Chloe’s Long Table Collaboration with Independent Oxford: A Celebration of Community
On the 26th of February, Chloe’s Charlbury joined forces with Rosie of Independent Oxford to host a special long table dinner celebrating 10 years of Indie Oxford. The event brought together local business owners, community members, and changemakers for an evening of food, conversation, and connection.
The night featured inspiring talks from Jake of Velocity and Tess of Tap Social, both of whom are making a significant impact in Oxford’s independent business landscape. Jake spoke about Velocity’s journey as a zero-emission delivery company, highlighting their commitment to sustainable and ethical capitalism. In just three years, they have grown to employ 20 staff and work with 80-90 independent Oxford businesses each week. With a strong focus on farm-to-fork initiatives, they collaborate with 21 local producers, including Bruern Farms and local bakeries. Their profits are reinvested into supporting farmers, such as funding polytunnels to improve supply. Looking ahead, Jake discussed the challenges of expanding their services to commercial restaurants and institutions like schools and hospitals, ensuring more people benefit from top-quality, locally sourced food.
Tess, co-founder of Tap Social, shared her journey of building a business that provides meaningful employment for people transitioning out of the prison system. She emphasised the flaws in the current system, where so much focus is placed on the crime itself rather than the individual’s rehabilitation. Since purchasing a second-hand brewery in 2016, Tap Social has expanded to include multiple community hubs, a bakery in Kennington, and partnerships with open prisons that allow individuals to gain valuable work experience. Today, they employ 54 people who are either in prison or recently released, contributing over 100,000 hours of employment. The impact is clear: while the national reoffending rate stands between 40-70%, Tap Social’s approach has reduced it to just 3%. Tess also reflected on the personal impact of Independent Oxford, which helped her build a support network when she first arrived in the UK, transforming what was once an isolating experience into a thriving community.
Throughout the evening, both speakers and Chloe were incredibly complimentary about the profound impact Rosie and Independent Oxford have had on them, both personally and professionally. They expressed immense gratitude for the support, connections, and opportunities that Indie Oxford has provided. Tess, in particular, shared how Rosie’s outreach in 2017 was life-changing for her, helping to put Tap Social on the map and fostering a sense of belonging when she was new to the area. The evening was filled with heartfelt acknowledgments of how Independent Oxford has shaped and strengthened the indie business community, making it a true force for positive change.
Of course, no celebration would be complete without an exceptional feast, and Chloe delivered just that. The evening began with her signature sourdough peshwari bread, served with labneh, pickled squash, and kale chutney. The main course featured Hodmedods bean dal, accompanied by kitchen garden harvest pakora, rice, mint yogurt, and pickle. For dessert, guests had a choice between a gluten-free blood orange and white chocolate brownie with organic Greek yogurt or a selection of Bibury cheese with homemade chutney and organic oatcakes.
The long table dinner was a testament to the power of independent businesses coming together to create something truly special. Through food, conversation, and shared experiences, the event highlighted the importance of community, sustainability, and second chances. Here’s to another decade of Independent Oxford and the incredible people who make it what it is!
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