oxford magazine

OXFORD magazine ISSUE 1 1

A tradition of quality and commitment to excellenceOxford

Shaun Williamson OF EASTENDERS FAME TAKES THE STAGE AT THE NEW THEATRE

PlusTHE 5 BEST LAW FiRMS

iN OxFORDand

THE OxFORD CONCiERGE

Nappy Valley, Oxford By SAM jACKSON ISSUE 1

Complim

entary

£2.10

OXFORD magazine ISSUE 12

Contents2 5 Best Law Firms

3 OX4 and OXJAM Music Festival

4 Cover Story: Shaun Williamson by Cottia Thorowgood

6 Al Shami review by Paull Hammond-Davies

7 5 Best English Schools

8 Loch Fyne review by Paull Hammond-Davies

9 Not Just a Walk In the Park

10 Nappy Valley by Sam Jackson

11 Brasserie Blanc review by Paull Hammond-Davies

12 The Oxford Concierge


Dedication

This issue is dedicated to the memory of Philip Warr a kind father, brilliant

thinker, inspirational tennis coach, true friend and great Oxfordian.

How to reach us:

Chairman: Letcher O’Neill Johnson

E-mail: [email protected]

Write: Oxford Magazine, 7200 The Quirum, Oxford Business Park North,

Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2JZ, United Kingdom

Tel: 001.914.607.1861

©Honour your neighbour’s work

If reproduced give proper credit. The views expressed are solely those

of the contributor and not the Oxford Magazine.

Oxford Magazine is proud to support:

British Red Cross, Oxfam, John Radcliffe Hospital, Sobell House Hospice,

St. John Ambulance, London to Oxford Bike Ride , Carnival in the Park

and Oxford Round Table.

Major distribution locations:Banbury Road - The Old Parsonage Hotel, Cotswold Lodge Hotel, SaffronBeaumont Street - Ashmolean Museum, The Randolph Hotel, Oxford PlayhouseChurch Way - Hawkwell House Hotel Cornmarket Street - Carfax TowerCowley Road - Café Coco, Joe’s George Street - O’Neill’s, Old Fire StationGloucester Green - Odeon Cinema, Eurobar Hotel Headley Way - John Radcliffe Hospital (main entrance + emergency waiting room) High Street - All Bar One, Black Sheep Galleries, The Old Bank Hotel, East Gate HotelHolywell Street - Tourist Information Centre, Iffley Road - Hawkwell House Hotel, Jeune Street - Ultimate Picture Palace Langford Lane (Kidlington) - Oxford Airport, Linton Road - Linton Lodge Hotel Little Clarendon Street - Duke of Cambridge, The Beat Cafe Magdalen Street - Odeon Cinema St Mi-chael’s Street - Meltz Cafe New Road - Que Pasa Oxford Castle - The Living Room Park End Street - Oxford Rail Station, Thirst Pembroke Street - Modern Art Oxford Ship Street - News Cafe South Parade - The North Wall St. Aldates - Oxford Town Hall, The Head of the River, 001 Taxis St. Clements Street - Fishers Restaurant Walton Street - Freud’s, Brasserie Blanc, Pegasus Theatre Woodstock Road- Browns, Esporta

Best 5 Law Firms in Oxford All of these companies are known for their dedication

to providing high-levels of personal service to their

clients and professionalism within the law community.

The order of the list is strictly alphabetical and does

not presume that one is better than the other.

Boodle Hatfield

6 Worcester St.

Tel: 01865 790744

At Boodle Hatfield legal services for more than 275 years

serving the full spectrum of commercial and private

clients, both domestically and internationally (property

developers, family businesses, entrepreneurs and start-

up companies). Boodle Hatfield is a traditional service

providing sound advice.

Darbys Solicitors

52 New Inn Hall Street

Tel: 01865 811700

Darbys Solicitors is recognised by Chambers UK Guide 2010

(ranks lawyers and firms annually). This firm prides its self on

being straight forward and results driven. Simon McCrum

takes pride in the firm’s services especialy allowing you to

speak free of charge to a team of lawyers and the firms

unique legal support scheme for families called PURPLE.

Henmans

5000 Oxford Business Park South

Tel: 01865 781000

Julia Iball (personal injury and clinical negligence) is

the managing partner of Henmans in Oxford a firm

with a national reputation for heavyweight expertise;

Clinical negligence (Cecily Cameron), Commercial

dispute resolution (Andrew Crocombe), Corporate

(Malcolm Sadler), Employment (James Simpson), Family/

matrimonial (Rachael Smethurst), Personal injury (Mary

Duncan), Private client (Nigel Roots), Professional

indemnity (Duncan Crine), Property (Iain Davis).

Winckworth Sherwood

16 Beaumont St.

Tel: 01865 241974

Winckworth Sherwood aims to be a competitive, professional

and personal. They consider their agents to be at the

forefront of the private and public sectors of the law

profession providing clients with pragmatic solutions.

Withy King

North Bailey House

New Inn Hall St.

Tel: 01865 792300

Withy King (merged with Marshall and Galpin) has

an outstanding reputation for providing commercial

and individuals legal services. The law firm boast and

impressive staff of over 300 staff in key locations.


