The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) is returning to its original Oxford home after owner Oxford Spirit Group secured the lease on the historic Cheney Farm site in Headington and unveiled its new board of directors. The move follows the granting of planning permission to restore the city’s first registered organic whisky distillery, with founder Tom Nicolson leading the revival alongside the reacquired stills Nautilus and Nemo.
“Bringing TOAD back to Oxford is an amphibious resurrection in full spring,” said Nicolson. “This is a true home-coming, returning TOAD to the community and the land where it belongs.”
TOAD operated as Oxford’s first distillery for seven years in a converted Grade II-listed barn at Cheney Lane in South Park, however it ceased trading in May 2024, and it was subsequently announced that the Oxford site would close.
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READ THE STORYNicolson, who launched TOAD in 2017, is spearheading the project after reclaiming the brand’s trademarks and intellectual property. The newly formed board is drawn from figures with Oxford ties.
Woodward added: “By combining farming provenance with cutting edge eco-engineering and a clear cause, TOAD will become a leading example of how independent artisan distilleries can achieve ecological integrity and commercial success.”
Don Woodward, an independent whisky executive who previously led Ardgowan Distillery, has been appointed chairman and chief financial officer, overseeing financial structuring, long-term asset management, and strategic scaling.
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Gareth Roberts joins as eco distillery designer, director and shareholder, leading the site’s transition to next-generation energy efficiency. Gordon Nelson becomes operations director, while Stuart Crook, a member of the original team, takes on the finance director role.
Mark Beer OBE, an international lawyer and Visiting Fellow of the University of Oxford, has been named non-executive director.
The distillery’s famous stills have also come home. There are two stills – the smaller, 500 litre still used for gin and vodka spirits called Nemo and the larger, 2,400 litre hybrid still called Nautilus, built by the team at South Devon Railway Engineering that refurbished the Flying Scotsman.
The revival centers on sustainability, with grains sourced from Oxfordshire farms using methods designed to enrich soil health and biodiversity. The Grade II listed barn will house enhanced visitor experiences, tasting rooms, and dining spaces.
The Oxford Spirit Group has confirmed that The Oxford Artisan Distillery will reopen at its original site in June 2027. An opportunity to own a rare piece of the brand’s history will be announced before the end of 2026.
