The much-anticipated Guinness Open Gate Brewery has finally opened in Covent Garden, but the multi-million-pound venue fails to deliver a memorable experience. Spread across several streets rather than a single site, the brewery lacks cohesion and leaves visitors underwhelmed.
The dining options, including The Porter's Table and Gilroy's Loft, offer unremarkable fare. A Guinness soda bread served in an iron safe tastes good, but a ribeye steak is scant and a dessert called The Three Stouts is described as 'will-this-do?' nonsense. The food is decent but unmemorable, and the restaurant feels more like a Google HQ staff room than a celebration of Guinness.
Surprisingly, there is little emphasis on the brand itself. No branded colours, no menu pairings, and no concerted effort to sell pints. Even the gift shop has nothing worth buying. The toilets, located on the fifth floor and accessible only by lift, add to the inconvenience.
The reviewer concludes that a traditional pub like the Devonshire does more for Guinness's image than this extravagant venture. Tourists are advised to visit Madame Tussauds instead.