OX4 is a celebration of the artistic

talents emerging in and around

the postcode OX4. It’s also part

of Oxfam’s OXJAM Music Festival

(Oxjam fighting poverty with music)

after all Oxford is the home of Oxfam

(founded in Oxford in 1942). It all

took place on October 10th 2009

- across 10 venues all situated on

The Cowley Road: 02 Academy /

East Oxford Community Centre /

The Bullingdon Arms / Baby Simple

/ Trees Lounge / Cafe Tarifa / Cafe

Milano Basement / Restore Garden /

The Brickworks / G&D’s. Money raised

at the event was donated to Oxfam.

The blue faces where part of Oxfam’s

climate change campaign.

OX4 and OXJAM Music Festival 2009

Representatives from OXFAM Nick Bryer, Matt Adams

Gemma Hembrow, Anna Cleary, Kirsty Snapes & Lesley Trousdale

Truck group (Drew + others) Organisers of OXJAM in Oxford Robin Bennett - Truck Organiser, Joe Bennet - Truck Organiser,Drew Brammer - Truck Organiser, Matt Adams - Oxfam

Dead Jerichos Sahm Amirsedghi, Craig Evans & Leo Rayner

Kristina Petraviciute, Nick Bryer

Andy Letcher

Photographs by David Stumpp

Haiti Earthquake 2010Oxfam has delivered more than 60 tons of water plus emergency equipment, clean water, buckets, water treatment kits, shelters and sanitation tools.

Cat Matador Liam Martin, Christopher Roe-French,

Wolfgang Amadeus



It took me about

a year to detach

myself, but as one

weekend began

with another

panning out

on another

corner-hunched

snivelling figure

I snapped.

Perhaps it was

exactly this picture

of depression and

anxiety about

the world I was

apparently growing

up in that made

Shaun Williamson

so adamant that

his children, twelve

and nine, never

had or would watch

EastEnders. He likewise

hasn’t watched it during

or since his nine year stint

as ‘Barry from EastEnders’,

so who is this man when not

hanging out in the Old Vic, or

“doing porridge”? and more

importantly, was the fear I felt at

talking to him based on a more

subconscious fear of Janine...

with such premonitions, hearing

his cheery voice answer the

phone and offer me a land line

to save unnecessary expenditure,

confirmed this was Shaun, not

Barry I was talking to. Relief broke out.

Not having studied at drama school until he

was 27, Williamson’s background spanned the

Navy, teaching at Pontins summer camps and

as that old faithful, a postman. Leaving school

in the recession, jobs were taken as they came,

but I wondered if a natural lending towards

being a leader in holiday camps had developed

an extrovert in Williamson, focusing his eye

on performance; apparently not. ‘I’m quite

shy’, and certainly there isn’t anything officious

or even egoistic in Williamson’s manner. He

suggests the nature in being a bluecoat and

having the reserved position of people coming

to him for problems translates pretty directly

into his acting career. Certainly concerning

Extras, it was a phone call from Gervais not a

thrust CV that got him the role of ‘Barry, from

EastEnders’. To this end, much of his life’s path

thus far seems to have been rather fate-led

not manufactured, with his initial involvement

an amateur dramatic group pursued due to it

‘always being synonymous with single women’.

A claim that proved fruitful, as it was here that

he met his future wife.

Who most inspires you?

Family. But more than this, I sense. He

describes how he has never not wanted be at

work (that of his acting, not postal services)

once there. Even with the food on set; how was

it as EastEnders? (a pause) ‘Could be better’.

What gets you up in the morning?

His children and the school run, getting

him up at the (apparently reasonable) hour

of 7am. It came across clearly that Shaun is

a family man, with spending time with his

children being both a pleasure and a priority.

Shaun Williamson

I used to watch EastEnders, mainly because it made morning break conversation less of a mystery at school.

COVER STORY

“Williamson’s background spanned the Navy, teaching at Pontins summer camps and as that old faithful, a postman.


interviewed by Cottia Thorowgood


Which role did you feel most suited you

and why?

Fletcher. Shaun commented first on being

the same age and physicality as Ronnie Barker

had been when in the 1970s television series

Porridge. Having said this, he was quick to say

that he felt no one was going to be as good as

Barker, but that the part had felt right to him,

and came naturally despite having to learn over

a thousand lines for it. Hearing such enthusiasm

for Williamson’s latest role, I asked if this break

for his role in the currently touring stage version

of Porridge would have been so welcome pre-

EastEnders. This lead us onto Williamson’s youth,

where apparently he claims to have wasted a lot

of time, leading him to have much admiration for

the focus of today’s career-driven 18 year olds.

However, despite being grateful for anything then,

he feels that everything worked out at the right

time for him, and no simple route had it been.

What fellow characters (not actors) would

you take with you to a desert island?

Definitely not EastEnders characters, this

comes rather like a reflex. And definitely from

Saturday Night Fever, for which Williamson played

Monty the DJ as his first, and very much loved,

post-EastEnders job. It seems perhaps anything

would have been a morale boost, but Williamson

really does speak of this fondly and as something

he would love to play again.

