Oxford Artisan Distillery to reopen in 2027
The Oxford Spirit Group has confirmed that The Oxford Artisan Distillery (Toad) will reopen at its original site in June 2027.
Toad was founded in 2017 by Tom Nicolson, and operated as Oxford’s first distillery for seven years in a converted Grade II-listed barn at Cheney Lane in South Park.
Nicholson then left the company (which was trading under the name Still on the Hill) in 2022 after the distillery secured a minority investment from Diageo’s now-defunct drinks accelerator Distill Ventures in November that year.
However, Toad ceased trading in May 2024, and it was subsequently announced that the Oxford site would close.
The company was renamed as Fielden, and it was confirmed that it would relocate to a larger site in Yorkshire. However, these plans have since been scrapped with production moved to third-party distilleries including Adnams and Wood Brothers Distillery.
Nicholson then formed a new business, The Oxford Spirit Group, to bring spirits production back to the former distillery’s home at Cheney Lane.
The company submitted a bid for the lease of Toad’s former site to the Oxford City Council, which was subsequently granted.
On 20 August last year, the company submitted a planning application to the council to retain the existing building, known as the New Barn stillhouse, at the former Oxford Artisan Distillery site.
The company has now confirmed plans for a full revival of the Oxford site.
Company directors have described the move as an “amphibious resurrection in full spring”, signalling a return not only to the original location but also to the brand’s founding identity.
“Toad carries nine years of established brand recognition as the first distillery in Oxford’s history, the UK’s first registered organic distillery, and the world’s first biodiverse distillery,” the statement read.
The statement also confirmed the company has successfully reacquired the distillery’s original stills, “Nautilus, Nemo, and the mighty Columns”.
In a post on LinkedIn, Nicholson also confirmed that the company has successfully acquired the Toad trademarks, intellectual property, and key assets. “We are planning to reopen on the same site next year, with the aim of creating our delicious Toad spirits and bringing back many of our fantastic original team members.”
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