| Guinness Storehouse | |
|---|---|
| Established | November 2000 |
| Location | St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| Website | http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx |
Guinness Storehouse (informally the Storehouse, also known as Guinness Hop Store) is a Guinness-themed tourist attraction located at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.[1][2] Since opening in November 2000 it has received over 4 million visitors.[2]
The Storehouse is laid out over seven floors surrounding a glass atrium shaped in the form of a pint of Guinness.[3] The ground floor introduces the beer's four ingredients (water, barley, hops and yeast), and the brewery's founder, Arthur Guinness. Other floors feature the history of Guinness advertising and include an interactive exhibit on responsible drinking. The seventh floor houses the Gravity Bar, where visitors can claim a complimentary pint of Guinness and enjoy panoromic views over Dublin.[2] In 2006, a new wing opened incorporating a live installation of the present day brewing process.
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The name of the Storehouse comes from the brewing term, 'to store', which means to add yeast.
The building in which the Storehouse is located was constructed in 1902 as a fermentation plant for the St. James's Gate Brewery (where yeast is added to the brew). The building was designed in the style of the Chicago School of Architecture and was the first multi-storey steel-framed building to be constructed in the British Isles.[4]
The building was used continuously as the fermentation plant of the Brewery until its closure in 1988, when a new state-of-the art fermentation plant was built near the Liffey.[4]
In 1997, it was decided to convert the building into Guinness Storehouse, replacing the Guinness Hop Store as the Brewery's visitor centre. The redesign of the building was undertaken by the UK-based design firm Imagination in conjunction with the Dublin-based architects firm RKD, and the Storehouse opened to the public on 2 December 2000.[3] In 2006 a new wing was developed at a cost of €2.5 million, including a live installation demonstrating the modern brewing process.[2]
In May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited the Storehouse as part of a state visit to Ireland.[5][6]
Guinness Storehouse aims to tell the story of Guinness from its origins at the St James' Gate Brewery to its growth into a global brand. The story is told through various interactive exhibition areas including ingredients, brewing, transport, cooperage, advertising and sponsorship.
At the base of the atrium lies a copy of the 9,000 year lease signed by Arthur Guinness on the Brewery site.
In the Perfect Pint bar, visitors have the opportunity to craft their own pint of Guinness, tutored by a dedicated Guinness ambassador. A complimentary pint of Guinness (or soft drink) is available in the Gravity Bar, with views over Dublin.
The Brewery Bar on the fifth floor offers Irish cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients, and using Guinness stout both in cooking and as an accompaniment to food. The Gravity Bar, symbolically the 'Head of the Pint' offers panoramic views of Dublin.
The Guinness Store is the flagship retail shop for Guinness merchandise, offering many items which are exclusive to Guinness Storehouse.
The Arthur Guinness Business Centre, located on the third and fourth floors of the Storehouse, is a dedicated area with training and conference facilities for holding meetings and training courses. The Storehouse offers a number of events venues with catering for 20 to 1,000 people for receptions, private dining occasions, parties, product launches, fashion shows or lectures.
The Guinness Archive is based at the Storehouse and contains records dating from the 1759 lease of the Brewery and photographs, film, video, memorabilia, posters, maps, bottles and artifacts documenting the history of the Guinness company, brand and products in Ireland.