| House of Guinness | |
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by | Steven Knight |
| Written by | Steven Knight |
| Directed by | |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Ilan Eshkeri |
| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography |
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| Editor | Ben Yeates |
| Running time | 44–55 min |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | 25 September 2025 (2025-09-25) |
House of Guinness is ahistorical drama television series created bySteven Knight, that focuses on theGuinness family during the 19th-century. The series premiered on 25 September 2025 onNetflix.
The series is about thefamily behind theGuinness brewing company in 19th-centuryIreland and New York. It follows the consequences of the death ofSir Benjamin Guinness, 1st Baronet, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the fates of his four adult children:Arthur,Edward,Anne, andBenjamin.[1]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Tom Shankland | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Patriarch SirBenjamin Lee Guinness dies, leaving his enterprise to his four children: the witty Arthur, who has recently returned from five years away in London; business-savvy Edward; confident and commanding Anne; and the disturbed Ben, who suffers alcohol andlaudanum dependencies. TheIrish Republican Brotherhood, known as theFenians, riot during his funeral, protesting Guinness' business ties with the English, but Guinness warehouse foreman Sean Rafferty employs measured violence to ensure the streets are cleared. Anne, who has been having an affair with Rafferty, gives the warehousemen a pay rise for their loyalty. Ben fears for his life over unpaid debts owed to Bonnie Champion, who runs Guinness exports, alongside illicit businesses at the docks. When his sweetheart, Christine, offers to pay in exchange for him giving up drinking, Ben declines. Local Fenian leader Patrick Cochrane burns the barrels of the Guinnesscooperage, while his cunning sister, Ellen, offers Bonnie a year without Brotherhood taxes if he shares what he knows of the Guinness siblings. Bonnie exposes Ben's mental illness, but Ellen makes it clear Arthur is her interest, implying he has scandalous ties to Bonnie'sprostitution business. Arthur, uninterested in brewing, plans to sell the business to Edward. | |||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Tom Shankland | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Rafferty seeks the warehousemen who left the gates to the cooperage open, allowing Cochrane's men to enter and burn it down. Sir Benjamin's will dictates that his legacy be split jointly between Arthur and Edward, with a clause that should either decline to run the business, they will receive no inheritance, while Anne receives nothing, and Ben receives a modesttrust fund. Anne confides in Edward regarding fears over her health. Bonnie tells Ben about Ellen's hunt for Arthur's "expensive" secrets. Arthur reveals to his secret lover, Michael, that he must remain in Dublin. Meanwhile, Edward charges Anne with finding suitable wives for him and Arthur, both aware of Arthur's homosexuality. Rafferty ultimately discovers the Cochranes' activities and issues warnings to them. He and Edward confront Arthur about anonymous blackmail sent by Ellen, threatening to expose Arthur's visits to Bonnie's male prostitutes. For their silence, Bonnie demands cash, while the Fenians want Arthur's support in Parliament. Though shaken, Arthur rejects the threat. Edward forbids Rafferty from fraternising with Anne. | |||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Tom Shankland | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Anne travels throughCounty Galway and suffers amiscarriage inCloonboo, part of the family's estate, aided by local nurse Sultan. Aunt Agnes and Arthur meet with the headstrong Lady Olivia Hedges, a cash-poor member of the landed gentry who looks down upon trade business. Arthur is charmed by her insistence on honest communication, and the two openly arrange alavender marriage in which Arthur can offer her and her family a lavish place in the aristocracy, while they each leadseparate intimate lives. Edward is propositioned by Byron Hedges, a distant cousin born a bastard from a Guinness mother and Fenian father, who offers to expand the business to New York. Ben applies for the military. Sultan recounts the history of theGreat Famine in Cloonboo, devastating Anne and inciting her commitment to philanthropy. Arthur and Edward clash over Edward's interest in attracting political favour for the family by offering workers' benefits, tolerating the Fenians, and promotingCeltic culture. Edward publicly meets Ellen at the Imperial Hotel, offering the potential of a symbiotic relationship between the Guinnesses and the Fenians. | |||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Tom Shankland | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Arthur and Olivia marry. At the wedding, Edward struggles to find a suitable wife, while Ben demands a higher allowance. Olivia is immediately taken with Rafferty, who has a history of fulfilling"intimate duties" with Arthur. Arthur is furious to learn Ellen and Patrick are in attendance at Edward's invitation; Edward attempts to mediate a business discussion to benefit Arthur's chance in the upcoming Parliamentary election, but Arthur feels deeply betrayed. Byron successfully expands Guinness operations in New York. Anne continues to struggle with her mystery illness. Enraged to learn Arthur is recklessly attempting to rig the election bybuying votes, Edward tracks him down at a secret residence and is shocked to discover Arthur post-coital with former schoolmateLord Arthur Pelham-Clinton but admits he finally seems truly happy. | |||||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Tom Shankland | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Arthur's victory in the election is voided when charges of bribery and corruption are brought to court, deeply damaging the Guinness' reputation. Olivia embarks on an affair with Rafferty. Adelaide Guinness, who continues to reject Edward, proposes plans to build affordable housing for local families. Byron makes a deal with top-ranking thug Eamon Dodd to give the American Brotherhood 15% of every bottle sold, enraging Edward. Bonnie denies Arthur access to hisillicit businesses, at Edward's command. Arthur is soon pursued by warehouseman Patrick, and the two spend the night together at the brewery. Edward visits Ellen for advice on Byron's dealings, and the two sleep together. Arthur arranges for Rafferty to spend more time with Olivia. Anne gives birth to William, named after her husband. Guinness Brewery celebrates its expansion. A well-adjusted Ben and his new wife visit for the ceremony, driving Christine to near-suicide. | |||||