I question the moral issues with acting in

EastEnders, as a model for a mirror held up to

society and as potentially advocating certain

social behaviour. Yes, it has also been used as a

forum to promote positive social behaviours as

well as expose issues, but Williamson is quick

to empathise with what I say. He sees the main

issue to be with younger children watching the

programme, however, and deems it the parents’

responsibility to stop them watching it, as

opposed to a fundamental problem with its

inherent nature.

Has playing in EastEnders tainted his

view of society consequently?

No, he doesn’t see it is sufficiently realistic.

‘You wouldn’t get that amount of sheer misery

in one street’ (Oh good) he raises the interesting

point as well of the influence of the last few

decades of our technological developments;

viewers’ numbers have decreased significantly

since the introduction of the new culture of

laptops and phones with a consequential

loosening of television’s grip.

What song would best represent your life?

Anticipated this to be one of those annoying

questions I personally hate to be asked where

no song seems satisfactory, but ‘Little Ole Wine

Drinker Me’ by Dean Martin is a quick comeback.

I’m recommended to listen to it. I like it, it seems

fitting.

SO without EastEnders or Rocky Horror

Picture Show etc, without all this

fortune, as Williamson himself seems

to see it, where would he be?

Park bench. With a bottle of cider. But

despite all his talk to luck, he believes strongly

that the harder you work the luckier you get.

This is a man of firm principles. He wouldn’t

have stood for Janine.

Best dish he can cook?

Although Williamson would love to be

trained under a great chef, he sees cooking as

a peaceful activity, not just for the grand finale.

Mostly he enjoys cooking for his children, and best

producing that perfectly timed fry-up. This involves

great time management, a quality I admire.

All time career high?

Extras. Williamson describes the pleasure of

working with two people so clever, although not

forgetting having had the privilege of working

with the original writers of Porridge. From Gervais’

Extras Williamson received not only wonderful

American recognition, where Extras has now

become a cult show, but also the opportunity to

expose himself, albeit through Gervais’ eyes, as

the character behind Barry. Although fortunately

not quite the Shaun I encountered on the phone.

...and low?

Post-EastEnders, when he featured in an

early series of Gender Swap where, as the title

suggests, Williamson was transformed to look like

‘a fat bloated dead transsexual’. Sounds great.

Apparently not. As if such a transition was not

enough to credit media attention, Shaun had to

then, in full ‘death’ outfit, partake in amusing

activates like speed dating in Hammersmith, the

‘longest night of his life’. Sympathy goes out to

his fellow speed daters – they weren’t even being

paid to encounter looming dead transsexual.

New Year resolutions?

Not really, except to improve physical fitness;

Williamson aims to drop three and a half stone

by the time he is 60. Obviously this is easier said

than done when one has been on tour since 3rd

August, and with the eternal perk of that post

show drink, perpetuating rather than aiding the

shedding of pounds. This stands as a personal not

work demanded aspiration, as his acting remains

unaffected by his physicality.

Any pearls of Wisdom for those wanting

to act, or for life in general?

Immediate response is bashful, that he has no

right to offer any in life, but in the field of acting,

to treat others as you yourself wish to be treated.

This sense of acting appropriately is wonderful

to hear from any EastEnders participant, and is

obviously something Shaun takes to heart. ‘Never

say anything to a woman what wouldn’t say to

a man bigger than you’. Perhaps a taller Barry

might have been Janine-free...

Who’s funnier; you, or Ricky Gervais?

Ricky Gervais. ‘Certain people have funny

bones’ they can get away with it, whereas

‘you’d get a slap in the face’. He claims not

to have ‘a cosy face’, and in this way is not so

immediately approachable. Wouldn’t personally

describe Gervais’ face as ‘cosy’, but I do know

what he means.

Are you haunted by your fame?

‘One of the worst things ever to lose;

anonymity’, because of the fact you can never

be sure if people are being genuinely nice to you.

Although, good things have obviously come out if it

too, one of which being his offer of a part on Extras,

‘then the phone goes...that’s the beauty of it’

Favourite snack

Mainly bread-related. And booze. Not helping

with weight loss, and he claims he would lose a

stone if this changed. But then, 60 is a long way

away, and if one doesn’t have that drink to get

you through the show...Williamson’s not thinking

of a salad at the curtain call. Good. From Porridge

reviews, neither is the audience.

QUICKFIRE

Worst habit?

Swearing

Brown or Cameron?

Oxford or Cambridge?

(Porridge related preference though...)

Pizza Express or Ask?

(Hasn’t seen the new menu, clearly)

Travel or beach holiday?

Every time

Stage or set?

Stage for job satisfaction, set for money

Breakfast or dinner?

That question wasn’t necessarily really going

anywhere...

Phil or Grant Mitchell?

Where would you most like to be apparated

to for the day; no strings attached?

(This is going to feature in a family section,

isn’t it..?)

New York City (yes!) this was where he

got married, and has lived for three months.

Williamson describes it as rougher in the 80s

though. He speaks favourably of the ‘3 strikes

and you’re out’ approach of USA policy, strange

coming from one doing porridge...

Porridge is hitting the New Theatre

11th February 2010

Shaun Williamson


Al-Shami really is one of a kind in Oxford.

