Hollywood star Florence Pugh’s dad blames traffic restrictions for closure of his beloved local businesses
Clinton Pugh, who's ran cafés and restaurants in Oxford for four decades, says Low Traffic Neighbourhoods were the final blow to his business
The father of Hollywood actress Florence Pugh has sold his final business in Oxford after reporting financial losses of more than £1 million, which he says were caused by local traffic restrictions.
Clinton Pugh, who ran several well-known cafés and restaurants in the city for 40 years, confirmed he had sold Kazbah on Cowley Road earlier this year. It followed the sale of his neighbouring venue Café Coco in October after nearly 32 years.
“It’s the end of an era,” he said. “I have had some amazing staff and wonderful customers, and I thank them hugely.”
Mr Pugh blamed the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in east Oxford and Cowley by Oxfordshire County Council for a sharp drop in business.
“Kazbah’s turnover has dropped significantly over the last three years since the LTNs have gone in. So had Café Coco,” he said. “I’ve lost about £1 million, if not more.”
He added: “I sold the Kazbah on the day Donald Trump announced his tariffs, and I was so relieved to get out of it. It would be bad enough just to have what’s happened with the Bank of England and the pressures of inflation. Then you throw in the restrictions on the Cowley Road. The LTNs were the main nail in the coffin.”
Mr Pugh, who first opened a business in Oxford in the 1980s, said the city had become increasingly difficult for independent businesses.
“Having been here for 40 years, it’s unfortunately getting to the stage where it’s very hard for people to make money,” he said. “The conclusion I have is that business in Oxford is untenable.”
He also criticised future plans to introduce bus gates on some city centre roads.
“If you have bus gates, you won’t be able to get from Summertown to the Cowley Road,” he said. “If you can’t get from other parts of the centre of Oxford and you can’t come in from the shire, then it’s obviously going to affect your business. You can’t get staff either. If they don’t live locally then they don’t want to pay for taxis to come in.”
“If councillors aren’t coming to see that most of the shops are shut during the daytime, they just blame it on national economics. They don’t take any responsibility for the damage they’ve caused.”
A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “LTNs are intended to make residential streets healthier to live on and more comfortable for walking, wheeling, and cycling.”
The council confirmed that a trial of new traffic filters is expected to begin in August 2026 after the reopening of Botley Road.
“The trial will be carefully monitored and evaluated, including an analysis of footfall and spending data in the city centre and five other locations: Cowley Road, Cowley centre, Headington, Jericho and Summertown,” the spokesperson said.
They added that the filters will apply only to cars, with exemptions for other vehicles and 17 types of free permits available for drivers.