Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden draws mixed review

The new Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden (28 Shelton Street) opened last December and offers tours, a gift shop and multiple dining options across several sites, according to a Guardian restaurant review. The reviewer describes the project as a multi‑million‑pound, purpose‑built tribute to Guinness that was delayed for years.

The site includes two restaurants, The Porter’s Table and Gilroy’s Loft, with executive chef Pip Lacey, plus a courtyard pie stall by Calum Franklin. Rather than a single immersive attraction, Open Gate is spread over several streets and is described as underwhelming and without obvious photo‑worthy moments.

The review says the brewery claims to make small‑batch ales but there was no strong push to sell them, and The Porter’s Table felt more like a “Google HQ staff room” than an Irish‑themed Guinness destination: no branded colours, no menu pairings and little concerted effort to promote pints.

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