This Lebanese restaurant opened in 1988,

situated in the heart of residential Jericho,

somewhat off the beaten track. This fact,

however, characterises Al-Shami – they

do things a little differently here and are

happy to flout convention, and that’s

perhaps why their loyal diners continue

to return to the restaurant over and over

again. For instance, they haven’t changed

their menu in eighteen years, something

other establishments

wouldn’t even dream

of. This has meant that

people know exactly

what food is on offer,

but also that it is great

value (especially during

a time when basic foods are increasingly more

expensive). The restaurant is owned by the

Mahfouz family and its friendliness and warmth

exude from the place as soon as you walk

through the doors. The waiting staff are smartly

dressed but carefree – eschewing polished

formality for a more laidback experience. The

atmosphere is charged and bustling,

but in a relaxed, appropriately

Mediterranean manner.

The main dining area is

bright and welcoming, its

semicircular exterior wall

almost entirely made up

of windows that fill the

white walled interior with

light. There are subtle

Lebanese references

in the furnishings and

décor, but in a modern

and unselfconscious

way. Lebanese food

combines influences

from both the Arab

world and the Mediterranean, the menu

containing many small dishes called mezze.

Customers order several dishes from the menu,

which is helpfully segmented into cold and

hot dishes, fish and vegetarian dishes, and

charcoal grill, although very helpfully each dish

is labelled as being suitable for vegetarians /

vegans. To start, a platter of raw vegetables was

brought to the table – consisting of peppers,

pickled jalapenos, cucumbers, spring onions,

lettuce, and pickled cabbage, and accompanied

with homous

lifted by a

drizzle of olive

oil (if you know

to ask for it).

The

second course

consisted of cold dishes, such as Tabbouleh

– an aromatic mixture of parsley, tomatoes,

onions, mint and crush wheat, Warak’inab,

or vine leaves, stuffed with rice, herbs and

spices, Kibbeh Nayeh, ground raw lamb with

crushed wheat and spices, perfectly seasoned

to take away the metallic taste of raw meat

and replacing it with aromatic spices. In

addition to this, from the hot menu, Sanbousek

Biljibneh, pastry filled with feta cheese, and

Zahra Maqlia, fried cauliflower topped with

sesame oil, parsley, garlic and lemon juice. Both

dishes were exceptional, the warm lightness

of the feta cheese contrasting well with the

crispy fried cauliflower in a tangy sauce. The

final course came from the charcoal grill

menu – Kastaletta, lamb cutlets served with

grilled tomatoes and peppers which were full

of flavour, being tender and pink on the inside

whilst being dark and crisp on the outside,

and Al-Shami Kebab, ground meat with herbs

and spices, grilled and topped with garlic and

sesame oil which was aromatic and beautifully

cooked.

One recommendation when visiting

Al-Shami is to compliment the food with

their superb selection of Lebanese wines, the

product of thousands of years of winemaking.

The Chateau Kefraya wines are excellent value

for money and the perfect counterpoint to

the mezze. Al-Shami also offers half-bottles

on some of their wines, which allows the

opportunity to sample more than one. The

Chateau Kefraya La Dame Blanche 2006 was

sweet and rich, calling to mind the clay and

limestone soil of the grape. The Chateau

Kefraya Les Bretèches 2006 tasted of crushed

raisins, with a concentrated, rich flavour.

Both wines had a weight and complexity

despite their sweetness, which perfectly

complimented the many subtleties of the

savoury mezze.

Al-Shami serves exceptional food,

but that is only part of the experience.

Like all the best restaurants, their friendly

hospitality means that dining-out is a great

pleasure. For the time that you are in the

restaurant, you are made to feel like one

of the family. There has been a great deal of

attention on providing a menu that uses the

best ingredients and also means that whether

you are a meat-eater or a vegetarian, there is a

lot of choice for both. For those who like their

evening out to have a lot of character, Al-Shami

certainly offers plenty.

AL-SHAMI

“The atmosphere is charged and bustling, but in a relaxed, appropriately Mediterranean manner”

review by Paull Hammond-Davies


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T: 001.914.607.1861E: [email protected]: www.oxfordmagazine.com

Rates: back cover = £800, Full page = £600, 2/3 page=£470, 1/3 page = £300 1/6 page = £200,

1/12 page = £100, 1/24 page = £60

A tradition of quality and commitment to excellenceOxford Best 5 English

Language Schools Students from around the world come to Oxford to

learn English. The schools listed offer quality year

round and short programmes tailored to meet the

requirements of professionals for business, university

students and examination preparation. The order of

the listings does not presume that one school is better

than another.

Headington Homestay

Bayswater Road

Tel: 01865 427591

Operated by Cris and John Cavendish. John being a fully

qualified English Language teacher. Their home has a very

relaxed friendly and inclusive atmosphere. 3.5 miles from

Oxford City Centre in a residential family environment

includes breakfast and evening meals. Weekly classes 7.5

hour to 15 hour schedules.

Kaplan Aspect Oxford English School

108 Banbury Road

Tel: 01865 273550

Classes given in a beautiful Edwardian building (including

a school cafeteria and multimedia centre) with a garden

and outdoor patio 10 minutes from Oxford City Centre.

