There are few names are more instantly recognisable than 'Guinness'. But in House of Guinness, Netflix’s lavish new period drama, the name behind the iconic Irish drink is tracked back to 1860s Dublin – to the high-stakes world of the Guinness heirs. Here's what you need to know, including the true events that inspire the series.

What is House of Guinness about?

Following the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness — brewer, patriarch, and one of Ireland’s most powerful men — his four children are left to grapple with the vacuum of power, and the expectations that come with bearing the family name. Think of it like Succession, if it was set in 1800s Ireland. The siblings, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben are each drawn into the family business in different ways.

What unfolds is a messy story of family politics, power plays, and alliances, with a smattering of romance, betrayal, social climbing and scandal thrown in for good measure. At the centre of it all is the brewing empire the Guinness siblings are expected to uphold. But whether they can rise to meet the moment is the series’ central question.

So, is it a true story?

In short, yes and no. House of Guinness is inspired by the real-life legacy of the Guinness family, one of Ireland’s most powerful dynasties. The siblings at the heart of the series — Arthur, Edward, Anne and Ben — are also drawn from historical figures, and the broader backdrop of 1860s Dublin, with its class divides, social ambitions and imperial tensions, is definitely grounded in fact.

However, creator Steven Knight told Netflix he has used “stepping stones” in the form of real events, known achievements, and family dynamics, as a launchpad for a more imaginative story., meaning the result is not always historically exact.

In other words, House of Guinness aims to be less of a documentary, and more to capture the essence of an era and a family caught between empire and identity.

Who is involved?

The series was created by Steven Knight, the mind behind Peaky Blinders.

The cast is also worth noting. Anthony Boyle (Masters of the Air) plays Arthur, the eldest Guinness son, and Louis Partridge is Edward, his slightly wayward younger brother. Emily Fairn plays Anne, and Fionn O’Shea is Ben, the youngest Guinness sibling.  There's also James Norton joins as Sean Rafferty, a political operator with unclear motives.

Where to watch House of Guinness

House of Guinness is now streaming on Netflix.