A NEW guide to Oxford's 'fantastic' independent shops, cafes and restaurants is being launched by a group of traders.

The first Independent Oxford Compendium is set to include up to 80 businesses, with hopes future editions could feature even more if it's successful.

It will be the first guide of its kind in the city and features pictures of every venue as well as maps showing where to find them.

Four businesswomen behind the idea – Anna Munday, Becca Chaplin, Jacqui Thorndyke and Rosie Jacobs – hope it will help boost footfall for the city's independent traders, with many currently 'hidden away'.

They said they wanted to make joining the guide 'affordable' for local firms, at £100 each, and so far, more than 40 have signed up.

Ms Thorndyke, who runs Bitten Oxford with Ms Chaplin, said: "There are lots of really fantastic independent businesses in the city that people do not even get to hear about.

"We want this to show people where to find them. It is also meant to be a high-quality product that looks good on a coffee table."

Ms Jacobs, who runs Independent Oxford with Ms Munday, said promoting independent firms would be 'even more important' because of the revamped Westgate Shopping Centre's planned opening in October.

She added: "When that happens, we want to make sure people come not just to shop there but also to discover Oxford's covered market and other shops.

"That's important because most small businesses cannot afford to do big marketing campaigns."

They are initially hoping to have a run of 10,000 copies of the new guide, which is similar to others created for fellow university cities Cambridge and Bristol.

Businesses who sign up get a full page, as well as 50 copies initially to sell or give away.

Ms Munday said: "Our main aim with this is to help other businesses.

"We are not doing it as a money-making project – people have actually been surprised at what we are charging – because we think independent shops should be given a chance to shine."

One of the many firms already signed up is Atomic Burger, which runs a diner-style restaurant, as well as Atomic Pizza, in Cowley Road.

Owner James Reilly said: "The guide is a really great idea. You've got to connect with local people as an independent business because in many ways people visit them to express themselves.

"Shopping locally says something about who you are and what your preferences are.

"But over the years changes on the high street means that we have to stick together – otherwise we will just get swallowed up by big business."

Sarah Wiseman, who runs the Sarah Wiseman Gallery in South Parade, said: "Many of us are a bit under the radar or hard to find, so it would be brilliant to be able to pick something up that tells you where everyone is."

For information about the guide, visit independentoxford.com