Guinness has opened its new Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden, London, with a strong focus on hospitality, training and visitor experience. The £73 million development re-establishes brewing at Old Brewer’s Yard, a historic location dating back over 300 years, while introducing modern dining and service-led features designed to engage both the local community and tourists.
The 54,000 square foot venue includes a fully functioning microbrewery led by Master Brewer Hollie Stephenson. Alongside exclusive beers and tasting sessions, the new space puts a strong emphasis on food and hospitality. Two restaurants, headed by British chef Pip Lacey, offer menus based on locally sourced produce, with recommended Guinness pairings aimed at enhancing the food-and-beer experience.
Visitors can also enjoy a ground-level courtyard bar designed for casual dining and community interaction. Hospitality extends beyond food and drink: the venue includes event spaces for private hire, cultural programmes and trade events, all intended to make the brewery a central hub in the area’s social calendar.
The development is expected to welcome over half a million guests in its first year and create up to 250 jobs. As part of its wider social investment, the site will act as the southern hub for Guinness’s Learning for Life programme. This hospitality training scheme, which has already helped over 8,000 people across the UK, offers free industry-specific education. A further 100 trainees are scheduled to graduate from the London site beginning in April 2026.
Two onsite stores showcase limited-edition collaborations, merchandise, and personalised products, adding another layer to the visitor experience. Dalziel & Pow, the design studio behind the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, developed the site’s visual identity, way-finding and retail strategy. Their design includes the Guinness Good Things pop-up and the Guinness Goods Market Store, both intended to blend storytelling and commerce within the broader guest journey.
Barry O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Diageo Great Britain, said: “This week marks a proud moment for Diageo and Guinness in Britain. London has played a critical role in Guinness’ success throughout its history, and two centuries after the black stuff arrived in the UK capital, one in seven pints poured in the city is now a Guinness. This iconic stout has always been about bringing people together, and Open Gate Brewery London builds on that tradition, creating a vibrant space where both visitors and the local community can connect, celebrate, and experience the very best of Guinness hospitality.”
The launch coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. The London site is the fourth Open Gate Brewery globally, joining locations in Dublin, Baltimore, and Chicago.
Gráinne Wafer, Global Director: Beer, Liqueur & Vodka, said: “Guinness is a brand rooted in a 267-year history but always looking forward, and this week’s opening signals the next chapter in the iconic stout’s extraordinary global story. Complementing the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin as Guinness’s definitive brand home, our fourth Open Gate Brewery will continue our commitment of providing new platforms to engage existing fans, welcome new audiences, and celebrate Guinness’ celebrated blend of heritage and innovation.”
The venue was developed in partnership with The Mercers’ Company, owners of The Yards in Covent Garden. Rob Abernethy, Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Guinness to its new home in London within our Covent Garden estate. Collaboration was at the heart of this significant investment into London, working with Diageo to deliver a world-class attraction that further cements Covent Garden and The Yards as a leading global visitor and placemaking destination. Supporting initiatives such as Guinness Open Gate Brewery, London is central to the Mercers’ Company role as an active asset manager and helps deliver our philanthropic work.”
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