September 13 is the date businesses in a parade of Oxford shops have been told they must close by.

Businesses on the corner of Walton Street and Little Clarendon Street have been given notice by a developer planning to renovate into 41 student rooms and six unnamed retail units.

Work will start next month and take about 12 months.

But Chris Murray, owner of food and wine bar Bottega has already lined up new premises – the Oxford Blue pub in Marston Street, East Oxford.

Mr Murray said: “We are sad to go. It was great fun.”

He said the main focus at the revamped Oxford Blue will be on food, with the pub’s Sky Sports coverage axed.

He added: “We want to cater for the locals as much as possible, just to build up a good community pub.”

Mr Murray, who expects to open another Bottega in Jericho next year, said: “The cost (of Sky) has become prohibitive for small pubs.

Oxford Blue landlord Rob Oakley, who has sold the lease and will leave, said “food is the way to sustain a pub”.

He added: “The locals are fine with it because they are going to turn it into a gastro pub.

“It won’t be a student hellhole where there will be partying all night.”

Sausage restaurant The Big Bang, furniture shop Licious and The Last Bookshop will close under the Jericho plans.

Big Bang owner Max Mason said: “It is very sad, it is one of the last interesting, independent corners of Jericho.”

Mr Mason, who is looking for a new site where he can reopen, said the rents at the new site are too high and the Government or local councils should take action to stop rents going through the roof.

Developer Melvin Robinson said current rents were low because of the poor condition of the existing building, and new rents had to make up for the expensive redevelopment.

Last Bookshop owner Jake Pumphrey said: “It’s their right to get as much money as they can from their retail property, that is business.”

While its other St Aldate’s branch will close under another redevelopment, he said he hoped to find a new venue soon, adding: “It is not the end of us.”

The front of 123-125 and 127 Walton Street will be kept under the plans, with 126 Walton Street and 32-32a Little Clarendon Street knocked down for a new building.

The final plans were approved by Oxford City Council last month.