Off-site accommodations.

Oxford Intensive School of English

13-15 High Street

Tel: 01865 258333

OISE Europe’s leading specialist in providing intensive

language programmes, founded in 1973 offers

one-on-one classes. Situated above Oxford’s historic

Covered Market. OISE offers Homestay, Brasenose

College,Hotel and Luxury accommodation options.

Oxford International Study Centre

Threeways House

George Street

Tel: 01865 201009

OISC (associate member of the European Council of

International Schools) located near Christ Church College

in the centre of Oxford. A grade UKBA rating (Tier 4)

for visa documentation. Membership to the University

of Oxford libraries available. Good links with Oxford

and Cambridge Universities.

Regent Oxford

Godmer House

90 Banbury Road

Tel: 01865 515566

Courses are multinational so there are lots of

opportunities to practice English. Weekend opening

on Sunday afternoons for students to socialize and use

our wide screen TV’s, computers, student lounges and

study facilities.

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Ticket Hotline 01865 744457

Advertising Sales Person

Oxford City Centre is the sales area. Two days per week. Excellent salary + commission. CV required.

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Distribution Team

Two Oxford Students 15-17 years of age to deliver publication to local businesses.

Parental permission required. Weekend delivery schedule.

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Although Loch Fyne Bar

and Grill is one

of around forty

restaurants

and oyster bars

across the UK, it

is by no means

an impersonal eating

experience. A great deal of attention

had been paid to ensure that Loch Fyne,

Oxford has its own identity and style,

whilst still adhering to the company

brand and ethos. And that ethos is certainly

unique, because the company has built its

reputation on produce taken from a loch in

Scotland after which it takes its own name.

The emphasis is on freshwater shellfish

sustainably sourced and responsibly farmed,

a pledge which has become a cornerstone for

the company since it opened its first oyster bar

in 1988. The fresh ingredients are also sourced

from local farms, so that a visit to Loch Fyne is

an eating experience both mindful of the local

economy and the environment.

Loch Fyne Bar and Grill can be found

in the North Oxford suburb of Jericho, a

somewhat bohemian residential quarter

that has great character. The interiors of the

restaurant are bright, clean, and airy, with the

main dining room located at the back. The

kitchen is glass-fronted with wooden crates of

vegetables and there is an ice-bar filled with

langoustines and oysters, providing a homely

feel to the restaurant. Having undergone a

recent refurbishment, the main dining area

is less formal, less uptight, and the emphasis

is on comfort and cosiness, which really does

lend itself well to the simple food on the menu.

The staff are friendly and warm without being

artificial, and their efficiency largely goes

unnoticed because their work is often done by

engaging you in conversation.

The menu is dominated by fish (it is

ostensibly a fish restaurant after all) but they

have recently introduced meat dishes in their

‘grill’ section – perhaps a sign of the need

to broaden their appeal during the current

economic climate. Shellfish are the order of

day from the starters menu, and no visit to

Loch Fyne would be complete without ordering

oysters on which the business has built their

name. Served on a platter of ice, Loch Fyne’s

oysters really are exquisite. They do

not possess the meaty plumpness

or salty brine of sea oysters – these

fresh water oysters are slender and

astonishingly clean tasting (they

are washed with loch water when

being prepared) and served with tangy red wine

vinegar, a salsa, and Tabasco sauce. The only

discrepancy was the lack of an oyster fork to

detach them from their shell, but this is a minor

criticism.

The bone-dry Muscadet “Tiré sur Lie”

Domaine des Dorices was the perfect

accompaniment, a very crisp wine that cleansed

the palette, particularly for the oilier fish of the

main courses. The new ‘grill’ section of the

menu contains mostly meat dishes, but the

whole char-grilled sea bass with salsa verde was

perhaps the most appetizing of the fish mains.

The sea bass was sensationally moist and

tender within, whilst still having a deliciously

crisp skin. The whole South Coast sole with

lemon and caper butter from the specials board

was also exquisitely cooked, the contrast of the

sharp lemon and richness of the butter perfectly

balanced.

The desserts on offer were notable for their

generous servings. The sticky toffee pudding

consisted of a light sponge, accompanied

by an equally light caramel sauce and vanilla

ice cream. The lemon posset was excellent

and again, the contrast of tangy lemon and

cream was delicately balanced. Loch Fyne

has everything to offer diners, whether on

an intimate date during the week or a large,

boisterous family wanting to be fed on a

Sunday afternoon. Their menu is simple and

incredibly tasty, but it really is the shellfish by

which Loch Fyne excels, marking them out from

the crowd of other restaurants in Oxford.

LOCH FYNE BAR & GRILL

“Loch Fyne Bar and Grill can be found in the North Oxford suburb of Jericho, a somewhat bohemian residential quarter that has great character”

review by Paull Hammond-Davies



It’s Not Just a Walk in the Park!

The three mile sponsored walk in support of the Oxford Cancer Centre and the Oxford Heart Centre, which look after cancer and heart patients from across the south of England, took place on Sunday morning, October 18, 2009 on the grounds

of the Oxford University Park. On hand was Honourary event chairman, Wesley Smith, of Radio Oxford, joined by representatives from the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital. Many of the participants championed the causes as they completed the walk with the

names of loved ones touched by caner or heart disease on their backs. Money raised will help to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, going beyond the NHS standard – and facilities to make the centres more comfortable for patients and their visitors.

