One of Dublin’s biggest tourist attractions is about to get a whole lot bigger

€16 million is being pumped into the iconic Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.

The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is to undergo an expansion worth in the region of €16 million in the next two years. The home of Guinness, which is regularly included in lists of the world’s leading tourist attractions, will double the size of the famous Gravity Bar, where visitors can experience one of the best views of Dublin and, of course, one of the best pints of the black stuff in Ireland. 16.5 million people have visited the attraction since it opened in the year 2000. The plans, announced by the Guinness Storehouse on Monday, include the creation of a new 360-degree space, linked directly to the original Gravity Bar, which can hold up to 500 people at any one time. The Gravity Bar and the storehouse itself will remain open during construction on the expansion, which is expected to begin next year, subject to planning permission, and is expected to be completed by 2019. Commenting on the announcement, Paul Carty, Managing Director, Guinness Storehouse said: “The Guinness Storehouse has become part of Dublin. It is the number one visitor attraction, and is a must-see and must-do experience; celebrated by the staff, by tourism in Ireland and by the people of Ireland. “Staying ahead of the game, innovating and constantly investing has enabled us to provide a world-class experience of one of Ireland’s most iconic brands with huge international demand. We are now excited to reveal the next chapter of the Guinness Storehouse, the expansion of the magnificent Gravity Bar.” Paul Kelly, CEO with Fáilte Ireland and the National Tourism Development Authority added: “This is a very exciting development for tourism in Dublin and a great vote of confidence in the future of the tourism sector from the Storehouse and Diageo. “Compelling visitor experiences are central to attracting tourists to our shores and, to stay competitive and grow visitor numbers, it is imperative that we continuously improve our country’s suite of visitor attractions. “The Guinness Storehouse is one of Ireland’s leading attractions and an iconic destination which almost everybody who comes to Dublin will seek out and I very much welcome today’s development – it’s great for tourism and it’s great for Dublin.”