* Can new Thai restaurant Thaikhun survive where so many have failed?

Thaikhun’s new owners think so and are very excited about the April opening, despite the previous two restaurants, Cleaver and Fire & Stone failing on the George Street site.

Owned by Kim Kaewkraikhot and her partner Martin Stead, the pair’s vision was to open a Thai restaurant in the UK, which they achieved in 2004 with Chaophraya in Leeds.

Over the past decade they have grown this into 11 restaurants all sitting under the Thai Leisure Group name and Thaikhun, a new venture started in Manchester in 2014 with Oxford next on the list and Cambridge following at the end of May.

Cleaver shut up shop after just 13 months, and Fire & Stone, the pizza restaurant also closed shortly after taking over the Old Orleans site.

* Pan Chai, the UK’s first and only pan-Asian franchise has opened a Pan Chai petite at Bicester Village. The temporary pop-up site will operate until April 12, with a plan to then move on to a permanent site within the complex.

The pop-up consists of 12 covers around the serving counter as well as outside seating, serving small plates with a selection of sushi and dim sum, to mains including Nasi goreng, Thai green curry, Vietnamese Pho (choice of Chicken or Beef), and Black cod with sweet soy glaze. Asian soft drinks available include Malaysian pulled tea, Glass jelly and Bubble Tea.

The launch of Pan Chai petite marks the latest opening from the Pan Chai franchise.

The original Pan Chai is in Harrods Food Hall.

Owner Eddie Lim said: “Diners can expect the same high level of cuisine Pan Chai offers, but in a slightly less formal setting and at a lower price point.”

See PanChai.com

* A new pub is set to open in Bicester this week with a name chosen by the people of Bicester. The Saxon pub in Sheep Street has been named in honour of the town’s history as an Anglo-Saxon settlement and was unanimously voted for in an online competition.

The new pub, which opened last Friday, has created 11 jobs.

General manager Steven Plast said: “The focus for The Saxon will be on serving great value quality pub food, national and locally sourced cask ales and award-winning wines and cocktails.”

The Saxon will open from 9am with a new menu serving dishes to suit the time of day or purpose of visit, whether for breakfast, a mid-morning stop, lunchtime fix or evening meal. With a choice of breakfast dishes, sandwiches, wraps and sharing platters, customers will be able to pop for a burger or a grill, choose from traditional pub favourites or opt for one of several lighter under 500 calorie dishes.

The pub also offers entertainment throughout the week including a regular Thursday evening quiz and live music or DJ-led entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, customers are invited to relax over a freshly prepared roast lunch and a pint or two of their favourite ale.

* As well as a beautiful range of Easter treats, Carlucccio’s at Bicester Village will be hosting biscuit-decorating classes for children to enjoy on Tuesday, April 7, at 10.30am for £10 per child.

This relaxed, hands-on approach aims to inspire kids to get creative and messy. Children will decorate Easter egg and bunny-shaped biscuits with rainbow sprinkles and colourful icing, ahead of the all important taste test with mamma e papà.

The event is for five- to 12-year-olds. See carluccios.com/events