The online streaming platform Netflix premiered ‘House of Guinness’ on September 25, 2025, telling the epic story of one of Europe’s most famous and enduring dynasties – the Guinness family.
The show is based on a concept developed by Guinness heir Ivana Lowell, who wrote an initial treatment about her family’s history. She approached Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, and he developed it into the eight-part Netflix drama.
The show, inspired by true events, is a fictionalized account of the family in the aftermath of the patriarch, Sir Benjamin Guinness’ death – and the power struggles, ambition, and rivalry among his heirs as they take over the brewery.
Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York (and filmed in Liverpool), the focus is on the far-reaching impact of Benjamin’s cunning will and its impact on his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, and a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the growing juggernaut that is Guinness.
The main cast includes a mix of nationalities. However, Irish talent is featured in prominent roles, including Anthony Boyle (Arthur Guinness), Fionn O’Shea (Benjamin Guinness), Jack Gleeson (Byron Hedges), and Niamh McCormack (Ellen Cochrane), alongside English actors such as Louis Partridge (Edward Guinness), Emily Fairn (Anne Plunket), and James Norton (English with a smattering of Irish) in his role as Sean Rafferty, the Guinness factory’s foreman, whose fate becomes entangled with the dynasty’s power struggles.
Belfast-born Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing), who plays Arthur Guinness, explained to Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Show why he got in trouble on the last day of filming.
“I got a Guinness truck to come to the set. It was meant to come at six when we wrapped but it came at lunch so there is a few scenes in the show where the cameras are all over the place because some of the boys were absolutely steaming. The producers were raging but it was good craic,” he laughed.
House of Guinness began filming in the summer of 2024, with Tom Shankland directing the first five episodes and Mounia Akl directing the final three.
“We are beyond thrilled to be working with the incredible Steven Knight to bring the story of the Guinness Family to Netflix audiences,” Anne Mensah, Vice-President Content at Netflix UK and Ireland, said. “It has all the power of Peaky Blinders but the scale and the sweep of a true family saga.”
Commenting on his latest series, Knight said: “The Guinness dynasty known the world over – wealth, poverty, power, influence, and great tragedy – are all intertwined to create a rich tapestry of material to draw from.
“I’ve always been fascinated by their stories and am excited to bring the characters to life for the world to see.”
While some reviewers have found fault with the liberties taken with historical facts, ‘House of Guinness’ has received good reviews. Jack Seale of the Guardian wrote: “With smarts, heart and serious sex appeal, this fine drama from Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight is an irresistible romp – like Succession, only over a booze empire. Knight has never made a better show than this.”
Robert Lloyd of the L.A. Times, put it like this: ‘House of Guinness’ is loose on historical facts, but like a pint, you may cozy up to it.”
Read Lloyd full review here.