Tap Social was born out of a passion for good beer and social justice.

We are a social enterprise that brews, bakes, and creates inclusive community hospitality venues to help turn lives around for prisoners and prison leavers through direct employment and advocacy. To date we have created more than 98,000 hours of paid employment for prisoners on day release from prison (Release On Temporary Licence) and prison leavers. Having a job helps to build self-confidence and resilience, and leaves people better equipped to lead a productive and happy life. This in turn reduces reoffending and prevents victimisation.

Tap Social Movement

We produce an award-winning range of modern, accessible craft beer at our main production brewery in north Oxford, and complement those beers with experimental small-batch brews from our original brewery at our flagship taproom in West Oxford. Open every weekend, the taproom is consistently rated Oxford’s top nightlife destination, regularly hosting an eclectic mix of events that includes live music, charity fundraisers, yoga, community events, quiz nights, and much more.

Tap Social Movement

Located in our former refitted brewery, Proof Social Bakehouse is a café and commercial bakery offering sourdough bread, croissants, and assorted pastries. We have a bar in Banbury at Lock29, and our newest venue, The Market Tap by Tap Social, is in Oxford’s historic Covered Market.

Timeline of Key Developments

Tap Social Movement

TAP SOCIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Our Advisory Board is made up of experts in criminal justice, business leaders, and current and former service users who meet regularly to assess our progress and offer advice and guidance in both social impact and commercial operations.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE HUB - ESCALATE PROGRAMME

We are delighted to be one of Oxfordshire’s 6 social enterprise hubs, a key aspect of the OxLEP’s 3 year business support programme - eScalate.  We will be running workshops, networking events and peer-to-peer learning sessions to help social entrepreneurs, charities and purposeful businesses to learn new skills, forge partnerships and increase their social and environmental impact.We are excited to be working in close partnership with OSEP (Oxfordshire Social Enterprise Partnership) and the other social enterprise hubs in the county to help deliver this programme of events and support for early stage and / or growing social businesses.  

EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY BOARDS

Employment Advisory Boards (EABs) are a new initiative supported by the Ministry of Justice that aims to harness the power of local business leaders, working in partnership with prison governors, to create employment opportunities for prison leavers. Tap Social Director Paul Humpherson is the Chair of the HMP Bullingdon Employment Advisory Board, and Director Amy Taylor sits on the Employment Advisory Board at HMP Spring Hill.