Netflix's 'House Of Guinness': The Shocking True Story Behind The Family Drama

Elle

2 hours ago

When Netflix drops House of Guinness on September 25, viewers will witness more than just another period drama about wealthy dynasties. This is the story of Ireland's most iconic brewing family, whose real-life scandals, power struggles and generational secrets have never received the small-screen treatment — until now.
The eight-part drama centres on one of the most consequential moments in the Guinness empire: the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness in 1868 and the explosive aftermath of his will reading. Benjamin wasn't just any brewery owner – he was the grandson of Arthur Guinness, who famously signed a 9,000-year lease on St. James's Gate Brewery in 1759, and the man who transformed the family business into a global phenomenon. His death didn't just mark the end of an era; it ignited a family feud that would determine the fate of the world's most famous stout.
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Speaking to Netflix's Tudum, the show's creator Steve Knight described the series as fundamentally about 'a family who happens to be the inheritors of the biggest brewery in the world' facing a singular challenge: 'Don't screw it up'. The second priority? 'To make Guinness even bigger.' But behind this corporate succession drama lies a much more complex web of sibling rivalry, manipulation and strategic betrayal that defined 19th-century Dublin society.
The Guinness family's later history adds an eerie dimension to the series. Over subsequent generations, the family became associated with what some have come to call the 'Guinness curse' – a pattern of tragic accidents, mysterious deaths and public scandals that plagued multiple generations. While these later tragedies fall outside the series' 1860s timeline, they cast a shadow over the dynasty's origins that Knight may well reference in the upcoming biopic.
Knight admitted to Netflix that he is excited for audiences to meet the 'naturally wild' clan. 'I'm just in awe of their zest for life — their lust for life, often literally,' he added. In short, the story of the Guinnesses is one hell of a family drama.
As the eldest son, Arthur carries the heaviest burden of expectation throughout the series. Knight describes Arthur and his brother Edward as 'the heart' of the series, bound together by their father's deliberate manipulation. Boyle, fresh from his acclaimed performance in Masters of the Air , perfectly depicts Arthur's challenge of balancing business acumen with family loyalty; his job isn't just running a brewery – it's managing his volatile brother while preserving their father's legacy.
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In reality, after selling his share of the business to his brother, Arthur took over his father's seat in Parliament following the patriarch's death. He was voted in as a Conservative MP in 1868 for the City of Dublin when all of Ireland was part of the UK, and he held on to the position for just one year before it was voided after it was revealed that an election agent's unlawful efforts had gotten him the position.
As it was ruled that Arthur was unaware of this, he was able to stand again as MP in 1874, an election he won under the leadership of Benjamin Disraeli, whom he was a staunch advocate of. As well as being a Member of Parliament, Arthur also followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a landlord of the several estates he owned in Galway.
The middle brother represents the wild card in Benjamin's succession plan. Partridge, known to Netflix audiences from the Enola Holmes films, plays Edward as the more reckless Guinness sibling, whose 'lust for life' often puts him at odds with Arthur's more measured approach. Knight has hinted that the brothers were 'chained together' by their father's will for very specific reasons, suggesting Edward's unpredictability serves a purpose in the family's power structure.
Edward took over the company following his father's death in 1868. He then bought out his brother Arthur's half-share in the brewery in 1876 and, aged 29, gained sole ownership of the Dublin company.
Edward grew Guinness even further than his father Benjamin, multiplying the value of the brewery exponentially during his tenure as sole owner. By 1879, the Guinness company was brewing 565,000 hogsheads of stout; by 1886, it was brewing 907,000 hogsheads globally.
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The entrepreneur was so successful that he floated two-thirds of the company in 1886 on the London Stock Exchange for £6 million, making him the richest man in Ireland. He then went on to retire at the age of 40 as a multi-millionaire and remained the largest shareholder in the now-public company. He also retained his position as chairman.
Edward is also the man responsible for the construction of the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, which is now a successful tourist attraction in the city.
The Guinness daughter navigates a world where women's influence operates through marriage and social connections rather than direct power. Fairn, a rising star who made her mark in The Responder , portrays Anne as someone who understands that her value to the family extends beyond the brewery. In an era where women couldn't inherit businesses, Anne's storyline explores how female members of dynasties wielded influence through different channels.
The youngest Guinness sibling faces the classic challenge of the family baby – finding his place in a hierarchy dominated by his older brothers. O'Shea, who captivated audiences in Normal People , brings vulnerability to a character who must prove himself worthy of the Guinness name while carving out his own identity separate from the brewery business.
Perhaps the most intriguing character in the series, Rafferty represents, in Knight's words, 'how modern the story actually is'. Norton, beloved for his role as the menacing Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley , plays an Irishman whose relationship with the Protestant elite Guinness family promises to expose class and religious tensions. Knight's description of Rafferty as 'one of the most extraordinary aspects of this series' suggests that his character will drive much of the show's dramatic tension.
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Norton's enthusiasm was palpable in an interview he gave to Netflix's Tudum: 'It's got beer. It's got this eccentric family. We've got these Steven Knight characters all kind of jostling and playing, fighting, f**king.'
Described as 'determined' in early character descriptions, Ellen appears to be connected to the broader Dublin community affected by Guinness's influence. McCormack brings working-class authenticity to a character who likely represents the ordinary Dubliners whose livelihoods depend on the brewery's success. Her storyline promises to ground the series in the social realities of 19th-century Ireland.
The 'seductive' Lady Olivia brings aristocratic glamour to the series. Galligan, known for Shadow and Bone , plays a character who appears to move in the same elite circles as the Guinness family but may harbour her own agenda. In an era where marriages were strategic alliances, Lady Olivia's presence suggests romantic entanglements that could reshape family fortunes.
Gleeson returns to playing privileged antagonists after his unforgettable turn as Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones . Byron's connection to Lady Olivia (presumably family) places him in the orbit of both aristocratic society and the Guinness empire, potentially serving as a catalyst for conflict between different elite factions.
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As a family elder, Aunt Agnes represents the previous generation's values and expectations. Kirwan, a veteran of Irish drama, brings gravitas to a character who likely serves as both family conscience and keeper of secrets. Her position allows her to influence the siblings while maintaining some distance from their father's manipulative will.
Connected to Ellen Cochrane (possibly as a relative), Patrick appears to represent the Dublin community that intersects with Guinness business interests. O'Hara's character suggests the series will explore how the brewery's decisions affected broader Irish society.
McElhatton, another Game of Thrones alumnus, plays what appears to be a business associate or legal figure connected to the Guinness empire. His character likely handles the practical aspects of Benjamin's complex will and its implementation.
Champion's role remains mysterious, but his name suggests someone connected to the entertainment or social aspects of Dublin's elite society. Wilmot brings character actor credibility to what may be a key supporting role in the family's social network.
In short, no. In 1986, the Guinness brand merged with British food and drinks conglomerate Grand Metropolitan to establish the company Diageo, which is now the parent company of Guinness. While Diageo, which also owns Johnnie Walker and Bailey's, is now the owner of Guinness, the Guinness family does own a stake in Diageo, which was said to be worth around £200m in 2017, per the Irish Independent .
The family also owns the 22,500-acre Elveden estate in Suffolk, which is used for agriculture. The current head of the Guinness family is the Earl of Iveagh.
House of Guinness will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, September 25.
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Naomi May is a seasoned culture journalist and editor with over ten years' worth of experience in shaping stories and building digital communities. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard, where she worked across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Digital Editor at ELLE Magazine and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others. Naomi is also the host of the ELLE Collective book club.