Oxford Artisan Distillery plans approved ahead of reopening

The Oxford Artisan Distillery, known as TOAD, traded for seven years from its site in an historic barn near South Park in Headington.

It ceased operations in Oxford in 2024, when the company scaled-up to its partner’s premises in Yorkshire to continue trading as The Yorkshire Distilling Company.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery (Image: TOAD)

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Original founder Tom Nicholson recently announced the triumphant return of Oxford’s first distillery to its original site, based in the grade II listed character bran, Cheney Barn in South Park, for summer next year.

A planning application lodged with Oxford City Council to retain the distilling premises, New Barn, for the purpose of reinstating the distillery was approved shortly after the business’ announcement.

The Oxford Spirit Group, the new outfit set to reopen the distillery, bought the barn and gained temporary permission to turn the building into a storage barn, while it got the distillery ‘up and running’.

Still Life: The official opening of The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD). Founder Tom Nicolson and master distiller Cory Mason leading the first tour. Picture: Jon Lewis

The temporary permission lapsed, however, after plans for a new visitor centre at the site, including a restaurant, tasting room and bar, ‘became too big for the business at that stage’.

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Plans reveal that the company is now developing a new masterplan to include visitor facilities on a smaller-scale including dual function tasting and dining rooms, a reception, toilets, hospitality areas and a kiosk for users of South Park.

Oxford City Council granted permission for the company to retain the use of the distilling barn while the rest of the site is developed, for a further period of three years.

The distillery is expected to reopen in summer 2027 with a further planning application outlining full plans for the site expected to be submitted soon.

Founded in 2017 by Mr Nicholson, the company’s Oxford Rye Dry Gin was launched into more than 150 Waitrose stores across the country five years later in 2022.

The original planning application said: “The site comprises the remnants of a farm originally known as Headington Farm which then became Cheney Farm and it contains a derelict 18th century grade II listed Threshing Barn, alongside other more recently built buildings now occupied by TOAD.

“The Threshing Barn is the earliest standing building in the conservation area and dates from the 18th century.

“The adjacent farmyard buildings include a cowshed and the shelter shed which was originally open-fronted.”