Published: 27 August 2026
Something new is brewing at Cornerstone
Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot is preparing to transform its Café Bar this summer into a warm, contemporary place for coffee, culture and community.
Over the coming weeks, visitors will see a number of changes at the Café Bar, including a new menu and later opening hours from Monday 14 September, when it will be open until 8.30pm Monday to Saturday.
The refreshed space will also offer a wider platform for local talent. Didcot’s thriving music scene can already be heard at Cornerstone’s monthly open mic nights and its popular Music Box Open Decks and Record Shop. The new setting will enable the venue to champion more musicians and create further opportunities for artists to share their work.
Book clubs, writing groups, talks, board game clubs and relaxed evening events are also being explored, extending Cornerstone’s programme beyond its theatre, gallery and studios.
The transformation will include new Makers Spaces; showcasing pieces by artists and independent makers. Visitors will be able to discover and purchase work from local artists and makers as they move through the building, putting creativity at the centre of the everyday Cornerstone experience.
Cllr Georgina Heritage, Cabinet Member for Communities at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I’m really excited about this work. A huge amount of thought and planning has gone into the vision for Cornerstone to become the cultural living room for Didcot: a welcoming space where people can meet friends, settle down with a book, work over coffee or stay for a drink after a performance. We want it to feel like a place you can make your own.”
Follow Cornerstone Arts Centre on social media or visit the Cornerstone website for updates.
Communications
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils
