The series is about the family behind the Guinness brewing company in 19th-century Ireland and New York. The story follows the consequences of the death of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the extraordinary success of the Guinness brewery, and the fates of his four adult children: Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Benjamin.[1]
Patriarch Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness dies, leaving his enterprise to his four children: witty dandy Arthur, who has recently returned from 5 years in London; passionate, business savvy Edward; confident and commanding Anne; and disturbed Ben, who suffers alcohol and laudanum dependencies. The Irish Republican Brotherhood, known as the Fenians, 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 drink, Ben declines. Local Fenian leader Patrick Cochrane burns the barrels of the Guinness cooperage, 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's prostitution business. Arthur, uninterested in brewing, tentatively plans to sell the business to Edward.
2
"Episode 2"
Tom Shankland
Steven Knight
September25,2025(2025-09-25)
Rafferty seeks the warehousemen who left open the gates to the cooperage. Sir Benjamin's will dictates 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 modest trust fund. Anne confides in Edward fears over her health. Bonnie tells Ben about Ellen's hunt for Arthur's "expensive" secrets. Arthur reveals to his lover Michael that he must remain in Dublin, and the two tearfully part. Meanwhile, Edward charges Anne with finding suitable wives for him and Arthur, both aware of Arthur's "complication". Rafferty ultimately discovers the activities of the Cochranes, sending them both warnings. 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
September25,2025(2025-09-25)
Anne travels through County Galway and suffers a miscarriage in Cloonboo, 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 a lavender marriage in which Arthur can offer her and her family a lavish place in the aristocracy while they each lead separate intimate lives. Edward is propositioned by Byron Hedges, a distant cousin born the bastard of a Guinness mother and Fenian father, who offers to expand the business to New York. Ben applies for the military. Sultan regales the history of the Great 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 promoting Celtic 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
September25,2025(2025-09-25)
Arthur and Lady Olivia marry. At the wedding, Edward struggles to find a suitable wife while Ben demands a higher allowance. Lady 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 by buying votes, Edward tracks him down at a secret residence; he is shocked to discover Arthur post-coital with former schoolmate Lord Arthur Pelham-Clinton but admits he finally seems truly happy.
5
"Episode 5"
Tom Shankland
Steven Knight
September25,2025(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. Lady Olivia embarks on an affair with Rafferty. Adelaide Guinness, who continues to reject Edward socially, 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 his illicit 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 Lady Olivia. Anne gives birth to William, named after her husband Mr Plunket. Guinness Brewery celebrates its expansion. Well-adjusted Ben and his new wife visit for the ceremony, driving Christine to near-suicide.
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, who though upset is comforted by fellow "inappropriateness". At the brewery, Arthur again sees Patrick, who shockingly kisses him. Edward arranges for Ellen's brother to be freed upon the condition he is exiled 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 Patrick is working under threat for the embittered Reverend Henry Grattan, who organises a police bust.
7
"Episode 7"
Mounia Akl
Steven Knight
September25,2025(2025-09-25)
Patrick helps Arthur escape capture by the police, but Arthur breaks it off with him "for his own good". 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 wed. Lady Olivia discovers she is pregnant by Rafferty, shocking Arthur, who fears scandal and refuses to raise a bastard heir. Ben, back on the drink, reconnects with Christine. Sick of being blackmailed by Bonnie, Arthur and Edward serve him a notice to quit, make a final payment for his silence, and demolish the docks for further expansions. Byron, now an esteemed salesman, returns to lead Arthur's upcoming election campaign; for the best chances, Arthur and Edward expose their secrets.
8
"Episode 8"
Mounia Akl
Steven Knight
September25,2025(2025-09-25)
Patrick Cochrane illegally returns to Dublin with instructions from the Fenian Brotherhood to murder 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's official mistress. Lady Olivia returns from London following an abortion, shaken and lonely. Arthur struggles with the deepening relationship between Lady Olivia and Rafferty, who were meant to remain emotionally distant: he ultimately gives her the option to run away with Rafferty in dishonour or end the affair. While she claims she will do the latter, she 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; nearby, Patrick Cochrane aims his gun and fires a shot.
Production
The series was announced in March 2024 with the working title House of Guinness.[2] It is produced for Netflix by Kudos.[3] The eight-part series has Tom Shankland directing the first five episodes and Mounia 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. The cast includes James Norton, Louis Partridge, Anthony Boyle and David Wilmot.[4][5]
The eight-episode series premiered on Netflix on 25 September 2025.[10] The platform included Irish subtitles with the release, the first time they have been included on one of its titles.[11]
Reception
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 90% approval rating based on 40 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."[12]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 72 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[13] Although reviews from critics outside of Ireland were generally positive that was not the case for reviews from Irish critics.[14][15]
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