Londoners have been patiently waiting for the Guinness brewery in Covent Garden since it was first announced all the way back in 2022. Since then, the city has gone through a bonafide stout craze, followed by a dramatic shortage of the black stuff, where some pubs were even dishing out Guinness ration cards.
There’s finally been an update on the London spot, officially called Guinness at Old Brewer’s Yard. The drinking haven was first tipped to open in 2023, following a £73 million build, but the opening was delayed by the collapse of the lead contractor. It’s now hoped that the West End brewery will fling open its doors in the run up to Christmas 2025.
Located on a historic site that first produced beer over 300 years ago, the 50,000-square-foot building will feature plenty of event spaces, a rooftop with 360-degree views, a merch shop and a micro-brewery pumping out 14 different limited-edition brews, including no and low alcohol options. Sadly Guinness will not be brewed on site, but it will be readily available for drinking, of course.
Photograph: Diageo
There will be plenty of sustenance to fuel your boozing, with three different outlets including a food truck, brasserie and grill, and a seafood restaurant on the rooftop. The brewery building will be open from 9.30am to 11.30pm during the week with paid for tours available in the early evening.