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Mounia Akl | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Guinness' profit sharing with the Brotherhood overseas proves politically disastrous, as American Fenians attack the British and the British retaliate by arresting Fenians in Dublin, including Patrick Cochrane. Edward confesses his affair to Arthur, and they confide in each other. At the brewery, Arthur sees Patrick, who kisses him. Edward arranges for Ellen's brother to be freed, upon the condition that he isexiled to New York. Ellen is heartbroken and feels used by Edward. In New York, Byron forces Patrick Cochrane to take on the role of financial proxy between the Brotherhood's business with Guinness and funding Fenian insurrection. While visiting Edward, Adelaide is furious over the conditions in Cloonboo, and Edward confesses his relationship with Ellen has softened his heart to further charity. Edward presents her with a peasant meal, and the two bond. Arthur invites Patrick to a secret dance, unaware that Patrick is working for the embittered Reverend Henry Grattan, who organizes a police bust. | |||||
| 7 | "Episode 7" | Mounia Akl | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Patrick helps Arthur escape capture by the police, but Arthur breaks off his relationship with him. At Arthur's command, Rafferty threatens Reverend Henry's life if he does not flee Dublin. Over the course of the next year, the Guinness Trust estates are completed, and Edward falls deeper in love with Ellen, but with a new election upcoming, he painfully ends their affair. Edward and Adelaide get married. Olivia discovers she is pregnant with Rafferty's child, shocking Arthur, who fears scandal and refuses to raise abastard heir. A drunk Ben reconnects with Christine. Sick of being blackmailed by Bonnie, Arthur and Edward, serve him a notice to quit, pay for his silence, and demolish the docks for further expansions. Byron, now an esteemed salesman, returns to lead Arthur's upcoming election campaign. Arthur and Edward expose their respective secrets. | |||||
| 8 | "Episode 8" | Mounia Akl | Steven Knight | September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25) | |
Patrick Cochrane illegally returns to Dublin, with instructions from the Fenian Brotherhood to assassinate Arthur. As Rafferty struggles to gather intelligence, Edward visits Ellen, who is now considered untrustworthy due to her affair with a Guinness. Edward confesses he still loves her, but she sends him away. Edward and Adelaide both admit they are not in love, but their mutual respect grows. Meanwhile, due to a pattern of indiscretion, Anne insists Christine become Ben'smistress. Olivia returns from London following anabortion and is shaken and lonely. Arthur struggles with the relationship between Olivia and Rafferty, who were meant to remain emotionally distant. He gives her the option to run away with Rafferty in dishonour or to end the affair. While she claims she will do the latter, Olivia and Rafferty arrange a way to secretly continue, vowing to be together. On the day of the Parliamentary election, Arthur gives a public speech to Dublin's constituents. Patrick Cochrane enters the crowd, aims his gun, and fires a shot. | |||||
The series was announced in March 2024 with the working titleHouse of Guinness.[2][3] It is produced forNetflix by Kudos.[4] The eight-part series hasTom Shankland directing the first five episodes andMounia Akl directing the final three. Knight and Shankland serve as executive producers alongside Karen Wilson, Elinor Day, Knight, Martin Haines and Ivana Lowell. Series producer is Cahal Bannon and Howard Burch is the producer.[5][6]
Filming began inCheshire in the summer of 2024.[7][8] Filming locations also includeStockport,[9]Liverpool,[10] andDublin.
The eight-episode series premiered onNetflix on 25 September 2025.[11] The platform includedIrish subtitles with the release, the first time they have been included on one of its titles.[12]
The review aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes reported a 90% approval rating based on 51 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Overflowing with dynastic intrigue and the rough-hewn grit that distinguished creator Steven Knight's previous historical dramas,House of Guinness goes down smooth like a silky pint."[13]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 72 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[14]
Although reviews from critics outside Ireland were generally positive[15][16][17] that was not the case for reviews from Irish critics.[18][19][20][21][22] Many critics compared it favorably to series likeDownton Abbey andSuccession.[23][24][25][26]
Critical assessments ofHouse of Guinness note clear instances of fictionalization. In particular, the series' depiction ofArthur Guinness's sexual identity is not supported by reliable historical or archival evidence and is therefore regarded by reviewers as speculative. Additionally, the character Sean Rafferty has no documented historical basis and is understood to be an invented figure created for dramatic purposes.[27][28]
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