Guinness Open Gate Brewery, London

Costing a reported £73m, this site is a major addition to the Covent Garden tourist scene and expecting half a million visitors each year. It's a 54,000 sq ft venue located on the site of the historic Old Brewer’s Yard, containing a microbrewing facility with changing limited edition brews (but not including Guinness!). On-site Guinness comes direct from Dublin, and via the magic of modern technology it is possible to have your pint of Guinness with your selfie imprinted on the top!

Across various spaces there are also two restaurants, Gilroy's Loft and The Porter's Table; and Old Brewer's Yard, a ground-level courtyard space containing the main bar plus a pie-van with handmade pies by Chef Calum Franklin. The bar is a predominantly outside space, with a small amount of cover from a high glass ceiling; and at peak drinking times you may have to queue to get a space here. At opening it was reported that as well as Guinness, keg offerings included Open Gate Porter, Pale Ale, IPA and Lager, plus some unusual beers such as Belgian Wit and Apricot Sour.

In addition there are two Guinness merchandise stores, one acccessed via the brewery and one on Neal Street; a private dining room; and the Guinness Vaults on Langley Street offering an underground, private-hire event space, which will also host community and consumer events.

Tickets may be booked for "the Guinness Experience". No dogs apart from guide dogs.

Hours given here are for free public access to Old Brewers Yard, but tours and experiences run from 9.30am (11.30am on Sundays). There is much to see at this venue, not least the Guinness mirrored murals on the outside of the brewery which illustrate both brewing in Covent Garden and the history of local sites including the Royal Opera House.

Note that the whole site is card-only.

The venue was visited by King Charles a few days after opening, and he apparently poured a perfect pint!