Where creativity brews alongside expertly crafted coffee, heritage music equipment, AV repairs, and tech solutions — all inside the historic Oxford Sound & Light building.
The Workshop Café is more than a place to grab a drink — it's Cowley Road's cultural foyer.
A social space.
A creative workspace.
A community venue.
A living display of Oxford's musical heritage.
We serve as the front door to Cowley Road Studios, blending comfort, culture, and craftsmanship in one space.
Brewed with care. Inspired by Cowley's long DIY tradition.
The café is designed to feel like a cinematic creative den, with warm vintage tones and subtle nods to the building's AV history.
Continuing the legacy of Oxford Sound & Light ("722027")
Just like the historic shop before us, the Workshop Café houses:
This is handled by Oliver Rushen, a 15+ year AV engineer and system-builder — the same technical force shaping the CRS studio complex.
(Referenced in Team CVs: co-founder, wiring lead, AV systems engineer)
We continue the tradition of the old OS&L shop:
Affordable, flexible, and community-friendly.
The Workshop Café sits inside the Billet Building — the former Oxford Sound & Light, a 50-year-old creative institution.
Preserving Oxford's musical legacy
Reviving heritage gear and analogue culture
Maintaining intergenerational creative spaces
Acting as an accessible entry point to the CRS studios
These events are aligned with your funded commitments in the Grassroots Music plan:
The café doubles as a recordable venue, AV-linked directly to the CRS Control Room.
In the Café
The Workshop Café hosts the Digital Pulse façade & indoor display system, turning the building into a public-facing digital arts surface.
Expect:
(This ties directly to the Digital Pulse application narrative.)
Host your:
25 seated / 45–60 standing
Our access ethos reflects the Grassroots Music application:
This café is genuinely for everyone.
We post live updates on:
Updates include:
118 Cowley Road, Oxford · Open daily
Your support helps finish the hybrid studio and keeps Workshop Café programming open and accessible to the whole community.
View the Crowdfunder