 pm: Joust!: £2.00
Find out about jousting knights and make a shield and helmet to take home.
Stagecoach Oxford For detailed timetable, click here
CHRISTMAS EVE - normal services, but buses stop around 6-8pm.
CHRISTMAS DAY - no services.
BOXING DAY - limited service between 9am and 6pm.
Sat 27th - normal Saturday service.
Sun 28th - normal Sunday service.
Mon 29th & Tue 30th - mainly Saturday service. Some routes not running. Full details here.
NEW YEAR'S EVE - Saturday service, except for route 66. Full details here.
NEW YEAR'S DAY - Certain special services operating, mainly at 20-30min intervals.
Tuesday Jan 2nd - normal service resumes.
The Oxford Bus Company
Much the same services as Stagecoach, except last buses around 7pm on New Year's Eve; and limited service on Jan 2nd.For full details click here.
The Oxford Tube - services to London
CHRISTMAS EVE - Saturday service until last departure at 1930 from Oxford, 2155 from London.
CHRISTMAS DAY - every hour, BUT via Heathrow. Oxford to London 0600 - 1700. London to Oxford 0800-1900. No stop at Hillingdon, premium fares charged (£25 single).
BOXING DAY - Oxford to London every 30 minutes from 0700, 0800 until 1900. London to Oxford every 30 mins from 0900, 1000 to 2100.
Sat 27th & Sun 28th - from 0410 Sat (Ox) & 0605 Sat (Lon) normal service, with a promise to attempt extra coaches as necessary.
Mon 29th & Tue 30th - Sunday service, with a promise to attempt extra coaches as necessary.
NEW YEAR'S EVE - Sunday service, with a promise of extra coaches as necessary until
Oxford - London 0010, 0020 0040, 0110, 0210, 0310, 0340.
London - Oxford 1900, then every 15 minutes until 2100, 2135, 2235, 0005, 0035 then every 15 minutes until 0305, then every 30 minutes until 0535.
NEW YEAR'S DAY: Oxford to London - 0410, 0510, 0610, 0710, 0810, 0900 then every 30 mins to 1900, 2010, then every hour to 0310.
London to Oxford - 0605, 0705, 0805, 0905, then every 30 mins to 2100, 2205, then every hour to 0305.
Friday Jan 2nd - normal Sunday service.Oxford Espress - services to London
CHRISTMAS EVE - normal service until last departure at 1830 from Oxford, 2030 from London.
CHRISTMAS DAY - no services.
BOXING DAY - Oxford to London every 30 mins from 0645, 0745, until 1845. London to Oxford every 30 mins from 0845, 0945, to 2045.
Sat 27th & - Sunday service from 4.30am from Oxford, 6.30am from London.
Sun 28th - normal Sunday service
Monday 29th & Tue 30th - Saturday service.
NEW YEAR'S EVE - Saturday service, until last departure at 1830 from Oxford, 2030 from London.
NEW YEAR'S DAY - As Boxing day.
Fri Jan 2nd - Saturday service from 4.30am Oxford, 6.30am London.
See also: Fairs, Festivals and Markets
Shopmobility (the City Council's centre for loans of electric scooters and electric or manual wheelchairs to people with mobility problems) will be opening late on Thursday 18th for late night Christmas shopping. Their normal hours are Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) from 9am until 4.30pm and Saturdays 9.30am until 4pm. On Thursday 18 December they will open from 9am until 8pm. Users of the service are entitled to free parking at the Westgate Car Park in the Shopmobility area. Tel. 01865 248737 or visit Level 1b in the Westgate Car Park.
North Parade Christmas Fair
Wednesday 17th December
Late night shopping, carols, band, BBQ, mulled wine & lots more
email: steve@thetowngarden.com / Tel. 01865 552626
6-9pm, everyone welcome. North Parade Avenue, central north OxfordJericho Traditional Christmas Fairtrade Fair, Jericho Community Centre, 33a Canal Street
Sat 13th December, 12 noon - 6.30pm
Local producers join Fairtraders from around the world: Shawls, jumpers, hats, gloves and scarves from Peru and Bolivia, silk scarves and pashminas from Bangladesh and India, Coffee from Nicaragua, organic fresh meat and vegetables from Oxfordshire.Oxford Farmers' Markets
Sat 13th and Sat 20th East Oxford Farmers' Market, Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way, 12 - 3pm NB No Market Sat 27th or Sat 3rd.
