Guinness Storehouse announces €16m expansion

Dublin’s panoramic Gravity Bar on the roof of the Guinness Storehouse in St. James’s Gate is set to double in size following a €16 million investment.

An artists impression of the new site

The investment will see the creation of a new 360 degree space offering panoramic views of the city, which will directly link to the original Gravity Bar, with a capacity of 500 people.

In addition to the expanded Gravity Bar, the Guinness Storehouse Hub, a new facilities building, directly adjacent to the Guinness Storehouse building is also included in the plans. This three storey building will provide additional space for the Guinness Archives one of the world’s most remarkable archives, chronicling the history of Guinness over a long 257 years, along with retail storage and employee hub.

“The Guinness Storehouse has become part of Dublin. It is the number one visitor attraction, and is a must-see and must-do experience; celebrated by the staff, by tourism in Ireland and by the people of Ireland,” said Paul Carty, managing director of Guinness Storehouse.

“Staying ahead of the game, innovating and constantly investing has enabled us to provide a world-class experience of one of Ireland’s most iconic brands with huge international demand. We are now excited to reveal the next chapter of the Guinness Storehouse, the expansion of the magnificent Gravity Bar.”

This multimillion investment by the owners of Guinness, Diageo, follows the announcement earlier this year of the launch of new premium blended Irish whiskey, Roe & Co. in the former Power Station at St. James’s Gate. The total project investment for Roe & Co is planned at €25m over three years.

Since first opening its doors to the public in 2000, the Guinness Storehouse has made a significant contribution to Ireland’s tourism sector and economy, welcoming 16.5 million people.

Subject to planning permission, it is hoped that construction will commence in 2018 and will welcome visitors by 2019.