Northern Tubs Ltd

Shocking company. Received a barrel and it fell apart within the first few months. No help over email. I finally drove around to ask for a new ring, as it was the ring that failed. I was told I hadn't bought the barrel from there and they weren't willing to give a new ring.
Apr 9th, 2023

Very nice products. White oak looking good.
Aug 2nd, 2021

I ordered an oak barrel from this company (same as oak barrel and the barrel makers). It came in reasonable time and looks to be a good quality barrel. However the couriers refused to take it round to the back of our house as it wasnt their job. My husband and I are both nearly 70 and there is no way we can move it so its sitting where they left it and goodness knows how were going to move it. I emailed the manager of the company to explain our problem and he didnt even have the courtesy to respond. While the delivery men could have been more helpful, at the end of the day the responsibility lies with the company and surely they should choose and pay couriers to put the tubs where the client wants them. The whole episode is totally unacceptable and I wouldnt recommend them to anyone
Jul 9th, 2022

I bought a large oak barrel last June to use as a pond, two weeks after filling the water was cloudy, oily and very smelly, 80 worth of pond plants had died. I changed the water but the same thing happened after only a few days. In the end I changed the water 11 times over three months and still it would develop the most awful smell after a few days. The company was not interested, I was told to change the water regularly for up to six months, bucketing out that amount of water is no easy task. The company ignored my request for a refund or information about a complaints procedure. I have taken the barrel out of the ground to enable me to syphon out the water but eight months on, the water is still going cloudy and smelly.There was no warning on the site that any preparation of the barrel was required before use. In my opinion, this product is not fit for purpose.
Apr 18th, 2022

I am an extremely unhappy customer. I took delivery of a 56 gallon rustic oak barrel in mid-June. My first impression was good - a nice looking, large barrel to replace my old one which had rotted over many years. When I unwrapped it and took the lid off, I was nearly overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol! Whilst this was not an unpleasant smell I was concerned it could damage the plants I would water with the contents of the barrel. I contacted Northern Tubs and was told it should be fine. I filled it with water immediately as instructed, and started to use it for watering. One month later the alcohol smell had been replaced with a sweet rotting smell that was disgusting, and there was a black oily film on top of the water. My entire greenhouse stank so I had to stop using the water in it. I contacted Northern Tubs again and complained. They told me that as it was an ex-distillery cask this can happen. They told me to empty, rinse and replace with water. This will have to be done many times. They said several times that it will take time and a lot of work - I would need to empty, rinse and refill several times a month. This is a 56 gallon barrel designed to save water! We are now mid-August and I have emptied it several times and skimmed the foul film off the top regularly and topped it up. It still absolutely reeks - like a foul drain. I am livid and want to warn others against buying such a terrible product. There is nowhere on the website warning of these problems. It is costing me time, a huge amount of water and considerable anguish. The barrel is on our patio by the back door and the smell is actually embarrassing. I want a refund or a replacement but Northern Tubs are no longer replying to my emails. AVOID AT ALL COSTS - THESE BARRELS ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. THE WEBSITE IS MISLEADING AND THE SMELL IS NAUSEATING.
Dec 2nd, 2021