In case you didn’t notice, Londoners’ love for Guinness shows no sign of slowing. Stats reveal that it actually makes up one in every ten pints sold here, so you can imagine the excitement levels when Diageo announced a brand new, state-of-the-art brewhouse right in the heart of Covent Garden, by the historically important Old Brewer's Yard. Although delayed in the lead-up, Guinness Open Gate Brewery threw open their doors late 2025, so we snapped up the chance to take a closer look at their talked-about tours and tasting experiences.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Guinness Open Gate Brewery London
Check out our Guinness Open Gate Brewery London photos, featuring playful artwork that you can purchase.
Need To Know:
- Address: 1 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9FA
- Area: Covent Garden
- Tour Name: The Open Gate Experience
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: the site stretches across a fairly extensive area, including The Vaults (two underground private hire spaces) and a fun, buzzy art-covered beer garden with its own pie truck. There are also two restaurants: Gilroy’s Loft - a seafood paradise paired with views - and The Porter’s Table that serves bold British classics. As for the crowd? It was a nice mix of tourists and locals, plus a large corporate work do also joined our particular tour.
- Perfect For: date night with a difference, plus obviously House Of Guinness fans and beer nerds.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For
Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: around £30 - £50 per person depending on time of visit, plus £10 for the personalised pints.
My tour around the Guinness factory in London (pictured) gave me great insight into what goes into making beautiful beer.
Tour Highlights
Each excursion lasts around 90 minutes, but you're welcome to savour your pint afterwards in Bar 232°; named after the optimal roasting temperature that gives Guinness its signature taste. Note, some parts of the trip are phone-free, mainly because it's a real-life factory.
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- The Pint - joining the tour was seamless - we enjoyed meeting our guide and checking out the milling room before kick-off. Once inside, this 360 degree experience showed us fascinating history, interesting facts and culture-defining classic campaigns. You also get to sip an utterly adorable mini pint, before heading downstairs.
- Tour of the working brewery - we put on our goggles and high-vis vests, and winded our way through the compact, glistening new production area where all the magic happens. Here, we were taught about the many stages in the process, learning about zero-waste initiatives and how small batch creations are made in-house.
- Brewer's Room Tasting Experience - worked up a thirst? Exclusive to London and included as part of your tour, this section is ideal for trying the limited-edition brews first-hand. After heading up the escalator, past a very Instagrammable opp (you'll have to find out for yourself), our knowledgeable host Cara walked us through how to appreciate the taste, smells and flavour profiles of a dry, crisp lager, (so delicious) floral IPA, malty pale ale (my least liked) and bitter porter. The wall of suggested varieties from previous guests was hilarious - Twiglets or wasabi, anyone?
- Pour your own pint - this was my highlight. Our group learnt how to craft the ultimate Guinness, including the right angle to hold your glass. Thankfully my blushes were spared due to a clever tactic that removes excess liquid but keeps the foam intact - kudos to the expert for this tip. Note, those going booze-free can opt for a 0% on draught.
- STOUTie (£10 each) - an optional upgrade, here you can get an extra pint... but with a twist. The team will first take your photo, then print it off on top of your drink for the perfect way to end your trip.
Our Overall Experience At Guinness Open Gate Brewery London
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As the 90s Guinness slogan goes, good things do come to those who wait. My journey around Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden was a real treat, giving me insider access to a real-life factory. I was a terrible bartender when working in pubs, so I particularly enjoyed the pouring lesson and tasting experience. Everyone I spoke to had such passion and genuinely adored the Black Stuff, including our guide Daniel who delivered all the facts with particular gusto, keeping the group engaged throughout.