Thur 18th Oxford Farmers' Market, Gloucester Green, 9am - 3pm, then next on Jan 15th 2009
The Clarendon Centre (individual shop times may vary)
Thursday 4th 9am-10pm
Mon 8th - Sun 21st: 9am - 7pm, except Thursdays: 9am -10pm and Sundays 10am - 5.30pm
Mon 22nd: 9.00am - 8.00pm
Tue 23rd: 9.00am - 8.00pm
Christmas Eve Wed 24th: 8.00am - 4.00pm
Christmas Day Thu 25th: CLOSED
Boxing Day Fri 26th: 11.00am - 5.00pm
Sat 27th: 9.00am - 6.00pm
Sun 28th: 11am - 5pm
Mon 29th: 9.00am - 6.00pm
Tue 30th: 9.00am - 6.00pm
Wed 31st: 9.00am - 4.00pm
New Year's Day: CLOSED
Hours revert to normal from Fri 2nd January 2009The Westgate Centre (725 455)
Sun 21st: 11am - 5pm
Mon 22nd: 9am - 9pm
Tue 23rd: 9am - 9pm
Wed 24th: 8am - 4pm
Christmas Day Thu 25th: CLOSED
Boxing Day Fri 26th: 11am - 5pm
Sat 27th: 9am - 5.30pm
Fri 28th: 11am - 5pm
Mon 29th: 9am - 5.30pm
Tue 30th: 9am - 5.30pm
Wed 31st: 9am - 4pm
Thu 1st Jan: 11am - 5am
Fri 2nd Jan: 9am - 5.30pm (i.e. back to normal)Covered Market
Monday - Saturday: 9.00am - 5.30pm
Thursdays 11th & 18th to 6pm
Sundays to 21st December: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Closed 25th & 26th December 2006 and 1st JanuaryBicester Village Shopping Outlet 01869 323200
www.bicestervillage.com/bicester/home.asp
Mon 22nd: 10am - 7pm
Tue 23rd: 10am - 7pm
Wed 24th: 10am - 5pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Fri 26th: 10am - 7pm
Sat 27th: 10am -7pm
Sun 28th: 10am - 6pm
Mon 29th: 10am - 7pm
Tue 30th: 10am - 7pm
Wed 31st: 10am - 5pm
Supermarkets
Sainsbury's Local, |
Sainsbury's - Westgate Centre 722179 |
Tesco's - Cowley Road 447600
|
Co-Op London Rd Headington 766132 |
Co-Op Walton St Jericho 511884 |
Marks & Spencers, Summertown 316873 |
|
Christmas |
Christmas |
Christmas |
Christmas | Christmas | Christmas |
|
| Saturday 20th December | 7am-11pm | 6am-8pm | 6am-12am | 8am-8pm | 7am-midnight | 8am-9pm |
| Sunday 21st December | 11am-5pm | 11am-5pm | 10am-4pm | 10am-4pm | 8am-midnight | 11am-5pm |
| Mon 22nd December | 7am-11pm | 7am-8.30pm (or later if demand) |
6am-12am | 8am-10pm | 7am-midnight | 8am-9pm |
| Tue 23rd December | 7am-11pm | 7am-8.30pm (or later if demand) |
6am-12am | 8am-10pm | 7am-midnight | 7am-9pm |
| Wednesday 24th December | 7am-9pm | 7am-6pm | 6am-6pm | 7am-6pm | 6am-6pm | 7am-6pm |
| Thursday 25th December | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Fri 26th December | 10am-5pm | Closed | Closed | Closed | 9am-5pm | Closed |
| Sat 27th December | 7am-11pm | 8am-7pm | 6am-6pm | 8am-8pm | 7am-midnight | 8am-8pm |
| Sun 28th | 11am-5pm | 11am-5pm | 10am-4pm | 10am-4pm | 8am-midnight | 11am-5pm |
New Year |
New Year |
New Year |
New Year | New Year | New Year |
|
| Wednesday 31st December | 7am-9pm | 7am-7pm | 6am-6pm | 8am-6pm | 7am-6pm | 8am-6pm |
| Thursday 1st January | 9am-7pm | 10am-6pm | Closed | Closed | 9pm-5pm | Closed |
| Friday 2nd January | 7am-11pm | 7am-8pm | 6am-12am | 7am-10pm | 7am-midnight | 8am-9pm |
The 10 O'Clock Pharmacy, 59 Woodstock Road (515226) is open on Christmas Day: 4pm-7.30pm and likewise New Year's Day: 4pm-7.30pm. All other days 9am-7.30pm, as usual.
