The country's most popular visitor attraction opened its doors in 2000 and has since welcome over 25m visitors
01.01.25
It’s the ‘must-do’ experience for so many tourists visiting Dublin – to enjoy a pint of the Black Stuff in the Gravity Bar with its panoramic views of the capital. For 25 years, the Guinness Storehouse has been packing in visitors, eager learn the story behind Dublin’s iconic brew and to learn how to pour that perfect pint.
Since opening in 2000, at the start of a new century, the Storehouse has welcomed over 25m visitors: everyone from humble tourists to celebrities, heads of state and royalty. The experience is regularly listed as the City’s Most Visited Attraction and has won numerous international accolades.
St James’s Gate Brewery had a visitor centre right back to the 19thC; and visitors in the 80s and 90s would have enjoyed the Guinness Hopstore, which later became part of the Digital Hub campus. In 1997 it was decided to convert the then-redundant Market Street Fermentation Plant into a new visitor attraction. The building, dating from 1902, was the first multi-storey steel-framed structure built in Ireland and noted for its decorative brickwork and enormous stone bow windows.
RKD Architects and UK attractions specialist Imagination were commissioned to transform the industrial building into a new attraction with exhibition spaces, shops, restaurants and bars. The firms created a seven floor layout, shaped like a Guinness pint glass, and crowned with a 360° panoramic Gravity Bar, forming the head of the pint, and was designed to immerse its many visitors in the history of one of the world’s most successful beer brands. The Storehouse was officially opened on 2nd December 2000.
Since then the attraction has grown to become the city top visited spot. In 2020, the famous Gravity Bar was doubled in size as part of a €20m refurbishment of the Storehouse. It can now accommodate 500 people and is regularly used for events and showcases. According to Diageo itself, the Gravity Bar is an embodiment of the Guinness brand: “it’s where visitors around the globe gather to enjoy one the world’s most famous beers. It’s an experience, a milestone in the journey of Guinness, and a tribute to Dublin itself.”
Guinness Storehouse is planning a series of events throughout the year to mark its quarter century milestone. Happy Birthday!
Find out more on The Guinness Storehouse at www.guinness-storehouse.com.
