First look - Guinness Brewery London: Everything you need to know

London’s new Guinness brewery: a visitor’s guide

London’s new Guinness Open Gate Brewery has arrived in Covent Garden... Spanning multiple floors across two historic buildings, the experience combines brewing innovation, guided tours, tasting rooms and seasonal food – with plenty of opportunities to enjoy a perfectly poured pint along the way.

Visit London author Kirstine Spicer gets a first look, giving this immersive experience in the heart of the city a taste test, and sharing insider tips on how to best experience the London Guinness brewery. 

Exploring the historic site

When rumours began that Guinness would be opening a brewery in London, anticipation quickly grew. Having set the benchmark with its iconic Dublin location, expectations were high – and understandably so. But standing inside a brand-new brewery in Covent Garden, pint in hand, it’s clear this experience confidently holds its own, offering the chance to enjoy a superb Guinness right in the heart of the capital.

Approaching Old Brewer's Yard, my anticipation builds as I walk along the warmly lit cobbled streets. Large gates – reminiscent of those found in Dublin – set the tone, but beyond the walls a distinctly London-led experience awaits.

On this preview ahead of the much-anticipated opening, I'm shown each floor throughout its historic buildings. Spanning multiple levels, the brewery is organised into four distinct spaces, each offering a different way to explore Guinness. Set within Mason & Co’s original London brewing site, the experience blends contemporary design with heritage touches. From bold graphic statements painted across brickwork walls to carefully preserved architectural features that nod to the site’s past.

One thing to make clear: the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in London does not aim to replicate its Dublin counterpart. Instead, it pays homage to the original while carving out a unique identity of its own.

Experimental brews and exclusive flavours

I begin my journey at Step into the Pint – an immersive space that explores the history of Guinness. This is also where guests can enjoy their first tasting of “The Black Stuff” in adorable pocket-sized glasses. Choose between Guinness or Guinness 0.0, making the experience welcoming for history lovers and non-drinkers alike.

The experience unfolds vertically, with lifts guiding visitors between spaces, as the story of Guinness develops floor by floor. Beyond the opening experience, a lift takes me up to the Innovation Corridor, which celebrates brewing invention and the science behind Guinness’s famously smooth, creamy pour.

Fun fact: A pint of Guinness contains around 300 million nitrogen bubbles, compared with roughly 200,000 bubbles in a lager, creating its distinctive smooth texture. 

I’m soon led into the snazzy tasting rooms, where a flight of beers awaits. Each item in the impressive selection tells its own story. Master Brewer Holly Stephenson heads up brewing at the London site and her influence can be tasted across the range, including signature pours such as the Covent Classic.

Top tip: Be sure to try Old Brewer’s Yard, based on Holly’s original recipe, created exclusively for the London brewery.

Alongside the permanent menu, visitors are encouraged to return for rotating seasonal and experimental releases. Winter sees the arrival of the Winter Warmer seasonal stout, while upcoming limited editions include a Melon IPA and a Raspberry Sour. 

Food at the Guinness brewery London

Given the area is home to some of the world’s most exciting chefs, no new Covent Garden opening would be complete without a standout food offering.

Visitors can eat their way through the brewery, from seafood with views at Gilroy’s Loft and generous feasting plates at The Porter’s Table, to Calum Franklin’s baked-on-site pies enjoyed in the courtyard at Old Brewer’s Yard. The chicken and mushroom is particularly delicious – a hearty filling with crisp, buttery pastry... yum!

I speak to Chef Vendryes Johnson, who shares  the inspiration behind menus throughout the brewery’s dining spaces. Executive Chef Felipe (“Pip”) oversees the wider food direction, ensuring the menu evolves seasonally. As the brewing team introduces new beers, the kitchen adapts dishes accordingly – from Guinness rarebit to pale ale linguine and a Guinness artichoke and mushroom tart.

Chef Vendryes highlights the lager-poached halibut with fresh Brussels sprouts as the dish he’s most excited about. Designed to showcase how beer-led cooking can be as refined as wine pairing, it’s a standout on the menu.

At the Oyster Bar, it’s recommend to try oysters both raw and dressed, to experience how flavours interact differently with stout and small-batch beers. Jersey oysters, in particular, offer a fresh, zesty pairing.

As you’d expect, you’re never far from a bar, making it easy to enjoy a freshly poured pint of Guinness throughout the experience.

What makes the Guinness brewery in London special?

Set within Mason & Co’s original London brewing site, the Guinness brewery London weaves historic details into a contemporary experience. The courtyard design nods to the original Brewer’s Yard, creating a sense of stepping back in time while remaining firmly rooted in modern London. 

At its heart is an experimental brewery, where visitors can sample limited-edition beers and on-site prototypes, alongside a rotating line-up of seasonal releases – from winter warmers to creative small-batch sours. Playful touches, such as photo-printed pints that recreate a moment on the creamy head of a Guinness, add a social media flourish to the experience.

All of this comes together in an experience that feels like a true labour of love, blending the best flavours with the unmistakable character of Guinness.