Guinness’ Covent Garden microbrewery draws criticism from residents who fear drunken ‘louts being sick’

By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter

Covent Garden residents are scared the streets could be full of drunken “louts being sick” if Guinness’ new microbrewery is allowed to open until late.

Guinness’ owner Diageo has asked Westminster City council to let people stay and drink in the courtyard of the Old Brewer’s Yard until 11pm.

Residents are worried about the number of people noisily spilling out from the courtyard, which has space for 150 people, and from Guinness’ 350-person event space beneath the brewery.

In total 500 drinkers could be leaving the site at once if an event is on at the underground venue.

One Covent Garden resident made objections to the plans in a written submission to the council.

They said: “We get woken by [beer] barrels being slammed and smashed around loudly… Customers are usually quite loud and when they have live music we can hear it with all the doors and windows shut. They sometimes scream in the alley.”

A second resident said: “When football matches are on in London people congregate outside pubs and the noise impact from crowds is intolerable. The aim of the developers is to make huge profits from people who go out to get drunk. We have to put up with noise, the sick in the streets and the general rubbish left by these louts.”

In total, 27 residents and resident associations have complained about the amount of noise and mess the brewery may bring to Central London.

The Met have also objected to the application as it could lead to more crime and disorder in the area.

Old Brewer’s Yard will have space for 150 drinkers outside and would be open every day of the week. Guinness’ microbrewery is set to create 150 new jobs and provide a community space in Covent Garden.

The project has also been backed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The then Chancellor told the Evening Standard: “This multi-million-pound investment is a crucial vote of confidence in our capital.

“Three hundred years after brewing the first beer in Old Brewers Yard, it’s fantastic to see Guinness breathing life into our hospitality and tourism industries and creating more jobs and training opportunities in central London.”

Westminster City council is set to decide when the microbrewery can stay open until at its licensing meeting on Thursday.

A Diageo spokesman said: “Community lies at the heart of Guinness at Old Brewer’s Yard. We are listening to all views, from residents to local businesses, as we create a new iconic destination for London.”

Pictured top: What the new Guinness hub will look like (Picture: Diageo)