French patisserie opens in town (From Herald Series)

French patisserie opens in town

4:00pm Friday 18th May 2007 in News By Herald Reporter

ABINGDON'S retail sector has received a boost with the opening of a French patisserie and relaunches of an Indian restaurant and a clock and watch shop.

The new Patisserie Pascal, the only patisserie in the town, has opened in a former hairdressing salon in East St Helen Street.

It is owned by Pascal and Debbie Garandeau, of Abingdon, who used to run a patisserie in Summertown, Oxford.

Mrs Garandeau said: "We ran the Summertown business for 12 years and sold it last December to a French couple. We decided we wanted to do something completely different, but missed the business so much that we decided to go back, and Abingdon seemed the ideal choice.

"We feel there is a lot of potential in Abingdon despite what some people say. It is a great town with lots of small, independent businesses that people like, not the big multiple stores. We believe we have found a niche here."

The former Assam Balti restaurant in Bath Street has been relaunched at a cost of £132,000 by its new owners as Tiffins Tandoori.

It was opened by Abingdon's new mayor, Lorraine Oates, in her first engagement after taking office. It is the second Tiffins restaurant in Oxfordshire - the first was in Kidlington - and there is another at Brackley.

One of the new owners is Moznu Miah, a leading figure in the Bangladeshi community in Oxford with 35 years' experience in the business. He started the Moonlight restaurant, the largest Indian restaurant in Oxford. His partner is Shomir Sinha-Ray, who is a newcomer to the restaurant trade, having spent his working life in the car industry.

Dr Sinha-Ray said: "Having finished my automotive career for Ford in both North and South America, I decided to go into the restaurant business, which is a new venture for me - but it is an old passion that has been rekindled."

The Tick Tock shop in Broad Street, owned by Tom Gardiner, has undergone a refurbishment. He has spent £2,500 on decoration and fittings, and £15,000 on new stock of watches, clocks and silverware. It is the only watchmaker's shop in Abingdon.

Mr Gardiner, who took over a former women's clothes shop 18 months ago said: "After a slow start, business is picking up and I am pleased to have moved into Abingdon.

"Abingdon has a lot to offer, with many small businesses like mine. It's a magical town, with the river a big draw for visitors. Once the Market Place is finished, the shopping precinct improved and the new traffic system settles down, I think Abingdon can look forward to a very bright future."