Lloyds on Walton Street (557219) is closed on weekends and the Bank Holidays. Otherwise normal hours: 8.45am - 6.15pm.
Boots on Cornmarket (247461) is open 8.30am-8pm (Thu 8.30am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm) in the run-up to xmas. Then open 8.30am - 5pm on the 24th. It's closed on the 25th, open 11am - 5pm on the 26th; open as normal (8.30am - 8pm, Sun 11am-5pm) from the 27th - 30th. 8.30am-6pm New Year's Eve, then 11am - 5pm on New Year's Day. Back to normal from the 2nd.
Boots on the Cowley Road (243633) is closed on the actual Bank Holidays, open 10am-4pm on Sundays, and 9am -6pm otherwise, as usual.
Jenners in the Manzil Way Health Centre (248963) is closed on the Sundays and Bank Holidays, open 9am-1pm on the Saturdays and 8.30am - 6.00pm otherwise. Possibly closing early Christmas Eve.
Blenheim Service Station 93 Woodstock Rd, Kidlington 01865 375373 will be open 6.30am - 9pm on the 24th, shut on the 25th, 8am-8pm on the 26th, 6.30am - 9pm New Year's Eve and 8am - 8pm on New Year's Day. Otherwise 6.30am - 10pm as usual.
BP Wolvercote Roundabout, 311625. Will be open 24/7. And that's fully open, no hatch service !
Cherwell Filling Station Cherwell Drive, 742834. Will be open 7am - 9pm every day without a break.
Hartwell Ford BP Petrol Station Seacourt Tower West Way, Botley, 791798 will be shutting "as soon as possible...realistically about tea time" on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year's Day. Probably. Opening hours normally are Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 8am-9pm & Sun 10am-5pm.
Murco Service Station Between Towns Rd, 714377 Will be open 6am - 11pm every day as usual, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day, when it will probaly open an hour or later and close an hour or two earlier.
All garden waste and bulky waste collections will be cancelled from Monday 22nd December - Sunday 4th January, resuming on Monday 5th January.
Household and recycling waste will be as normal unless they're due to happen on a bank holiday, in which case:
For Blue Households
(North Oxford)Normal Collection Date Revised Collection Date Refuse (Green Wheelie) Thu 25 Dec Sat 27 Dec Refuse (Green Wheelie) Fri 26 Dec Sat 27 Dec Green Box Thu 25 Dec Sat 27 Dec Green Box Fri 26 Dec Mon 29 Dec Blue Box/Bin Thu 1 Jan Fri 2 Jan Blue Box/Bin Fri 2 Jan Sat 3 Jan
For Red Households
(South Oxford)Normal Collection Date Revised Collection Date Refuse (Green Wheelie) Thu 1 Jan Fri 2 Jan Refuse (Green Wheelie) Fri 2 Jan Sat 3 Jan Green Box Thu 1 Jan Fri 2 Jan Green Box Fri 2 Jan Sat 3 Jan Blue Box/Bin Thu 25 Dec Mon 29 Dec Blue Box/Bin Fri 26 Dec Tue 30 Dec
(you can also look at royalmail.com)
There will be no deliveries or collections on:
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Monday 1st JanuaryLast Postal Dates to make sure things arrive by Xmas:
| Special Delivery: Tuesday 23 December |
| First Class: Saturday 20 December |
| Second Class: Thursday 18 December |
| Western Europe: Friday 12 December |
| Canada, USA, Eastern Europe & Japan: Wednesday 10 December |
| South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East, New Zealand & Australia: Friday 5 December |
Here are a few free online advent calendars which we thought were rather fun.
There's a rather devout one at smmp.com,
Penelope Schenk isn't doing a cat one this year, but past ones can be found here.
and at least two at Woodlands Junior School, Kent
a very informative one and one with games for younger peopleWe can recommend this last site as a remarkable mine of information on many English festivals and customs besides Christmas.
and finally, it's not exactly an advent calendar, but you can view the story of Jesus through the medium of Lego here.
The key is to book as far in advance as you can! Most places will require a deposit for Christmas lunch, refundable if there's a cancellation up to 48 hours in advance.
A surprising number of Chinese, Indian and Thai restaurants are closed on the 25th, so don't count on being able to find something by wandering hopefully up and down the Cowley Road.
Having said that, the Lebanese restaurant Al Salam is open for business as usual on the 25th. Bookings on 01865 245710.
