The King officially inaugurated the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery London today, marking the completion of a £73 million investment in the heart of Covent Garden.
Upon his arrival at the site, King Charles was welcomed by Sir John Manzoni, Chairman of Diageo.
The sprawling complex houses a microbrewery, a visitor attraction, dining establishments, retail outlets, and event facilities.
Beyond its commercial offerings, the venue will function as the southern UK base for Diageo’s acclaimed Learning for Life programme, which provides hospitality training.
The King officially inaugurated the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery London today, marking the completion of a £73 million investment in the heart of Covent Garden.
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PA
During his visit, the King sampled brews crafted exclusively at the Covent Garden location, engaged with programme graduates, and participated in a festive gathering with neighbouring community organisations and local businesses at Old Brewer’s Yard.
Master Brewer Hollie Stephenson guided the King through the microbrewery facilities, introducing him to the team responsible for creating distinctive Guinness varieties found nowhere else in the world.
The King viewed and sampled the brewery’s range of limited-edition seasonal offerings.
Following the microbrewery tour, the King proceeded to the 232 Bar, a space named after the specific temperature required to achieve Guinness’s characteristic roasted flavour.
Upon his arrival at the site, King Charles was welcomed by Sir John Manzoni, Chairman of Diageo.
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PA
There, he met individuals who had completed both the Learning for Life hospitality training and The King’s Foundation’s Introduction to Hospitality course.
These graduates represent the programme’s commitment to developing skills within the hospitality sector, with the Covent Garden site serving as a key training hub.
At the 232 Bar, the King poured his own pint of Guinness under expert supervision from staff members.
He also experienced the venue’s innovative technology that allows images to be printed onto the foam of a freshly poured pint using a touch-screen device.
Before departing the premises, the King unveiled a commemorative plaque to formally mark the brewery’s official opening, cementing the occasion in the site’s history.
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PA
Before departing the premises, the King unveiled a commemorative plaque to formally mark the brewery’s official opening, cementing the occasion in the site’s history.
Guinness began exporting to Britain in 1796, and by 1901, Guinness Extra Stout was being bottled on this very site by Combe, Watney and Reid.
The London venue becomes the fourth Guinness Open Gate Brewery worldwide, joining existing locations in Dublin, Baltimore, and Chicago.
Two centuries after first arriving in the capital, Guinness now accounts for one in every seven pints poured in London.
