Diageo, the makers of Guinness, has announced a new £73 million Guinness microbrewery and culture hub is to be built in London ahead of opening in Autumn 2023. Old Brewer's Yard first brewed beer back in 1722. 300 years later, Guinness will be bringing the site back to life.
The investment to create 'Guinness at Old Brewer's Yard', builds on the success of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin and the opening of Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh in 2021. It demonstrates Diageo's confidence in London and the UK as a go-to destination for tourists and its commitment to the hospitality sector, which employs almost 2 million people in the UK1. Guinness sales in Great Britain have grown by over 30% in the last six months2 and 1 in every 10 pints sold in London is now a Guinness.
The new 50,000 sq ft venue will create up to 150 jobs for the Capital and provide a community space within the Covent Garden area. The site will also become the Southern UK hub of Diageo's award-winning Learning for Life Bartending and Hospitality Programme. The programme has provided skills and improved the employability and livelihoods of over 5,500 people across the UK to date. The ambition is for over 100 London based students to graduate from the 'Guinness at Old Brewer's Yard' programme each year, with a proportion of the employment opportunities to be ring-fenced for Learning for Life graduates.
Dayalan Nayager, Managing Director, Diageo Great Britain, said: "We're excited to create a new home for Guinness in the heart of London. 'Guinness at Old Brewer's Yard' will strengthen London's hospitality community and be a must-visit destination for thousands of visitors to enjoy."
Nayager, continued: "Government support over the last two years has been vital for pubs and bars. Coming out of the pandemic, the long-term vitality of the trade will be significantly helped by the alcohol duty review and continued freezes in duty."
Find out more about beverage, a true national favourite, over on the Guinness website.