Quod, Oxford High Street, 01865 202505, will be open till 6.30pm on Christmas Day and you can see their menu here. It's £65/person + 12.5% service charge.
The King's Arms, 40 Holywell Street (just by the Sheldonian), will be open 12pm - 3pm for lunch on Christmas Day.
Brasserie Gérard offer a Christmas Day Lunch. Served from noon: £49.95. Booking required. Menu here
Malmaison, in the Oxford Castle complex, 01865 268400, offer a £70 four course Christmas Day lunch.
Brown's, on Woodstock Road just by Little Clarendon St. have a four course Christmas Day Menu at £50. You can see it here.
The Fox Inn at Boar's Hill, 01865 735131 will be serving a 5 course Christmas Day lunch at £54.95.
The Trout Inn in Wolvercote are also open on Christmas Day and you can see their menu here
Angel and Greyhound on St Clements will be open 12 - 2pm on the 25th, but for drinks only, not food. As will The Gardener's Arms, North Parade, from 11.30am - 1pm, and The Red Lion, Wolvercote, from 12 - 2pm.
Some popular restaurants definitely closed for Christmas Day itself include Shanghai 30s, Chiang Mai Kitchen, Kashmir Halal, Mirabai, The Turf Tavern, Yo Sushi and Brasserie Blanc (though the last of these will be open for New Year's Eve, offering 4 (set) courses for £40.
To browse for other possibilities, Oxford(shire) restaurants, have a look at our restaurants page.
Here is the distilled wisdom of the staff at Daily Info on the subject of warming winter beverages. If anyone has any suggestions for further exploration in this area, do let us know.
Our techie's Really Fabulous Mulled Wine
Boil one and a half pints of water and dissolve in it 4 heaped tablespoons of the darkest brown sugar you can find. Add 1-2 cinnamon sticks, about 5-10 cloves, star anise, a few cardamon pods. Stir and simmer for 15 - 30 mins, depending on patience. Roughly chop 3 oranges, 1 lemon, apple if you like that sort of thing. Turn down heat to a low simmer. Add fruit, simmer 5 - 10 mins. Remove all fruit & spices through a sieve, returning the syrup to the pan (spices can be retained & reused). Turn heat down low, add wine (1 bottle, red). Stir, warm wine through but do not boil (loses alcohol). Can add dark rum (or brandy) at the last minute. Serve immediately.Norfolk Punch
A non-alcoholic alternative to your usual seasonal mulled beverage, this bottle is based on a traditional recipe made by Benedictine monks and contains all sorts of wild and wonderful herbs and spices. The office tee-totaller gave this 9/10 for its sheer proximity to mulled booze, and others felt similarly until asked to consider its resemblance to warm cola. Available from Holland and Barrett (£3.19), Uhuru (Cowley Rd), etc.
Hot Toddy
Quick toddy: Half a lemon, tablespoon of honey, shot of whisky per person. Squeeze the lemon into a cup, add boiling water, melt the honey in it (stop here if you don't want the whisky, or) add whisky and drink.
Slow, loving toddy: Grate some root ginger into a saucepan, about 1 tbsp per person. Add however many cups of water you want, dark brown sugar to taste, an orange (or an apple) stuck with cloves (like a pin-cushion - we don't think it changes the taste much but it looks authentic) and a cinnamon stick. Bring to the boil once, then simmer for about 15 minutes. Drain into cups and add whisky and the juice of half a lemon for each person.
A useful tip if you have a disastrous toddy-making enterprise: you can salvage a cup of it for a very cold person by adding a slosh of Rochester's ginger wine (£3.19 from Holland and Barrett).
The increasingly popular Nordmann has thickish dark green needles, and is non-drop. Blue and White Spruce have very pretty, thick, blunt needles but tend to shed them a little. Scots Pine holds its needles well, and its strong branches can cope with heavy decorations. Norway Spruce, while the most satisfyingly traditional-looking of all, is a dedicated shedder. If you choose a tree that makes free with its needles, the best thing to do is to give it plenty of water and try to keep it in the coolest part of the room. You can also purchase anti-drop chemicals from places like B & Q.
You can check out various species of tree at Anglo Trees - and the environmental page on the same site has some interesting statistics about the benefits of a living rather than a plastic tree, which, if memorised, may enable you to astound your friends and confound your relations.
