Genuine French Oak Wine Barrel Water Butt

A premium French oak barrel water butt that looks as good as it performs — a natural alternative to plastic, designed to enhance your garden while saving water

Made from genuine reclaimed French oak wine barrels, each piece brings natural character and warmth to your garden while collecting and storing rainwater for everyday use.

Available in 250L or 300L

Complete with a solid timber rasier blocks and brass tap, it’s ready to position beside your home, shed or greenhouse and start saving water straight away.

✔ Genuine reclaimed French oak barrel
✔ Solid timber raiser blocks stand (Optional)
✔ Brass tap fitted for easy use (Optional)
✔ A practical and attractive alternative to plastic water butts

Current lead-time: Approx. 2 weeks

Our barrels have been freshly emptied and sourced from vineyards across Europe, having been used to store and age red wines from regions including France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Crafted by expert coopers using quarter-sawn solid oak staves and galvanised steel bands, these barrels are typically 5–10 years old and perfectly suited for use as water butts.

When positioned correctly, a water butt can provide a reliable source of water for your garden throughout the summer months — reducing reliance on mains water while keeping plants healthy.

Unlike plastic alternatives, these oak barrels offer both function and visual appeal, acting as a practical feature that enhances your outdoor space.

Please note:

• Each barrel is unique and will vary in colour, grain and appearance
• As reclaimed items, barrels may show signs of previous use including marks, weathering and surface cracks
• A light red wine scent may still be present

Barrels are available with either a removable lift-off lid or a fixed lid, along with a range of optional accessories.

• Fixed lid barrels with accessories will be shipped with accessories separately
• Rainwater diverters are supplied in black
• Raiser blocks (oak or softwood depending on stock) increase height for easier filling of watering cans
• Taller watering cans may require slight tilting or additional elevation

Material: Reclaimed Genuine French oak wine barrel
Tap: Solid brass tap (optional)
Base: Timber raiser blocks (optional)
Rainwater Diverter (Optional)
Finish: Natural oak

Each barrel is unique, with natural variations in colour, grain and markings that add to its character.

Rainwater diverters connect directly to your downpipe, automatically feeding water into the barrel as it fills.
Once full, excess water is simply diverted back down the pipe — no overflow or mess.
Each barrel is fitted with a connector for the flexible hose, usually positioned at the 12 o’clock point, but this can be adjusted to suit your setup — just let us know when ordering.

Capacity – 55 gallon/250 litres
Height – 950mm,
Belly Diameter – 680mm
Top Diameter – 570mm 

Capacity – 70 gallon/300 litres
Height – 1090mm
Belly Diameter – 770mm
Top Diameter – 645mm 

The optional timber raiser blocks elevate the barrel, creating enough space underneath to comfortably position a watering can. The blocks are 8 inch x 4 inch (200mm x 100mm) so they can be used to raise the barrel eaither 8 inch or 4 inch

The optional integrated brass tap provides a smooth and controlled flow of water, making it easy to fill cans or containers as needed.

Filling the Barrel

There are several ways to fill your water butt:

• Lift-off lid – remove the lid and fill manually
• Lift-off lid with downpipe hole – allows a gutter downpipe to feed directly into the barrel
• Fixed lid with downpipe hole – a more permanent setup for connecting a downpipe
• Rainwater diverter – connects directly to your downpipe and automatically feeds water into the barrel as it fills

Once the barrel is full, the diverter redirects excess water back down the pipe, preventing overflow.

Each barrel is fitted with a connector for the flexible hose, typically positioned at the 12 o’clock point. This can be adjusted to suit your setup — just let us know when ordering.

Maintenance Access

We recommend choosing a lift-off lid, as it allows easy access to the inside of the barrel for cleaning and general maintenance.

Oak is a natural material, and every barrel will have its own unique character.

Variations in grain, colour, knots, markings and ageing are all part of the natural beauty of reclaimed oak.

These features are not defects, but what make each piece individual and full of character.

Nationwide delivery: Orders are shipped using trusted couriers or pallet networks depending on size.

Please allow 3–7 working days for delivery once your order is ready.

Delivery will be kerbside only due to the size and weight of the barrels.

If you have specific delivery requirements, feel free to contact us before ordering.

This oak barrel is designed for outdoor use and will naturally weather over time.

To maintain its original appearance, you may choose to treat the wood with a suitable exterior oil, although this is not essential. If left untreated, the oak will gradually develop a more silvered, aged finish.

It’s important that the barrel is not left to fully dry out. If the oak dries, it may shrink slightly, which can lead to minor leaks.

If this occurs, simply refilling the barrel with water will allow the oak to swell and reseal naturally over time. Beeswax can also be applied to any small leaking areas to help assist the sealing process.

• Looks better – blends naturally into gardens, patios, and outdoor spaces
• Stronger & longer lasting than most plastic alternatives and doesnt crack from freezing.
• Sustainable – repurposed from genuine French oak wine barrels
• Adds character – every barrel is unique with its own grain and markings

At Celtic Timber, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We source our timber from sustainably sourced certified forests, ensuring responsible management and protection of natural resources.

We also actively contribute to reforestation and rewilding projects across the UK, planting over 12,000 trees on our own land. By choosing our products, you’re supporting a company dedicated to reducing environmental impact and preserving the planet for future generations.

Learn more about how we ensure sustainability, here.