Guinness Storehouse Overrated

LeChienMefiant

Does anyone else think that it does our city a great disservice to promote the Guinness Storehouse as a destination? There's a lot of walking/climbing and a lot of reading. The only redeeming feature is the free pint of Guinness at the end in the Gravity bar. On recent visits (when meeting people who insist on visiting) I've just taken the lift to the top for the pint. It's over-hyped and massively underwhelming. It's in stark contrast to the Jameson Distillery in Midleton which is led by a guide and let's you actually see the historic distillery and imagine how it worked. I'd ask people to go for a visit before recommending it to visitors. I cannot believe this is our number one paid attraction. This rant was inspired by... http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/new-dublin-brand-looks-beyond-city-centre-for-mustvisit-appeal-31614290.html

Eponymous

I don't drink Guinness and have been twice, with tourists who wanted to see it the first time and the second was for a work thing in the Gravity bar at the top.

If we have people over who want to see it, I'll leave them to it. It's a lot of money to spend on a 2 or 3 hour long advertisement.

My grandfather and an uncle both worked in Guinness as coopers back when they used wooden barrels. As such that was the only bit of the visit I found remotely interesting.

I'd be far more interested and eager to show visitors things outside the city.

LeinsterDub

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

Does anyone else think that it does our city a great disservice to promote the Guinness Storehouse as a destination? There's a lot of walking/climbing and a lot of reading.

Go to the theater so , lots of sitting and very little reading

schemingbohemia

It isn't obligatory to go. I certainly wouldn't be bothered and if anyone asked I'd say that to them, but tourists do what they want. Madame Tussauds is madly popular as is the London Eye.....

LeChienMefiant

It seems like people blindly recommend this to tourists having never gone themselves. It's a tourist trap and does us no favours.

Strumms

This thread is bizarre.... A lot of walking, climbing and reading ? I did the tour with some friends who were in town for a few days and I don't recall having to climb up or over anything. Walking ? Err yes what do you expect from such an attraction a human conveyor belt or someone to carry you ? Reading ? I don't remember being bombarded with stuff to read at any point and I'd rather there was too much information over too little.

It would never be possible due to the popularity of it, health and safety, logistics etc to actually give people an in depth tour of the actual working brewery itself. It wouldn't be number one on my list of things to do in the city but it's extremely popular with visitors and I know a good few who have visited it more then once.

Dozen Wicked Words

I enjoyed it, family over from the UK enjoyed it, had one of the many deals to get in so not too expensive. Nice bar there, reasonable prices as I recall (not the observation tower one, next floor down.) and not a bad way to spend a couple of hours. Only issue I had was the videos sound tended to merge so you'd be watching one and hearing bits of another.

Slunk

I've done the Guinness tour and the XXXX brewery is Brisbane Australia. Huge difference. Guinness is just basically walking your through a presentation of images and text. XXXX on the other hand brings you through the actual working brewery, provide hard hats and ear muffs as the bottling area is extremely noisey. This is what I expect from a tour, not a load if information I can get off the internet.

strandroad

I think that it's done rather well. I went a couple of time with visitors and they generally enjoy it. They actually liked all the sights of the area, found it unusual and authentic (huh).

LeChienMefiant

The Jameson Distillery in Midleton is a far superior attraction and how a brewery/distillery tour can be done. The sardine museum in Portimao is also an amazing example of what a factory/industrial museum can be. Dublin has a lot more to offer than the storehouse and it's a poor indictment of marketing/PR if this is our number one paid attraction.

AngryLips

It's not really a tour of the brewery but, then again, it doesn't claim to be. I went recently and I have to admit I was really impressed by it compared to my first visit ten years earlier. Here are the four things that I though made it really engaging:
- the 'how to drink Guinness' session was interesting
- the 'how to pour a pint of Guinness' part was brilliant, given that such a big deal is made of how to pour it correctly.
- the multimedia room where Guinness ads are played on the walls was mesmerising.
- there were lots of Instagram opportunities

Arbiter of Good Taste

Haven't been, but I don't really see the attraction of the viewing gallery - it's not exactly have the Manhattan skyline out there

iamtony

I'm a Taxi Driver and the general feedback is its overpriced and not great. The one place that I've never heard anyone complain about is Kilmainham Goal.
I usually advise tourists to go to the Goal instead and get a pint of Guinness in a good pub instead of the Guinness storehouse but they never listen...

Beersmith

iamtony wrote: »

I'm a Taxi Driver and the general feedback is its overpriced and not great..

and what about the storehouse?

iamtony

Beersmith wrote: »

and what about the storehouse?

:-)

roundymac

I was very disappointed with it, but I have relations in the US who though it was fantstic. I did find Kilmainhan very enjoyable, having an expert and knowledgeable guide really made it for me.

Eugene Norman

It's grand. It's an interpretative centre where you get to understand the history, understand the process, get involved in pouring (or not) and get a pint or two. There's also a bottle tasting as I recall. Plus it's at your own pace.

Utdfan20titles

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

Does anyone else think that it does our city a great disservice to promote the Guinness Storehouse as a destination? There's a lot of walking/climbing and a lot of reading. The only redeeming feature is the free pint of Guinness at the end in the Gravity bar. On recent visits (when meeting people who insist on visiting) I've just taken the lift to the top for the pint. It's over-hyped and massively underwhelming. It's in stark contrast to the Jameson Distillery in Midleton which is led by a guide and let's you actually see the historic distillery and imagine how it worked. I'd ask people to go for a visit before recommending it to visitors. I cannot believe this is our number one paid attraction. This rant was inspired by...

Completely agree with everything you've said.

Jameson tour is cheaper too!

Utdfan20titles

iamtony wrote: »

The one place that I've never heard anyone complain about is Kilmainham Goal.

Is that near Kilmainham Gaol?

mod-snip

suicide_circus

it's slightly better than the Heineken equivalent in Amsterdam but it's not great. Just a glorified marketing tool.

maximoose

It's alright. Used to always bring any visitors to it as they usually wanted to go, so have been quite a few times. I like the room with all the old adverts but that's about it.

Jameson tour in Smithfield is a much better experience, have brought 3 friends over the last 6 months and they all loved it.