Kingston Fruiterers 14 Kingston Road, OX2 6RQ - entrance just round the corner in Longworth Road. They have Nordmann trees at all sorts of heights, at £6 / foot (i.e. 6 foot = £36, 5 foot = £30 etc).
Waterperry Garden Centre at Wheatley (01844 339226) have a range of species - 4ft Norways live in pots for £24.99, Nordmann firs, 125-250cm, from £29.99 - £49.99, and also Blue Spruce, £65-£85, and 10ft Norways for £65.
Blenheim Palace (christmastrees@blenheimpalace.com / 01993 813196) has Norway Spruce, Serbian Spruce, Nordmann Fir and Scots Pine for sale at the Palace, outside the main gift shop, 10am - 5.30pm until 23rd December. Or you can go to the fountainhead at the Blenheim Sawmill at Combe: 8am - 4pm daily until 23rd December.
The Garden, 99-100 Covered Market, OX1 3DY, 240709, have Nordmann trees of 3-11 feet, from £25-£110, Norway Spruces of 4-7 feet at £15-£30, and pot grown trees, i.e. living ones with roots and everything, from £19.50.
The Sea Cadets have trees for sale in Meadow Lane, off Donnington Bridge Road, from 8am - late (between 8 and 9pm, usually), every day. Norwegian Spruces, £21-£42, 125-250cm.
If you are lucky enough to live in an area and a household which allows you to have fires, you will be able to luxuriate in front of blazes as Dickensian as your ecological conscience will allow.
Wood
You can get FSC-approved (Forest Stewardship Council) hardwood logs fairly easily: A.W. Mobbs, London Road, Wheatley (01865 872691) do it, as do many more local suppliers. The aforementioned company will deliver large loads to your door at a discount. This isn't totally sustainable but it's better than nothing and helps wildlife a bit.
You can buy log offcuts from Eynsham Park Sawmills, 01993 881391. Cuckoo Lane, North Leigh (off the A40 to Witney). Their wood is £14 a 'box' (bootload) - it is softwood, so it doesn't last as long as hardwood, which is available from Barlow and Son (Hermitage limited) at Blenheim Sawmills, Combe, tel. 01993 881206. A hardwood bootload from Blenheim Sawmills costs about £30, and might be better in proper woodburning stoves. Skip-raiding is also a very cheap and effective option, but you ought to put the wood beside your stove to dry it out before burning. Wood that isn't kiln-dried or well-seasoned is going to burn at lower temperatures and will therefore produce more particulates.A. W. Mobbs is open Mon - Fri: 7.30am - 5pm, Sat: 7.30am - 12pm. 01865 872691.
Eynsham Park Sawmill is open Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm, Sat: 9am-12pm. 01993 881391.
Blenheim Sawmills open Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm, Sat: 9am-12pm. 01993 881206.
Chestnuts
Chestnuts are easy. With a small, sharp knife, cut across the round side of each chestnut, getting through the shell but trying not to go too far into the nut (if you don't do this and then microwave them, they explode, which can be fun too). Then roast them on a baking dish at 180 - 200°C for about half an hour. They are ready when the cut in the side splits open and leaves a gap at the side of the nut. An alternative method is to slit all except one, put in the oven/stove as above. When the unslit one explodes they're done. Messy but authentic. Mind the shrapnel.
Are you doing something for New Year? Let us know or put it on the website yourself on one of our events pages! The Gig Guide is probably the most relevant section in this instance, or you might like to have a look at our Festivals, Fairs and Markets page.
Balls
Heythrop Park, Chipping Norton: Charity New Year Ball
3 course meal, 1/2 bottle wine and live music. Shared babysitter for £20. Raising funds for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
7pm - 2am, £60 / Tel. 07879 424332 / charlotte@magiceventslimited.co.ukGigs
Isis Farmhouse, The Towing Path, Iffley Lock: Queen of Clubs Cabaret
Cabaret spectacular with gypsy-punk house band Inflatable Buddha, comic burlesque, fire eating & belly dance, live poetry & projections, DJs, dancing and more.
Food 7-9pm, show 9-12pm, dancing 12am-late, £8 (£1 from each ticket goes 50/50 to BBOWT & No More Landmines) / Adv. tickets in person from the Isis or via www.myspace.com/portmayhemJames St Tavern, James St, East Oxford: Dancehall Nice Again
Ska, roots and dancehall with Cornerstone Musik's DJ Baps & Nico D plus guests.
