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I've been visiting The Missing Bean in Oxford's Turl Street  for over a decade and was delighted when they opened their own roastery in East Oxford  a few years later. And now Missing Bean is expanding further, with two new cafés in Abingdon and Banbury, and another to come later in the summer at the West Way Square development in Botley. While I was visiting my parents at the weekend, I took the opportunity to visit the Abingdon coffee shop, which opened in late May. Abingdon is a small market town on the River Thames, about eight miles south of Oxford. Growing up near Oxford, I went into Abingdon to have my hair cut and to take part in regattas and other sports events, for the most part. But the historic town centre and the river both offer opportunities for a pleasant stroll. Missing Bean is located on Stert Street, just across the road from the town square. The town was bustling when we arrived, while the sun was still out on Saturday afternoon, and Missing Bean itsel...

Despite it being a leap year, 2020 hasn't been a year where I've felt like leaping much, what with one thing and another. As such, my annual travel round-up post, where I highlight some of my favourite places for leaping that I've visited that year, has had a bit of a revamp. In January, I had seven international trips booked, but only completes one, to New York and Seattle , before the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the others. This year has been the longest I've been in the UK without leaving the country in two or three decades, and it's been hard not to miss the excitement of discovering new cities and countries, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. But I have managed several smaller-scale adventures closer to home this year, and I thought this was a good opportunity to share a few stories. 1. Arriving in NYC in the 'before times' I spent a few days working in Manhattan before a conference in Seattle in early February, and in...

And so here we are, inching closer to the end of what has been an exceptionally challenging year. Despite everything, I know I'm very lucky to have remained healthy and in work (busier than ever, in fact, as I work for a science journal) throughout, but it's been such a difficult year for the hospitality industry, as coffee shops and eateries have had to adapt and then adapt some more in the face of constant change. Many places have already closed permanently or may have to do so in the coming months, with devastating consequences for the staff and on our changing neighbourhoods. It's more important than ever to continue to support local businesses, especially those you really care about, wherever possible — and, of course, wherever safe. Do check establishments' websites and/or social media to find out the latest information on opening hours and restrictions. As part of my end-of-year round-ups, I usually highlight some of  my favourite coffee and food favourites . Thi...

While back in my Oxford bubble for my birthday and my mum's earlier this month, I was able to experience the take-out offerings from three different restaurants. And although it wasn't quite the same as dining in, we were very impressed with all three, which serve different cuisines at different price points. And although Oxford will be out of lockdown and in tier 2 restrictions  from next Wednesday, takeout for formerly dine-in-only restaurants seems likely to remain on the agenda for some time, but do always refer to the restaurants' websites or social media accounts for their most up-to-date information. Oli's Thai I've been wanting to try Oli's Thai for some time, but the small East Oxford restaurant (located just across from the Missing Bean roastery on Magdalen Road) only has five tables and its popularity means it's very hard to get a reservation in normal times. During lockdown, Oli's has been open for take-out only on Wednesdays to Fridays. The...

While I was back in Oxford for the weekend, I got to check out New Ground Coffee , a new-to-me coffee shop and roastery based two miles east of the city centre in Headington, not too far from the shark . This roastery opened about a year ago, although founders Joel and Dickon have been roasting for longer, but having missed their Selfridges pop-up shop , I found out about New Ground via  Tom . The roastery is based in a small warehouse set back from Windmill Road, near the junction with London Road, Headington's main drag. It's a beautiful space inside, with high ceilings, lots of light and minimalist interiors. The long wooden counter runs along one wall with a few bench-style seats opposite. At the back, there are a couple of tables just in front of the roaster itself. New Ground aims to combine a high-quality coffee experience with social responsibility. They have a selection of coffees, mainly sourced from small farms, that changes seasonally, and they offer training and j...

I grew up in a small, quiet village east of Oxford, where my parents still live. Up over the aptly named Ladder Hill is Wheatley, a larger village that has a few more shops, pubs and cafes. Among these is a speciality coffee shop with the excellent name of  Bruin Café , which my parents told me about some months ago. And I finally managed to visit while I was with my parents at the weekend. I decided to run to Bruin from my parents' house on Saturday morning, a steep two-mile journey. The cosy café is located on the High Street, just across the road from a stretch of shops including the Cornfield Bakery, which has been there since I was very small. Inside, there are a few small tables and a pair of armchairs in the window, all with appropriate distancing and occupied by regulars during my morning visit. There are also some outdoor seats just next door in front of the Merry Bells, the village hall in which, long ago, I attended Brownies meetings and gymnastics practice, and gav...