A successful Carterton cocktail bar is closing for a week for a refurb.

Grapes and Tomatoes - also known as G&Ts - on Alvescot Road said it was "giving the bar a freshen up so we can start the year off perfect for you all!"

The bar closed on New Year's Day and will reopen on Friday January 6 at 2pm for the first weekend of 2023.

The wine and cocktail bar has live music, DJ sets, open mic nights and special events throughout the year.

It was opened in 2020 by four Brize Norton servicemen Jimmy O’Brien, Dylan Bartle, Steve Forster and Wayne Carter.

Witney Gazette:

The parachute jump instructors had between them almost 100 years of experience in the RAF.

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Mr O’Brien told the Oxford Mail: “Myself and Dylan had the idea of the bar.

“We actually joined the RAF on the same day in April 2000 and became best mates.

“We often discussed what it would be like to own a bar and what sort of things we’d do.

“The bar is something for the community to enjoy - something we thought that the town was missing.

“We wanted a place that was a little bit different and to bring a city vibe.

“It’s been really nice, there’s a great family feeling to the place."

Before the pandemic the bar was nominated for the New Business Award at the West Oxfordshire Business Awards.

During lockdown the team kept its early success going with cocktail making classes, rock n roll bingo and Facebook Friday night quizzes which had up to 380 people play worldwide, with people joining in from Dubai, America and Cyprus.

Mr O'Brien said of the bar: “It’s what we dreamed of, and more.”

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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