Charity benefitPhotographs by David Stumpp

Alice Hahn Gosling - Director of Fundraising for Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals & Wesley Smith

John Richards & Mike Hope

Maureen Strange, Caroline Evans & Eileen Barton

Maureen Thomas & Treldon Thomas

Neil Ashley chairman of the Oxford Cancer Campaign, Wesley Smith & Andrea Cooper, nurse

‘The front of the pack’



There is a

point on a

Saturday

afternoon,

about half an hour after

my daughter wakes

up from her

midday nap,

when I look at the clock

with a small amount of longing and a large

amount of guilt. I am trying to calculate how

long before her bed time, and exactly how much

of that time I have to fill with worthwhile activities,

that is to say, not watching videos, or dragging

her to watch rugby for my own pleasure. Typically

the morning will have been taken up with seeing

grandparents, or breakfast in one of the many

great city centre cafes, The Jam Factory, Jericho

Cafe or Coco’s to name a few, and I will have had a

break from childcare duties.

Unfortunately, at this time of year a little more

imagination is needed for entertainment ideas,

than during brighter, drier months. The simple

option of heading to the par k to run around,

climb and swing doesn’t really cut it in this weather.

Avoiding a wet bottom and the consequent cold

and misery is essential for a pleasant afternoon,

besides which, it will be dark and dangerous before

too long and such outdoor activities will have to be

curtailed. These depressing imperatives, must wrap

up warm, must remain visible, must stay dry, sadly

kill feelings of spontaneity and creativity in me.

A better prepared parent would probably

have painting or gluing and sticking organised for

the afternoon, but let’s be realistic, if a parent can

offer painting, gluing and sticking without

messing up the normal routine of their

house, then obviously they don’t live in

the city of Oxford with small children.

At this point in the weekend we

have to get out of the house simply and

get some fresh air, because the running

around, expending energy will keep

us both sane. Without the out of the

house activity my daughter will wind her

self up until she reaches a point around five pm

where she will be completely wired. She will be

throwing toys, pulling the cat’s tail and opening

every cupboard in our kitchen. Every five minutes I

will have to ask her to put another toy away before

it gets broken or tidy up the Tupperware. Then

at dinner of course she will have no appetite, and

generally want to throw her dinner on the floor to

prove the point that her daddy has let her down by

cooping her up in the house playing puzzles and

stacking bricks all afternoon.

Before I suggest doing anything at all I need

to have a plan of what I’m doing. Otherwise my

daughter will refuse to co-operate. She won’t get

in her pushchair, or put her coat on. I ask her if

she’d like to go for a walk, and she nods her head,

“yeah”. But the moment I move towards the push

chair, it’s “No pushchair, no pushchair”. Her sound

reasoning is that a simple walk does not require a

pushchair. She can walk on her own, or better still,

she can bring her dolly in a pushchair. As careless

mistake has forced me into a desperate negotiating

position, I have to come up with a final strike

response to get us out of the house as soon as

possible, and keep us out of the house for most of

the afternoon. Jambino’s is one option, but that’s

a car journey away and indoors means no fresh air.

With lots of noise and activity it is more fun with a

small group of friends to boost the number of eyes

keeping watch. As her two good friends are both

visiting relatives this afternoon Jambino’s is out.

We could do the modern art museum, but

I don’t know what’s on and as a venue it is on

the small side. There is little space for her to run

around, her curiosity about the exhibits would

probably result in damage being done. With

it being such a small place the visit would only

be a quick stop on the way to somewhere else.

The hassle of coaxing my daughter back into the

pushchair so soon means it is hardly worth while.

At the top of my list, on a cold damp

afternoon in winter, when the ground is wet, the

sky is grey and the wind is lazy, passing through

you rather than around you, is the Natural History

Museum on Parks road.

To my mind this museum is perfect for a

toddler. The exhibits in the main hall are clear and

uncluttered, without the fiddly detail that can be

found in the Pitt’s Rivers just out the back of the

Natural History Museum. A toddler’s attention

is difficult to attract, but with glass cases that

contain interesting things to look at from the floor

up wards, giant turtles, crocodiles and dinosaurs

crawling around on the floor, at only two feet high

there is plenty to see and get excited about.

The openness of the museum allows an adult

to see pretty much from one side of the museum

to the other, a necessary feature when something

fascinating grabs your own attention and your two

year old rushes off to find the next exciting pile

of bones, or beautifully preserved animals from

around the world. But that heart attack moment,

when you look up and they are gone is not likely

to occur, because after their first visit your child

will be pulling at you to see their favourite exhibits,

making sure you are not out of their sight. Or

otherwise you will know exactly where they will be

found gazing into their favourite glass fronted case.

Then when it is time to head home, we can

probably kill about an hour in the natural history

museum looking again and again at the different

beautiful animals on display, and when we need to

sit down after all that running around the museum

supplies line drawings of their different exhibits for

children to colour in. My daughter is a long way

from staying within the lines at the moment, but

that seems to only add to her eagerness to grab

paper and crayon, and find a table to sit at.

