Diageo has officially opened its new Guinness Open Gate Brewery London project in Covent Garden, London. The official launch was attended by Britain's King Charles III, who symbolically opened the new brewery and dining experience.
The new London branch of Guinness Open Gate Brewery was created as a multi-functional concept combining a microbrewery, gastronomy, bar, and visitor experience. The project is part of a broader Guinness brand strategy focused on innovation, local creation, and deeper connections with the food and bar scene. Investment in the project has reached approximately £73 million.
During the official visit, the King toured the brewery's operations, met the team of brewers, staff, and graduates of the training programmes, and sampled several beers brewed on-site. The tour also included demonstrations of modern technology, including the personalization of beer - for example, printing motifs or messages on foam using natural dyes.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery London will not only serve as a brewery and bar, but also as a centre for hospitality education. The space will become the southern hub of Diageo's long-running Learning for Life programme to promote training, skills, and employability in the hospitality and catering industry. During his visit, the King also met with participants in the programme as well as representatives of initiatives linked to his own foundation.
The London project is the fourth Guinness Open Gate Brewery venture in the world, following Dublin, Baltimore, and Chicago. Unlike the core production of the iconic Guinness Stout, which remains primarily concentrated in Ireland, Open Gate Brewery focuses on limited batches, experimental styles, local ingredients, and gastronomic pairings.
The opening of Guinness Open Gate Brewery London marks the return of the Guinness brand to central London in a form that reflects current hospitality trends: an emphasis on experience, craft, education, and community. The project has the ambition to become not only a tourist destination but also an active part of London's food and bar scene.
Source: Diageo