8pm - 12am, free entry / cornerstonemusik@aol.com / Tel. 07813 355448Jericho Tavern, 56 Walton St, Jericho: Stornoway, Red Soul Brigade
Local indie-popsters and classic soul covers plus DJ. 1 free glass of bubbly; party snacks & games.
8pm, £20 - in person from venue only / Tel. 311775Jack Russell, 21 Salford Rd, Marston: Uprooted
Live music from local band.
8pm, £5 / Tel. 247668Magdalen Arms, 243 Iffley Road: The Mighty Redox, The Pete Fryer Band, Headington Hillbillies, Moon Leopard, The Isambards
Annual party with local swamp boogie legends and their folk/rock friends.
8.30pm, £5 / Tel. 243159 / www.myspace.com/redoxukThe Chequers, 6 The Green, Cassington: The Rabbit Foot Spasm Band + Orthophonic Rhythm Club 78rpms
Live jump blues, jive and jazz.
8-late, £5-£25 / www.rabbitjazz.co.ukCarling Academy Oxford, Cowley Road: Trashy's Animal Magic New Years Eve
'Chimp about to a monster soundtrack and discover your wild side with our sexy safari/urban jungle fancy dress theme.' Over 18s only.
8pm-3am, £15 / www.myspace.com/room101rocksJongleurs, 3-5 Hythe Bridge Street
Gamut of comedians including Chambers & Nettleton, Colin Cole, Daniel Townes & Dougie Dunlop. See Jongleurs website for artist details. 3 course Christmas dinner included in ticket price.
Doors open 6.30pm, £40 pp / www.jongleurs.com / Tel. 0844 844 0044 (booking line)Po Na Na, Magdalen Street: Studio 54 NEW YEAR'S EVE 08
'Dig out your dancing shoes, borrow your dad's flairs & dodgy sunglasses & come on down to the boogie woogie wonderland'. Recreate the crazy hayday of NYC's Studio 54 with the finest 70-80s disco classics.
10pm - 7am, £6 adv, £10 door / www.eclecticbars.co.uk/oxfordponana/xmas.phpThe Bullingdon, 162 Cowley Road
Reggae DJs all night. More details tbc.
9-4am, £10ish adv. in person from the Bully / Tel. 244516
Organise yourself in 2009! In fact, as our superb A2 Year Planner runs from Oct 2008 - Dec 2009, you can organise yourself right now!
Daily Info's Year Planner |
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The City Council will once again be collecting and composting used Christmas trees. We have been asked to emphasise that this will only work with real trees that have lived and breathed: don't bring plastic ones! You can drop off your tree between Sat 3rd - Sun 11th January to any of the following sites:
Alexandra Tennis Courts, Middle Way, Summertown. Atkyns Road, Wood Farm. Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Car park. Bury Knowle Park, North Place Car park. Cutteslowe Park, Harbord Road. Elizabeth Green, Northway Estate. Florence Park, Cowley. Green Road, Barton. Hinksey Park, Abingdon Road. Long Lane, Littlemore. Manzil Way Gardens, Cowley Road. Meadow Lane, Iffley Road. Oatlands Recreation Ground, Ferry Hinksey Road. Quarry Recreation Ground, Margaret Road. Redbridge (Recycling Centre), Abingdon Road. South Park, Morrell Avenue (near Cross St entrance). Sunnymead Recreation Ground.
Recycle your presents & cards:
Should you be unfortunate enough to receive any gifts for which you are not truly thankful, you might want to offload them at a CAG Oxfordshire Swap Shop. These are cashless exchange events at community centres throughout Oxfordshire - participants do not need to bring anything in order to take goods away and can bring without taking. There will be one at the Bullingdon Community Centre in Headington, 11am - 1pm, Sat 17th January, and another for children's stuff at St Maragaret's Institute, Polstead Road on Sun 18th, 1.30 - 3.30pm. Swap shops will continue all year, including a countrywide one on March 7th 2009: have a look on www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk/findswapshops.htm at any time.
The Woodland Trust, in partnership with Tesco and WH Smith, has organised a card recycling scheme as in previous years. Between January 2nd and 31st you can take your used cards to any branch of Tesco or WH Smith. Every tonne, we hear, saves 17 trees!
If you're offering anything special for New Year or over Christmas, let us know and we'll advertise it here. You can also publicise any event on our site at no charge - just go to the bottom of the relevant Events page, enter your details and follow the online instructions.
Suggestions? Errors? Omissions? Email us (info@dailyinfo.co.uk) or call us on 01865 241133.