When we leave the museum she may insist on

walking, but from Parks Road into the city is a fairly

easy walk for a small child, the pavement is wide,

and I am not inclined to worry too much about

heavy traffic from cars or pedestrians.

Darkness is beginning to fall, the cold of the

evening is coming on early. When we get to the

city centre I will suggest she gets in the pushchair

so we can get home quickly. But for now my

daughter is happy because she has had a fun

afternoon, as have I. Added bonuses for my are

the short walk from the city centre that makes the

museum easy to get to and the fact that it is free,

except for a small gratuity, which my daughter and

I both think it thoroughly deserves.

By Sam jackson

Nappy Valley,OxFORD

“To my mind this museum is perfect for a toddler”


Brasserie Blanc has a long established

reputation in Oxford, being one of

only a handful of restaurants that have

managed to stand both the test of

time and local resident’s ever-changing

taste buds. Brasserie Blanc was set-up by

French chef Raymond Blanc, starting life in 1996

as Le Petit Blanc (one of four such restaurants),

before becoming Brasserie Blanc in 2003

with a new ethos, new look, and new menu.

Although Brasserie Blanc Oxford is one of seven

restaurants in the UK, it has the benefit of being

the first and has retained much of its original

personality and that of its founder who dines

there at least once a week. Those expecting a

similar eating experience to Blanc’s Le Manoir

aux Quat’ Saisons should perhaps revise their

expectations; Brasserie Blanc is a typical French

brasserie offering relaxed dining and simple,

tasty food without Le

Manoir’s fuss or formality.

Brasserie Blanc is situated

in the heart of Jericho, a

Bohemian area known for

its great restaurants and

cocktail bars, hidden from the

touristy hubbub of the city

centre. The décor is at once

relaxed and intimate in the true French brasserie

style – cream walls, veneered wainscoting, rustic

paintings, electric candelabras, and large plate

glass windows that fill the restaurant in light – all

creating the perfect romantic setting. At the front

of the restaurant is a small bar and reception area

and the first dining room, which leads into the

back restaurant which is far larger and looks out

onto the Blanc gardens. There is also a Salon Prive

for small parties who wish to be separate from

the main restaurant but still enjoy the wonderful

buzz and atmosphere. The staff are incredibly

friendly and attentive, all smartly dressed with

an almost Parisian formality in black and white.

They are incredibly knowledgeable about each

item on the menu, and when they don’t know,

they conscientiously find out.

There’s perhaps no better way to start

a meal at Brasserie Blanc than an aperitif of

champagne, a glass of sheer bubbles that

stimulates the appetite, followed swiftly by

a bottle of Sancerre, 2007, a complicated

Sauvignon Blanc with a hint of citrus rind and

grass, the sweetness of the wine establishing

itself in the middle of the palette, with a dry

aftertaste on the sides. The wine menu offers

a wide range of French wines from all regions,

though they tend to be on the slightly expensive

side, probably around £20 – £30 a bottle but

well worth it. One rather wonderful idiosyncrasy

at Brasserie Blanc is the offer of a sash around

the bottle’s neck, which lets the staff know

that the wine should be topped up throughout

the evening by them, or if absent, reminds

them that the guests wish to do the pouring

themselves. Establishing this at the outset avoids

any irritation from couples

that wish to be left alone

or benefits those on large

tables who can’t quite

reach the bottle.

The menu has a

wonderful simplicity,

comprising of mostly

French cuisine without

too much complication or fanfare, from

quintessential French dishes such as snails, to

more continental cuisine like sardines, Spanish

omelette, and risotto. A perfect way to start

a meal would be to try the Roquefort cheese

soufflé with pear and walnut or the Virgin

Mary Gazpacho. The soufflé is one of the most

difficult dishes to make, and most restaurants

have shied away from serving them, which is a

great shame because a soufflé made well can be

a wonderfully light start to a meal. At Brasserie

Blanc, their soufflés are delicate and full of air,

golden and crisp on the outside and with a

perfect gooey consistency inside. It is brilliantly

complimented by fragrant pears and the woody

flavour of walnuts, while the tanginess of the

Roquefort works superbly against the Sancerre.

The Virgin Mary Gazpacho is also wonderfully

light, with subtle seasoning that lifts tomatoes

made velvety by olive oil drizzled on top.

There are a number of exceptional main

courses on the menu, as well as one or two

specials. The pork chop on a bed of deliciously

creamy Savoy cabbage was particularly well

done, with a roasted ring of apple and roasted

tomato, and soft, deliciously firm new potatoes.

The creamy jus complimented the meat, which

was cooked for exactly the right amount of

time and so avoiding that dry, overcooked

toughness pork often has. The seared Scottish

scallops with a fennel purée and frites were also

outstanding, the scallops wonderfully succulent

on a tangy sweet jus with fennel, the frites soft

and crunchy. For dessert, there really is no other

choice than to try the Flaming Baked Alaska for

two. Not only is it a wonderfully talking point

when the waitress lights the Grand Manier the

dessert is steeped in, it also tastes sublime with

the chewy meringue, orange and Grand Manier

soaked sponge, and delicate vanilla icecream

inside. A glass of Muscat finishes the evening

off nicely, tasting of sweet, honeydew melon.

Brasserie Blanc is one of a kind in Oxford –

a quality brasserie serving quality French cuisine

that, although on the slightly more expensive

side, is definitely value for money. They also do a

set menu for those who perhaps don’t want to

spend quite so much, and a Jeune Blanc range

of dishes for younger children. It is the perfect

venue for a quiet romantic dinner or a large

family get together.

“Brasserie Blanc is one of a kind in Oxford – a quality brasserie serving quality French cuisine”

BRASSERIEBLANCreview by Paull Hammond-Davies

ISSUE 1


Provisions

Ask

5 George Street

01865 726850

Italian

Aziz

228 – 230 Cowley Rd.

01865 794945

Indian

Al-Shami

25 Walton Crescent

01865 310066

Lebanese

Branca

111 Walton Street

01865 556111

Italian

Brasserie Blanc

71-72 Walton Street

01865 510999

French

Browns

5-11 Woodstock Road

01865 511995

British

Cafe CoCo

23 Cowley Rd Cowley

01865 200232

Mediterranean

Cafe Rouge

11 Little Clarendon St.

01865 310194

French

Chutney’s

36 St Michael’s Street

01865 724241

Indian

Maxwell’s

36 Queen Street

01865 242192

American

Edamame

15 Holywell Street

01865 246916

Japanese

Fishers Restaurant

36-37 St Clements Street

01865 243003

Seafood

Gee’s Restaurant

61a Banbury Rd

01865 553540

British

Loch Fyne

55 Walton Street

01865 292510

Seafood

Portabello

7 South Parade

01865 559653

British

Saffron

204-206 Banbury Road

01865 512211

Indian

The Big Bang

124 Walton Street

01865 511441

British

The Cherwell

Boathouse

50 Bardwell Road

01865 552746

French

The Fishes

North Hinksey Village

01865 249796

British

The Pink Giraffe

43B St Clements Street

01865 202787

Chinese

Where to Stay

Cotswold Lodge Hotel

66a Banbury Road

01865 512121

Hawkwell House Hotel

Church Way

Iffley Village

Le Manoir aux

Quat’ Saisons

Church Road

01844 278881

French

Linton Lodge Hotel

Linton Road

01865 553461

Malmaison

3 Oxford Castle

01865 268400

Old Bank Hotel

91 – 94 High Street

01865 799599

The Holiday Inn

Peartree Roundabout

0870 4009086

The Randolph Hotel

Beaumont Street

0870 400 8200

The Old Parsonage

1 Banbury Road

01865 310210

Tilbury Lodge

5 Tilbury Lane

01865 862138

Victoria House Hotel

29 George Street

01865 727400

Cafés

All Bar One

124 High Street

01865 258991

Cafe Loco

85-87 St. Aldate’s

01865 200959

Caffe Nero

14 High Street

01865 791 657

Coffee Republic

Bush House

35 New Inn Hall St.

01865 204735

Freud’s

119 Walton Street

01865 311171

Maison Blanc

3 Woodstock Road

01865 510974

Mortons Café

22 New Inn Hall St.

01865 721673

The Jericho Café

112 Walton St

01865 310840

The News Café

1 Ship Street

01865 242317

The Rose

51 High St.

01865 244 429

Nightclubs / Bars

Duke of Cambridge

5-6 Little Clarendon St.

01865 558173

Escape

9a High Street

01865 246766

Imperial Club

27 Park End St.

01865 794900

Mood

29 George Street

01865 726036

Moya

97 St Clements

01865 200111

O’Neill’s

37 George St

01865 812931

Po Na Na

13 – 15 Magdalen Street

01865 249171

Purple Turtle Bar

Frewin Court

01865 247086

Que Pasa

12 New Road

01865 250099

Raoul’s

32 Walton Street

01865 553732

The Bridge

6-9 Hythe Bridge Street

01865 242526

The Carling Academy

Oxford

190 Cowley Road

0905 020 3999

The Coven Nightclub

Oxpens Rd

01865 242770

The Victoria

90 Walton Street

01865 511516

Thirst

7-8 Park End St.

01865 242044

Museums /Galleries

Ashmolean

Museum

Beaumont Street

01865 278000

Black Sheep

Galleries

20 High Street

01865 725 522

Bodleian Library

Old Schools

Quadrangle

Broad St.

01865 277224

Christ Church

St. Aldates

01865 276492

Modern Art Oxford

30 Pembroke Street

01865 722733

Museum of the

History of Science

Broad Street

01865 277280

The Museum

of Oxford

St Aldates

01865 252761

The Sculptures

196, Westmister Way

01865 439324

Oxfordshire

Museum

Fletchers House

Park Street

01993 811 456

O3 Gallery

Oxford Castle

01865 246131

The Oxford ConciergeTHE ESSENTiAL OxFORD LiSTiNGS FOR ENjOyiNG LiFE iN THE CiTy

oxford magazine

Documents

oxford round table

oxford bike ride

oxford business park

room high street

aldates oxford town

randolph hotel

joes george street oneills

old bank hotel